RBS Six Nations: Scotland v France
Venue: Murrayfield Date: Sunday, 7 February Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: BBC One, HD, Red Button, Sport website and 5 live sports extra
Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobile phones

Scotland's record points scorer Chris Paterson has been recalled and is one of six changes for their Six Nations opener against France on Sunday.

Glasgow centres Max Evans and Graeme Morrison, Gloucester prop Alasdair Dickinson and Glasgow flankers Kelly Brown and John Barclay also return.

Paterson is at full-back after the injury-enforced withdrawal of Rory Lamont and will win his 99th cap.

Kelly Brown comes in for injured Gloucester flanker Alasdair Strokosch.

Barclay replaces Alan MacDonald, who drops to the bench for the Murrayfield contest, as do Worcester centre Alex Grove and Edinburgh prop Allan Jacobson following the November defeat by Argentina.

There is no place in the match-day 22 for Edinburgh centre Ben Cairns, who made his debut in that 9-6 reverse, but promising 20-year-old Glasgow forward Richie Gray has made it to the bench and could win his first cap.

It is the first Six Nations selection made by Andy Robinson as Scotland's head coach and he is keen to change the team's recent poor results in the opening fixtures of the competition.

"There has been improved competition for places since the autumn Tests and selection has been based both on achievements within the autumn matches and on current form," he said.

"France have a fantastic squad. The fact they defeated New Zealand in Dunedin last June illustrates that they can win and win well away from home.

"We are excited about the start of the Championship, but we know that we have not won our first game in the competition since 2006, so all our focus is on making a winning start against France on Sunday."

Scotland go into the tournament without two battle-hardened former captains.

Scrum-half Mike Blair is hoping to return later in the tournament following an ankle injury however, big-hitting forward Jason White is out for the season with a broken leg.

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Scrum-half Chris Cusiter leads the side in Blair's absence and will be ably assisted by Paterson, arguably the most reliable goal-kicker in world rugby.

Strokosch and Lamont were ruled out of the game on Monday.

Gloucester flanker Strokosch has returned to his club for further treatment on the ankle injury he sustained playing for them last month.

Toulon full-back Lamont only recently returned from injury but also requires rehabilitation on an ankle problem.

The loss of Strokosch will be a particular blow, with the 26-year-old having been appointed Robinson's pack leader during the autumn internationals.

The Evans brothers - Tom and Max - are reunited in the back division, while Phil Godman gets the nod at fly-half.

Forward Sebastien Chabal has been forced to withdraw from France's squad because of a back injury.

Scotland: Paterson; S Lamont, M Evans, Morrison, T Evans; Godman, Cusiter (capt); Dickinson, Ford, Lowe, Kellock, Hines, K Brown, Beattie, Barclay.
Replacements: S Lawson, Jacobsen, Gray, MacDonald, R Lawson, Grove, Southwell.

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