Scotland have three clear gambles in selection for the RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland with Fraser Brown, Huw Jones and Ryan Wilson all included.
Brown will start in place of veteran centurion Ross Ford in a front row completely changed from last year’s unit that provided such a strong foundation for the Scots in the championship.
With Al Dickinson and WP Nel both injured, Allan Dell and Zander Fagerson continue from the autumn test series at the prop positions.
In the back row Wilson is preferred to John Barclay at blindside and his Glasgow clubmate Josh Strauss, also a big part of the Warriors strong recent run, in at No 8.
In the centre Huw Jones, who hasn’t played since he injured a foot scoring a try against Argentina back in November, will start in the midfield with Alex Dunbar, with Mark Bennett dropping to the bench.
The only uncapped player in the matchday squad is Edinburgh tight head prop Simon Berghan, who is preferred to Jon Welsh on the bench. Barclay is also among the replacements.
Scotland team: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); Sean Maitland (Saracens), Huw Jones (Stormers), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors); Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester, capt); Allan Dell (Edinburgh), Fraser Brown (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors); Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Toulouse); Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors)., Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Scarlets), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Edinburgh), Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors)
