Six Nations: Hamish Watson returns to Scotland side for France clash and Stuart Hogg is passed fit | Rugby Union News

Hamish Watson returns at flanker, replacing Edinburgh team-mate Luke Crosbie; Stuart Hogg is passed fit to play after being forced off early in the 35-7 thumping win over Wales with a head injury; Scotland are currently tied at the top of the 2023 Six Nations table with Ireland

Hamish Watson will return at flanker for Scotland in their crunch Six Nations clash against France in Paris on Sunday

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made one change for their crunch Six Nations match against France in Paris on Sunday, with Hamish Watson returning at flanker and replacing Edinburgh team-mate Luke Crosbie.

Stuart Hogg has also been passed fit to play after being forced off early in the 35-7 thumping win over Wales with a head injury last time out.

The Exeter Chiefs full-back retains his place ahead of Blair Kinghorn, who made a positive, try-scoring impact off the bench against Wales.

Stuart Hogg will play against France despite being forced off with a head injury in Scotland’s last game against Wales

Kyle Steyn, who scored two tries in the round two rout of Wales, is again on the wing, as is Duhan van der Merwe, who himself scored a pair of tries in Scotland’s 2021 victory in Paris on their last trip to the French capital.

Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones resume their centre partnership, while Watson’s return sees him join a back row also containing captain Jamie Ritchie and No 8 Matt Fagerson.

Vice-captain Grant Gilchrist and Richie Gray represent a vastly experienced second-row combination, with George Turner continuing at hooker, alongside props Pierre Schoeman (loosehead) and Zander Fagerson (tighthead).

Ali Price and Sam Skinner – who have not been in the match-day 23 for either Six Nations match – have both been named among the replacements on Sunday.

Scotland won big against Wales last time out to make it two wins in two to start the 2023 Six Nations

Scotland are currently tied at the top of the 2023 Six Nations table with Ireland on 10 points, following wins over England at Twickenham and at home to Wales in their opening two games.

They now travel to Paris aiming to win back the Auld Alliance trophy, with their 2021 win representing a first victory in the French capital since 1999. They lost last year’s meeting at Murrayfield 36-17.

France, who claimed the Grand Slam in 2022, opened their campaign with a 29-24 win in Italy before being beaten 32-19 in Ireland.

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 George Turner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Richie Gray, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Jamie Ritchie (c), 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Matt Fagerson

Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 WP Nel, 19 Jonny Gray, 20 Sam Skinner, 21 Jack Dempsey, 22 Ali Price, 23 Blair Kinghorn