Darge to make first start for Scotland

Scotland Head Coach Gregor Townsend has handed a first senior international start to Glasgow Warriors flanker Rory Darge, as his squad builds towards Saturday’s pivotal Guinness Six Nations clash with France at BT Murrayfield.

Having come off the bench against Wales to win his first cap in the dark blue jersey, the flanker – who turned 22 yesterday – will line up on the blindside as Townsend’s men take on Les Bleus in round three of the competition.

Darge is one of six Warriors selected for Saturday afternoon’s match, as Scotland look to bounce back from a disappointing defeat in Cardiff a fortnight ago.

British and Irish Lions tight-head Zander Fagerson joins Darge in the starting pack, extending his run of consecutive matches in a Scotland shirt to nine.

Fellow Lion Ali Price continues at scrum-half, the 28-year-old in line to win his 49^th cap in front of BT Murrayfield this weekend.

Sione Tuipulotu is retained at inside centre, having made an impressive 67 metres from six carries in Cardiff last time out.

The replacements see George Turner continue in the number 16 jersey, with the hooker part of a Scotland setup that has won all 28 of its lineouts in the competition to date.

Oli Kebble completes the Glasgow contingent in the matchday 23, a barnstorming performance against Benetton last Saturday having seen the loose-head added to the Scotland squad earlier this week.

Scotland take on France at BT Murrayfield this Saturday afternoon, with kick-off scheduled for 2.15pm.

Scotland team to face France in the 2022 Guinness Six
Nations at BT Murrayfield, live on BBC One, Saturday, 26 February – kick-off
2.15pm.

15. Stuart Hogg – Exeter Chiefs – (Captain) – 90 caps
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby – 24 caps
13. Chris Harris – Gloucester Rugby – 33 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors – 3 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Worcester Warriors – 15 caps
10. Finn Russell – Racing 92 – (Vice-Captain) – 60 caps
9. Ali Price – Glasgow Warriors – 48 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby – 6 caps
2. Stuart McInally – Edinburgh Rugby – 45 caps
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 44 caps
4. Sam Skinner – Exeter Chiefs – 17 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby – (Vice-Captain) – 50
caps

6. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors – 1 cap
7. Hamish Watson – Edinburgh Rugby – 47 caps
8. Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby – 16 caps

Replacements

16. George Turner – Glasgow Warriors – 22 caps
17. Oli Kebble – Glasgow Warriors – 11 caps
18. WP Nel – Edinburgh Rugby – 45 caps
19. Jamie Hodgson – Edinburgh Rugby – 3 caps
20. Nick Haining – Edinburgh Rugby – 10 caps
21. Ben White – London Irish – 2 caps
22. Blair Kinghorn – Edinburgh Rugby – 29 caps
23. Mark Bennett – Edinburgh Rugby – 22 caps

2⃣ massive #URC clashes.
1⃣ place to be ?

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— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) February 23, 2022