Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn has replaced regular fly-half Finn Russell as one of two changes for their final game of the Six Nations against title-chasing Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Russell has been a mainstay in this year’s championship but is on the bench in a surprise switch by coach Gregor Townsend.
“We see this as an opportunity for Blair. He’s been in really good form,” Townsend told reporters on Thursday. “He wasn’t available for our match last week, but the week before that he played his best game of the season against Connacht.”
Townsend admits it was not an easy conversation to have with Russell, but believes a change is needed.
“When you give someone news that they’re not starting they’re initially disappointed but they support the team,” he said. “With Blair’s strengths, he’s a very good passer, an excellent runner, he has a long-kicking game and he moves well between phases.
“He senses where the space might appear in the defence very well.”
The other change to the starting XV from the team that defeated Italy 33-22 in Rome last weekend sees lock Jonny Gray, who missed the last two games with injury, replace Sam Skinner.
Kinghorn has been impressive for Edinburgh during the United Rugby Championship in recent weeks, including in a victory over Irish side Connacht, and will partner scrum-half Ali Price.
Chris Harris and Sam Johnson are the centre pairing, while captain Stuart Hogg is at fullback and makes up the back three with wings Kyle Steyn and Darcy Graham. Duhan van der Merwe sits out the second game of a three-match suspension.
Hooker George Turner will have props Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson either side of him, while Grant Gilchrist makes up the lock pairing with Gray.
The back row contains flankers Hamish Watson and Rory Darge, with Matt Fagerson at No. 8.
Scotland can finish as high as third with a victory on Saturday. Victory for France over England in Paris in the late game will secure a Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, Ireland have made three changes with Mack Hansen replacing Andrew Conway on the wing.
British & Irish Lions No. 8 Jack Conan also returns to the back of the scrum, while Iain Henderson has been named at lock for a game Ireland will likely have to win to stand a chance of claiming the Six Nations title.
Conway has a knee injury so Hansen is restored to the starting lineup having been impressive on debut against Wales in the opening game of the championship. He also played against Italy and France, but was dropped against England last weekend.
Henderson comes in for James Ryan, who was concussed inside two minutes of the 32-15 win at Twickenham in the incident that saw Charlie Ewels receive a red card.
Conan was also impressive off the bench in that game as Ireland pulled clear in the final 20 minutes and he gets the nod ahead of flanker Peter O’Mahony.
That means Caelan Doris switches from number eight to the blind-side of the scrum, with Josh van der Flier at open-side.
Captain Johnny Sexton will form the half-back pairing with scrum-half Jamison Gibson Park, while Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose are retained in the midfield.
Hansen and James Lowe are on the wing, with Hugo Keenan at fullback.
The front row will be the same as the one that struggled at times against England, with props Cian Healy and Tadhg Furlong alongside hooker Dan Sheehan, while lock Tadhg Beirne partners Henderson.
For Ireland to top the standings they will probably have to beat Scotland and hope England win in Paris, though there are a variety of scenarios involving bonus points and points difference that mean a draw, or even a defeat, could be good enough for either side.
Ireland XV:
Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton (captain), Jamison Gibson Park, Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Iain Henderson, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Robbie Henshaw.
Scotland XV:
Stuart Hogg, Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Sam Johnson, Kyle Steyn, Blair Kinghorn, Ali Price, Matt Fagerson, Hamish Watson, Rory Darge, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, Zander Fagerson, George Turner, Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Allan Dell, WP Nel, Sam Skinner, Josh Bayliss, Ben White, Finn Russell, Mark Bennett.