Rugby-Scotland's Darge, Gilchrist back from injury to face France

"It is tough on Jamie, he has been a great leader for us, but we feel that with Andy Christie coming off the bench he can cover all three positions in the back row, which is better suited to playing France this week," Townsend said. Scott Cummings partners Gilchrist at lock and the front row remains unchanged with props Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson either side of hooker George Turner.

(Adds details, quotes) Feb 8 (Reuters) -

Scotland co-captain Rory Darge is back in the side to take on France in their Six Nations clash at Murrayfield on Saturday as Grant Gilchrist also returns in the second row, both players having missed the thrilling 27-26 win over Wales last weekend. Gregor Townsend’s team picked up Scotland's first win in Cardiff since 2002 but not without a mighty scare. They led 27-0 early in the second half before Wales took charge of the contest, forcing the Scots to hold on grimly for the victory.

Darge and Gilchrist have returned from injuries, balancing the loss of second row Richie Gray and flanker Luke Crosbie, who will miss the rest of the Six Nations. "It is great for Rory that he is now available for us. It is a shame with the injury news we got with Richie and Luke, who had both had been playing very well," Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said. "But we can bring quality into the squad with Grant Gilchrist and Jack Dempsey."

Matt Fagerson moves from number eight to the side of the scrum to accommodate Dempsey, while Darge comes in for former captain Jamie Ritchie, who drops out of the matchday 23. "It is tough on Jamie, he has been a great leader for us, but we feel that with Andy Christie coming off the bench he can cover all three positions in the back row, which is better suited to playing France this week," Townsend said.

Scott Cummings partners Gilchrist at lock and the front row remains unchanged with props Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson either side of hooker George Turner. The backline is also unchanged with Kyle Rowe getting a second start at fullback and co-captain Finn Russell to steer the play from flyhalf along with half-back partner Ben White.

"France will bring physicality, they will go for it in the set-pieces, the scrum and the maul," Townsend said. "They play really close to the forwards, so whether it's playing off (number) nine or the pick and go they're a strong carrying team. "We will have to get to each ruck in quick time to get them off the ball and allow us play our quick game."

Scotland team: 15-Kyle Rowe, 14-Kyle Steyn, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Sione Tuipulotu, 11-Duhan van der Merwe, 10-Finn Russell (co-captain), 9-Ben White; 1-Pierre Schoeman, 2-George Turner, 3-Zander Fagerson, 4-Grant Gilchrist, 5-Scott Cummings, 6-Matt Fagerson, 7-Rory Darge (co-captain), 8-Jack Dempsey

Replacements: 16-Ewan Ashman, 17-Alec Hepburn, 18-Elliot Millar-Mills, 19-Sam Skinner, 20-Andy Christie, 21-George Horne, 22-Ben Healy, 23-Cameron Redpath

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