2011 Six Nations Championship - France v Scotland

Venue: Stade de France Date: Saturday, 5 February Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One from 1635 (post-match forum on Red Button from 1900-1930); Listen on BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 5 live sports extra; Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

Nick De Luca will start for Scotland against the French in Paris

Nick De Luca replaces the injured Graeme Morrison at inside centre in one of three Scotland changes for the Six Nations opener against France.

Max Evans is preferred to Sean Lamont on the wing and lock Alastair Kellock returns as captain alongside his Glasgow Warriors club-mate Richie Gray.

Kellock's return sees Nathan Hines move to blind-side flanker and Kelly Brown switch to number eight in Paris.

Johnnie Beattie misses out on the 22 and Richie Vernon drops to the bench.

Beattie is short of match fitness after an injury lay-off so the reunion of the "Killer Bs" is delayed with Hines's physicality preferred alongside Brown at number eight and John Barclay at open-side flanker.

Vernon, who drops out of the starting XV, and Ross Rennie take the back-row replacement spots.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Give your reaction to Andy Robison's choice of players

Northampton centre Joe Ansbro will start his first Six Nations match after winning his first two caps in the autumn.

Scotland's last win in Paris came as they won the final Five Nations Championship title in 1999 - their only victory at the Stade de France to date.

The defending Six Nations champions start as strong favourites and Scotland head coach Andy Robinson wants a huge physical effort from his side.

"We've got to match the French pack toe-to-toe, it's where, in my opinion, the game's going to be won and lost," said Robinson.

And a lot will rest on the experienced shoulders of Hines, who will be winning his 68th cap.

"He's playing well and that's why I'm comfortable with him playing at six," explained Robinson.

"I've got a lot of faith in the way Nathan plays with his defensive quality, but also his ball-carrying ability.

"Added to that, we have Richie Gray in the second row, being able to give us extra height and skill at the lineout.

"The battle ground is going to be around the set-piece, around the fringes of driving mauls and at the rucks.

"It's vital we've got players who can go toe-to-toe with the French.

"There's been a real sharp focus, it's now down to the performance on Saturday. We've got to make sure we turn up on Saturday prepared to front up and take the game to France.

"What's key for me is that we understand we're in control of what we're about, to go to France and be in control.

"Sometimes teams go to France and give control to France and allow them to dominate. We've got to take control of this game.

"It's about delivering an 80-minute performance, letting our performance do the talking."

On the decision to omit Beattie, the head coach added: "He's coming back from injury, he wasn't involved in the autumn internationals and he's had four games of rugby.

"I don't believe he's right to start, four games after a major operation.

"We've got some quality players in the back row and I felt it was right that he still played for the As."

Scotland team: Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais), Nikki Walker (Ospreys), Joe Ansbro (Northampton Saints), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh), Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors); Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues) Rory Lawson (Gloucester); Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors, capt), Nathan Hines (Leinster), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Kelly Brown (Saracens).

Substitutes: Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Scarlets).

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version