11 Warriors selected for France showdown

• 9 Aug 2023

Scotland Head Coach Gregor Townsend has named 11 Glasgow Warriors in the matchday 23 that will take on France this weekend, as a squad seeking to make it back-to-back victories over Les Bleus travels to St Etienne on Saturday night.

The match – the third of four warm-up Tests before this year’s Rugby World Cup – marks the final chance for all involved to press their claims for a place in the 33-man squad that will compete at the tournament, with the final playing group to be named on Wednesday 16 August.

Glasgow Warriors captain Kyle Steyn comes back into the starting XV to wear the number 14 jersey, the winger having impressed in victory over Italy at Scottish Gas Murrayfield a fortnight ago.

The familiar ‘Huwipulotu’ centre pairing is retained in the midfield, as Huw Jones once again lines up outside Sione Tuipulotu for Townsend’s men.

Ali Price is another to rotate back into the starting lineup after missing last weekend’s comeback to defeat the French, the scrum-half making it a quartet of Warriors lining up in the Scotland backline.

Up front, George Turner packs down in the middle of the front row after standing out in the victory over Italy two weeks ago, the hooker having been rested for Saturday’s win over France.

Richie Gray is the most-experienced Warrior selected by Townsend, the second-rower set to win his 75^th cap for his country this weekend.

Rory Darge draws back into the starting back-row at openside, the flanker having secured the match-winning turnover during an impressive cameo off the bench against France last time out.

Jack Dempsey joins his club-mate in the back-row, packing down at number eight for the third time in the last four Scotland fixtures.

Three further Warriors await their opportunity amongst the replacements, with Scott Cummings wearing the number 19 jersey in a six-two split of forwards and backs.

Indeed, Glasgow provide both of the replacement backs in the matchday 23, with both George Horne and Ollie Smith retaining their places in the squad for the trip to St Etienne.

You can watch the match live on Amazon Prime Video this weekend, with kick-off scheduled for 8.05pm UK time.

Scotland team to play France, Saturday 12 August, kick-off 8.05pm (UK time), live on Amazon Prime Video

15. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 45 caps
14. Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 11 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 37 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 17 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps
10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby) 70 caps
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 62 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 22 caps
2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps
3. WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 54 caps
4. Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 74 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) 63 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) (C) 41 caps
7. Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps
8. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 10 caps

Replacements

16. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) 48 caps
17. Rory Sutherland (unattached) 24 caps
18. Javan Sebastian (Edinburgh Rugby) 4 caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 27 caps
20. Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) 26 caps
21. Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby) 4 caps
22. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 21 caps
23. Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps