'It's about us winning' - Scotland make five changes for France

Scotland are only interested in keeping their Six Nations hopes alive, with head coach Gregor Townsend insisting he has given little consideration to the prospect of France securing the title at Murrayfield on Saturday.

France clinched last year's championship at home to Scotland and a bonus-point victory in Edinburgh would complete their defence with a game to spare.

Scotland, who finish off in Ireland next week, are second in the table after two wins from three outings, four points behind the unbeaten visitors.

"Not really talked about it," Townsend said of the possibility of a French title party. "It's about what we can do, staying in the championship for another week."

Townsend, who has made five starting changes from a narrow win away to Wales, added: "We know we've got that final game and things to play for in Dublin, but it's about us winning. That's what we're here for.

"Whatever that means in the championship, we'll see after the game but it's about us delivering a winning performance."

Darcy Graham and Jack Dempsey start, while Zander Fagerson does not make the XV in a Six Nations match for the first time since 2023.

Kyle Steyn moves from right to left wing to accommodate Graham with Duhan van der Merwe missing out. Graham and Van der Merwe share the Scotland record with 35 international tries.

Back-rower Dempsey, 31, was expected to miss the rest of the tournament after picking up a bicep injury in the Calcutta Cup win over England but returned to the squad following the victory away to Wales in round three.

He replaces Matt Fagerson at number eight, with Fagerson switching to blindside flanker.

Gregor Brown moves from six to the second row to partner Scott Cummings as Max Williamson makes way.

Pierre Schoeman, George Turner and D'Arcy Rae form a new front row as Nathan McBeth and Dave Cherry drop out altogether.

Freddy Douglas, who has one cap, is primed to make his first Six Nations appearance off the bench, with Ewan Ashman and Rory Sutherland joining the 20-year-old on the bench.

Welcoming the return of "explosive ball carrier" Dempsey, Townsend described Douglas as "world class" at winning the ball back and promised Zander Fagerson would get "big minutes".

Asked if he felt it was possible to win the last two matches, Townsend said: "Yes. I believe in the group. Any game we go in to, we believe we can beat our opposition.

"We know we have to be up there at nine out of 10 level to beat these top teams and that's what we're working towards.

"France have shown over the last two or three games they're the best attacking team in the world but it's the next game that counts."

Scotland have won five of their 13 matches against France since Townsend took charge in 2017.

"It's important for our players to remember how we set up to play against France, how the games have gone, whether that is just looking from 2023 onwards," said Townsend.

"We've played them five times because we got them twice in the World Cup warm-ups. They've been games where we maybe had even more opportunities to win.

"They're a top team, but it's a team we've risen our game when we've played against them. We felt very frustrated not to win two years ago [when a contentious decision denied Sam Skinner a match-winning try].

"And we felt frustrated in Saint-Etienne (in August 2023) because that was a cracking game. We outscored them four tries to three. It was 27-all in the last minute of the game. They've been great fixtures.

"Hopefully that means this will be a really open game. But if it's a 3-0 win, we'll take that as well."

Scotland: Blair Kinghorn; Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Kyle Steyn; Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, D'Arcy Rae, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Freddy Douglas, Josh Bayliss, George Horne, Tom Jordan.