Rugby World Cup 2023 build-up: France v Scotland - Jamie Ritchie returns

Captain Jamie Ritchie returns in one of six changes to the Scotland team for the second of the back-to-back World Cup warm-up games against France.

The flanker missed Scotland's first two matches of a four-game World Cup build-up but will pack down in the back row alongside Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey.

WP Nel comes in for banned prop Zander Fagerson in a front row also featuring George Turner and Pierre Schoeman.

Scrum-half Ali Price is paired with Finn Russell at half-back.

Ben White, established as Gregor Townsend's favoured scrum-half in 2023, limped out of last Saturday's victory against France at Murrayfield with an ankle injury and Price has been preferred to George Horne as his replacement.

Ritchie has had a calf issue but will start at blindside flanker in place of Matt Fagerson on Saturday, with Darge coming in for Hamish Watson on the openside.

Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones will start in the centre together for Scotland for the seventh time in 2023.

Darcy Graham - so electric in last week's remarkable fightback against France - is not in the 23 so the back three comprises Kyle Steyn and Duhan van der Merwe on the wings and Blair Kinghorn at full-back.

"This week is an opportunity to manage people's game time - Darcy has played in the two games - and give others an opportunity," said Townsend, who does not believe White's injury will threaten his World Cup involvement.

"Jamie [Ritchie] was back in full training this week. He is the only player who hasn't had game time, but he has coped well in the fast training we have done this week.

"WP Nel was really good off the bench last week and has trained fully throughout this pre-season, which was ahead of our expectations. He's in great condition and is highly motivated to still play for Scotland."

Richie Gray and Grant Gilchrist continue in the second row as Scotland build towards the World Cup opener against defending champions South Africa next month.

There is a six-two split on the bench with front-rowers Stuart McInally, Rory Sutherland and Javan Sebastian joined by lock Scott Cummings and back-row forwards Sam Skinner and Josh Bayliss.

"We know some teams like to use a six-two split, probably our first World Cup opponents South Africa will, and it gives us an opportunity to see how it works - and we know we have flexibility in our backs," added Townsend.

After the game in St Etienne Townsend must cull another four players from his squad by Wednesday - to give him a 33-man pool for the World Cup - before playing Georgia at Murrayfield on 19 August.

France will field a team that looks close to what might be regarded as their first-choice XV after coach Fabien Galthie made 13 changes from the side that lost to 14-man Scotland last weekend.

Only loose forward Paul Boudehent, who won his first cap in Edinburgh, and lock Cameron Woki remain in the starting line-up from last week.

Woki is retained after Paul Willemse was injured in training this week and Romain Taofifenua has a thigh strain.

Boudehent is joined in a powerful back row by Gregory Alldritt at number eight and openside flanker Charles Ollivon.

Captain Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack are restored at half-back alongside the dangerous centre pairing of Gael Fickou and Jonathan Danty.

France v Scotland line-ups

T Ramos; D Penaud, G Fickou, J Danty, G Villiere; R Ntamack, A Dupont; G Alldritt, C Ollivon, P Boudehent; T Flament, C Woki; D Aldegheri, J Marchand, C Baille.

Replacements: P Bourgarit, J-B Gros, U Atonio, F Verhaeghe; B Chalureau, S Macalou; M Lucu, L Bielle-Biarrey.

B Kinghorn; K Steyn, H Jones, S Tuipulotu, D van der Merwe; F Russell, A Price; P Schoeman, G Turner, W Nel; R Gray, G Gilchrist; J Ritchie, R Darge, J Dempsey.

Replacements: S McInally, R Sutherland, J Sebastian, S Cummings, S Skinner, J Bayliss, G Horne, O Smith.