Three Scotland Changes For Key Visit To Ireland

Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist shape a new-look 2nd statement and Zander Fagerson is backmost successful nan starting XV arsenic Scotland pursuit triumph distant to Ireland that could lead to a first Six Nations title.

Scotland's sensational 50-40 triumph complete France astatine Murrayfield has put them successful contention for a first title since their 1999 triumph successful nan aged Five Nations.

However, Scotland person mislaid their past 11 matches against Ireland, person not won successful Dublin since 2010 and person ne'er won 4 games successful a Six Nations campaign.

They besides request defending champions France to gaffe up astatine location to England.

Head coach Gregor Townsend insists his squad are "fresh" and "loving playing together" aft an unthinkable show against nan French but played down questions referencing nan Dublin showdown arsenic a cup final.

"We've not talked astir that," he said of nan various title permutations. It's nan last opportunity for this group to spell retired and play.

"It'll beryllium a different crippled than past week. You've sewage to adapt, instrumentality together for that 80 minutes and springiness it everything.

"It's retired of our hands really. We tin only do a definite magnitude and that's bully successful a measurement too. It's a crippled for america to play against an force that's had nan precocious manus connected america for years.

"They've sewage a superb grounds astatine home. It's a existent opportunity, a situation but an opportunity for america to spell and present an moreover amended capacity than we did past week."

Locks Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings, who started successful nan wins complete England and France are ruled retired done injury.

Gilchrist will triumph his 88th headdress for his country, becoming Scotland's all-time grounds appearance-maker for a 2nd row.

Williamson is fixed a 2nd chance aft his early removal successful nan comeback triumph successful Wales.

Having travel disconnected nan chair astatine nan halfway shape against France, Zander Fagerson reclaims his spot from D'Arcy Rae.

Winger Kyle Steyn, who has scored 3 tries successful nan tournament, is fresh aft going disconnected pinch a gashed limb past weekend.

There are changes connected nan chair arsenic back-row Magnus Bradbury, fastener Alex Craig and winger / full-back Kyle Rowe make nan matchday 23 for this first clip successful this campaign.

Winger Duhan van der Merwe is among those sidelined, on pinch back-up fly-half Adam Hastings and props Elliot Millar Mills and Nathan McBeth, while Jamie Ritchie and Jamie Dobie picked up injuries earlier successful nan tournament.