Six Nations 2023: France v Scotland – Hamish Watson replaces Luke Crosbie

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Hamish Watson against New Zealand
Hamish Watson returns for Scotland after struggling a concussion in opposition to New Zealand in November
Venue: Stade de France, Paris Dates: Sunday, 26 February Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Coverage: Live radio commentary on BBC Radio Scotland; textual content commentary on the BBC Sport web site & app

Flanker Hamish Watson replaces Luke Crosbie in the one change to Scotland’s line-up for Sunday’s Six Nations match in opposition to France in Paris.

Watson is again to full health after a concussion in opposition to New Zealand.

Crosbie shouldn’t be on the bench, with Sam Skinner drafted in as one in all six ahead replacements – and meaning no place within the 23 for Chris Harris.

Scrum-half Ali Price returns to the matchday squad having missed out on the wins in opposition to England and Wales.

Defending champions France beat Italy of their opener however had been then defeated by Ireland in spherical two of the championship.

Gregor Townsend’s facet beat France on their final go to to the Stade de France in 2021 in what was their first victory there since 1999.

“There’s an pleasure in regards to the challenges and the alternatives forward of us,” mentioned Townsend. “But there’s additionally a willpower.

“We can play significantly better than we did in these first two video games and we all know our efficiency might want to enhance to get something in Paris.

“We suppose Hamish is again to full health. He’s performed with actual pace in his two video games for Edinburgh, and we clearly know what Hamish has achieved for us previously and in current video games too.

“He was our captain in the summertime and he is acquired this chance which we all know he’ll go and seize with two fingers.”

Scotland are unchanged within the again division as soon as extra with Ben White and Finn Russell poised to proceed at half-again.

Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones resume their centre partnership whereas Stuart Hogg has recovered from a head harm evaluation following the victory over Wales to begin at full-again.

The returning Watson will line up with captain Jamie Ritchie and Matt Fagerson within the again row.

Haouas returns for France

France have additionally made one change to their line-up with Mohamed Haouas, 28, coming in at tighthead prop instead of the suspended Uini Atonio.

Atonio was banned for three weeks for a deal with on Ireland’s Rob Herring within the match in Dublin.

Haouas was despatched off in Scotland’s win over France in 2020 for punching Jamie Ritchie and is available in to an in any other case unchanged pack to earn his sixteenth cap.

Captain Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack type the half-again pairing once more in a settled backline.

Line-ups

France: Ramos, Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Dumortier; Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Baille, Marchand, Haouas, Flament, Willemse, Jelonch, Ollivon, Alldritt.

Replacements: Barlot, Wardi, Falatea, Taofifenua, Cros, Macalou, Couilloud, Jalibert.

Scotland: Hogg, Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, R Gray, Gilchrist, Ritchie (capt), Watson, M Fagerson

Replacements: Brown, Bhatti, Nel, J Gray, Skinner, Dempsey, Price, Kinghorn

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)

Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Assistant Referee 2: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

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