Six Nations: Haining replaces injured Fagerson as Scotland visit France

Scotland have lost Matt Fagerson to a training injury on the eve of Friday’s Six Nations finale against France.

Chris Harris, Ali Price and George Turner are restored as the Scots look for a first win in Paris since 1999.

Fly-half Finn Russell is also back after missing last weekend’s win over Italy having suffered a concussion in the defeat by Ireland.

Captain Stuart Hogg returns to full-back – with Sean Maitland not in the squad – after deputising for Russell.

Huw Jones, Scott Steele and Dave Cherry move to the bench, where they are joined by Adam Hastings after his ban. The Glasgow fly-half has not featured in the tournament this year because of injury and suspension.

Wilson joins his club-mate as a late call-up replacement and could win his 50th cap.

“Given Ryan’s Test match experience and his form this season, we believe he will grab his opportunity,” said head coach Gregor Townsend.

“Nick now has the opportunity from the start to show his abilities in what will be a great challenge for our forward pack. It’s disappointing for Matt, who has been playing consistently well throughout the championship.”

Edinburgh’s Haining will be making his third international start and has come off the bench against Ireland and Italy in this season’s tournament.

Only five England-based players could be selected following an agreement with the Premiership, with Saracens winger Maitland among those left out.

France need a big win to leapfrog Wales at the top of the table, while Scotland will finish second in the championship if they win by a margin of eight points.

Fly-half Romain Ntamack, the leading points scorer in last year’s championship, replaces the injured Matthieu Jalibert as the hosts make five changes.

Second-row pair Bernard Le Roux and Swan Rebbadj, flanker Anthony Jelonch and centre Arthur Vincent have also been recalled.

Paul Willemse begins a two-match ban after being sent off for making contact with the eye of Wales prop Wyn Jones, while fellow lock Romain Taofifenua drops to the bench, along with flanker Dylan Cretin and wing Teddy Thomas.

Gael Fickou has been moved from inside centre to the left wing to accommodate Vincent, while Damian Penaud has switched flanks.

The game was originally scheduled for 28 February but was called off after an outbreak of Covid-19 in the France camp, with head coach Fabien Galthie and 11 players testing positive for the virus.

France: 15-Brice Dulin, 14-Damian Penaud, 13-Virimi Vakatawa, 12-Arthur Vincent, 11-Gael Fickou, 10-Romain Ntamack, 9-Antoine Dupont; 1-Cyril Baille, 2- Julien Marchand, 3-Mohamed Haouas, 4- Bernard Le Roux, 5-Swan Rebbadj, 6-Anthony Jelonch, Charles Ollivon (capt), 8-Gregory Alldritt.

Replacements: 16-Camille Chat, 17-Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18-Uini Atonio, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Dylan Cretin, 21-Baptiste Serin, 22-Anthony Bouthier, 23-Teddy Thomas.

Scotland: 15-Stuart Hogg (capt), 14-Darcy Graham, 13-Chris Harris, 12-Sam Johnson, 11-Duhan van der Merwe, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Ali Price; 1-Rory Sutherland, 2-George Turner, 3-Zander Fagerson, 4-Sam Skinner, 5-Grant Gilchrist, 6-Jamie Ritchie, 7-Hamish Watson, 8-Nick Haining

Replacements: 16-Dave Cherry, 17-Oli Kebble, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Alex Craig, 20-Ryan Wilson, 21-Scott Steele, 22-Adam Hastings, 23-Huw Jones