Darge & Gilchrist back for Scotland against France

Rory Darge is fit to make his 16th appearance for Scotland

Scotland co-captain Rory Darge is fit to start against France at Murrayfield on the second week of the Six Nations.

Grant Gilchrist returns from a ban to replace the injured Richie Gray in the second row.

With Blair Kinghorn recovering from a knee problem, Kyle Rowe continues at full-back.

Andy Christie earns a place on the bench, with Dempsey promoted to the starting line-up.

Dempsey takes the number eight jersey, with Matt Fagerson shifting to blindside flanker and Darge operating on the openside.

France started with a 38-17 home defeat by defending champions Ireland, while Scotland clung on for a dramatic 27-26 victory in Cardiff.

Scotland and France met three times in 2023, with Gregor Townsend's side falling to a 32-21 Six Nations defeat in Paris, while the spoils were shared in two warm-up games before the World Cup.

Scotland: Rowe; Steyn, H Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; Russell (co-capt), White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge (co-capt), Dempsey.

Replacements: Ashman, Hepburn, Millar-Mills, Skinner, Christie, G Horne, Healy, Redpath.