Gregor Townsend announced a Scotland starting side without a single Edinburgh player as he made four changes to his pack for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash at home to an in-form England.
Glasgow prop Nathan McBeth is set for his first Six Nations start following last week’s dismal loss to Italy in Scotland’s tournament opener.
Back-row Matt Fagerson, lock Grant Gilchrist, loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman and hooker Ewan Ashman were all omitted from the starting team announced by Townsend on Thursday after an 18-15 loss in Rome.
The under-pressure Townsend replaced the experienced quartet hwith Jamie Ritchie, Gregor Brown, McBeth and George Turner for the Edinburgh encounter with England.
Former Scotland playmaker Townsend has retained the same back division that started at the Stadio Olimpico.
That means Scotland’s top two try-scorers of all time — wings Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham — as well as British and Irish Lions full-back Blair Kinghorn have all been again been left out by Townsend.
Graham is at least on the bench as part of a 5-3 split between forwards and backs, with Kinghorn and Van der Merwe once more failing to make the matchday 23 entirely.
Scotland only have two professional clubs: Edinburgh and Glasgow.
But while Glasgow are top of the United Rugby Championship table, with Champions Cup wins over European heavyweights Toulouse and Saracens also to their credit this season, Edinburgh are languishing in 13th in the 16-strong URC table.
The absence of Gilchrist, Schoeman and Ashman means there are no Edinburgh players in the starting XV for the latest edition of rugby union’s oldest international fixture.
England, who named their side on Tuesday, are on a 12-match unbeaten run following a 48-7 thrashing of Wales at Twickenham last weekend.
But Scotland have five wins and a draw in eight Calcutta Cup clashes under Townsend, with England looking for a first success at Murrayfield since 2020 on Saturday.
Scotland (15-1)
Tom Jordan; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Jamie Dobie; Finn Russell, Ben White; Jack Dempsey, Rory Darge, Jamie Ritchie; Scott Cummings, Gregor Brown; Zander Fagerson, George Turner, Nathan McBeth
Replacements: Dave Cherry, Pierre Schoeman, Elliot Millar Mills, Max Williamson, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Adam Hastings, Darcy Graham
Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)
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