Rugby

Scotland make just the one enforced change for Paris trip

Head coach Vern Cotter heaps praise on Stuart Hogg, youngest player to win 50 caps

Scotland have named their team to play France this Sunday. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho

Fri Feb 10 2017 - 13:02

Flanker John Barclay has replaced the injured Ryan Wilson in the only change to the Scotland side to face France on Sunday.

Wilson has dropped out with an elbow infection following Scotland's opening Six Nations victory over Ireland.

Fraser Brown and Finn Russell both retain their starting places after going off with injuries in the first half of the 27-22 win over the Irish at BT Murrayfield.

Scarlets back-rower Barclay will start on the blindside after coming off the bench against Ireland. John Hardie has been called up from Edinburgh to start on the bench.

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The experienced Ross Ford played the vast majority of Saturday's game after Brown went off with a facial knock inside four minutes but the latter has been preferred for the Stade de France.

Russell went off with a head knock but was passed fit to train during the week.

The match will see 24-year-old Stuart Hogg become the youngest player to win 50 Scotland caps.

Head coach Vern Cotter told the Scottish Rugby Union website: "Congratulations to Hoggy on what will be a special milestone.

“It’s a fantastic personal achievement, especially at such a young age, which is a good indication of how talented an individual he is and how important he’s been to Scotland teams over the past five years.

“He’s a very exciting player and, at just 24, he has a huge amount to offer Scotland for many more years to come.”

SCOTLAND: Stuart Hogg; Sean Maitland, Huw Jones, Alex Dunbar, Tommy Seymour; Finn Russell, Greg Laidlaw; Allan Dell, Fraser Brown, Zander Ferguson, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, John Barclay, Hamish Watson, Josh Strauss.

Replacements: Ross Ford, Gordon Reid, Simon Berghan, Tim Swinson, John Hardie, Ali Price, Duncan Weir, Mark Bennett.

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