Robinson shuffles Scotland pack

Alastair Kellock
12 April 2012

Scotland go in search of a first RBS 6 Nations win against France in Paris on Saturday with captain Alastair Kellock joined by Glasgow team-mate Richie Gray in the second row and Nathan Hines starting at flanker.

Johnnie Beattie, who missed the autumn internationals following shoulder surgery, has not been selected in coach Andy Robinson's matchday 22, leaving Hines at blindside, Kelly Brown at number eight and John Barclay at openside flanker.

Richie Vernon, who drops out of the starting XV, and Ross Rennie take the back-row replacement places.

Beattie was unable to force his way into a team showing three changes in personnel and two further positional switches from the one which defeated Samoa 19-16 in Aberdeen on November 27.

With Graeme Morrison injured, Nick De Luca will return at inside centre with Joe Ansbro playing outside him.

Max Evans will play on the right wing in place of Sean Lamont.

Scotland's last win in Paris came as they won the final Five Nations Championship title in 1999 - it is their only win at the Stade de France to date.

Head coach Robinson said: "International rugby is about maintaining forward momentum and, as Test matches go, France in the cauldron of Stade de France will be a stern examination.

"I've remarked before that Scotland have produced some stirring one-off victories in the championship in the recent past and that what we need to do is produce winning performances consistently.

"We showed last year that that could be achieved following up our win against Ireland with our tour results in Argentina, though we know that we must be 100% on our top game for that aim to be realised."

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