Scotland change four for Six Nations showdown with England

Grant Gilchrist and Pierre Schoeman drop out of the Scotland pack to face England in Saturday’s Six Nations meeting at Murrayfield – and there is again no place in the starting XV for British & Irish Lions trio Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe.

There are four changes, all among the forwards, as head coach Gregor Townsend reacts to a disappointing 18-15 opening defeat in Italy.

George Turner takes over from the injured Ewan Ashman at hooker, while former skipper Jamie Ritchie comes into the back row in place of Matt Fagerson.

Nathan McBeth makes his first start in the competition at loosehead prop, with Glasgow Warriors team-mate Gregor Brown at lock.

That takes the number of players from the United Rugby Championship leaders in the team to 10, with four more among the replacements.

There are no Edinburgh players in the XV.

David Cherry offers back-up at hooker on the bench, where he is joined by winger Graham, as Kinghorn and Van der Merwe miss out entirely.

The nation’s record try-scorer, Van der Merwe has six scores against England, including a hat-trick the last time they met at Murrayfield in 2024.

England started the tournament by thumping Wales 48-7 at Twickenham, making it 12 successive Test victories.

Scotland lost 16-15 in London last year, having won the previous four encounters with England.

Andy Burke, BBC Sport Scotland

After that dismal display in Rome, Townsend was always going to have some tough decisions to make.

There might have been a temptation to recall Van der Merwe, who has such a wonderful personal record against England.

The under-fire head coach has instead shown faith in the back three of Kyle Steyn, Jamie Dobie and Tom Jordan, who struggled individually and collectively at the Stadio Olimpico.

Ritchie should bring some edge that was sorely missing against Italy and his ability in the air will be vital in a match that could be won and lost in that area.

Scotland: Jordan, Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), Dobie, Russell, White; McBeth, Turner, Z Fagerson, Brown, Cummings, Ritchie, Darge, Dempsey.