Find out who is in the mix for Gregor Townsend against Italy

Gregor Townsend has made two changes to Scotland’s starting XV to play Ireland in the final round of the Six Nations.

Stafford McDowall will make his Six Nations debut at centre. He won his first cap for Scotland in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match againts Italy last year. He is playing as Sione Tuipulotu is still injured and Cameron Redpath drops to the bench.

Related: How to watch the 2024 Six Nations wherever you are

Also in the backs Ben White makes a return to the nine shirt with George Horne dropping to the bench.

The forwards remain unchanged with Andy Christie retaining his number six shirt. Former captain Jamie Ritchie drops out of the matchday 23.

Scotland team to play Ireland in the Six Nations

Starting XV: Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Stafford McDowall, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Andy Christie, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Cameron Redpath, Kyle Rowe.

Scotland team to play Italy in the Six Nations

Starting XV: Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Cameron Redpath, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, George Horne; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Andy Christie, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Fagerson, Ali Price, Kyle Rowe

Scotland team to play England in the Six Nations

Starting XV: Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Andy Christie, George Horne, Ben Healy, Cameron Redpath.

Scotland team to play France in the Six Nations

Starting XV: Harry Paterson; Kyle Rowe, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Andy Christie, George Horne, Ben Healy, Cam Redpath

Scotland team to play Wales in Six Nations

Starting XV: Kyle Rowe, Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Richie Gray, Scott Cummings, Luke Crosbie, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Fagerson

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Jack Dempsey, George Horne, Ben Healy, Cam Redpath

Scotland Six Nations squad 2024

Forwards

Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (13)
Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (5)
Jamie Bhatti – Glasgow Warriors (34)
Andy Christie – Saracens (4)
Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (34)
Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (16)
Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (15) CO-CAPTAIN
Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (68)
Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (41)
Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (63)
Alec Hepburn – Exeter Chiefs (1)
Johnny Matthews – Glasgow Warriors (1)
Elliot Millar-Mills – Northampton Saints (1)
WP Nel – Edinburgh Rugby (61)
Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (47)
Javan Sebastian – Edinburgh Rugby (7)
Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (27)
Sam Skinner – Edinburgh Rugby (31)
George Turner – Glasgow Warriors (41)
Glen Young – Edinburgh Rugby (3)

Backs

Ben Healy – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (27)
Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (8)
Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (44)
Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (50)
Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (1)
Ross McCann – Great Britain Sevens (uncapped)
Harry Paterson – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
Ali Price – Edinburgh Rugby (66)
Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby (9)
Arron Reed – Sale Sharks (uncapped)
Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (2)
Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (76) CO-CAPTAIN
Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (16)
Ross Thompson – Glasgow Warriors (3)
Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (23)
Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (35)
Ben White – Toulon (19)

Scotland Six Nations Fixtures 2024

(All kick-off times are GMT)

Round 1

Sat 3 Feb, Wales 26-27 Scotland – Principality Stadium, 4.45pm Scotland survive epic Wales comeback to finally end 22-year hoodoo

Round 2

Sat 10 Feb, Scotland 16-20 France – Scottish Gas Murrayfield, 2.15pm Scotland denied at the death by controversial no-try v France

Round 3

Sat 24 Feb, Scotland 30-21 England – Scottish Gas Murrayfield, 4.45pm Duhan van der Merwe hat-trick takes him top of try-scorer standings

Round 4

Sat 9 Mar, Italy v Scotland – Stadio Olimpico, 2.15pm

Round 5

Sat 16 Mar, Ireland v Scotland – Aviva Stadium, 4.45pm

Follow our Six Nations homepage which we update regularly with news and features.

Also make sure you know about the Fixtures, Injuries, TV Coverage by clicking on the highlighted links.

Download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door.

Follow Rugby World on FacebookInstagram and Twitter/X.