London--Scotland coach Vern Cotter has given Six Nations debuts to Mark Bennett, Finn Russell and Blair Cowan in the team he announced Thursday for their 2015 Championship opener away to France in Paris on Saturday.
Following an encouraging end-of-year-series, Cotter's 1st XV for what will also be the New Zealander's first Six Nations match as Scotland coach shows just two changes from the team that beat Tonga 37-12 in November with the Glasgow pair of outside centre Bennett and tighthead prop Euan Murray recalled.
Up front, Jonny and Richie Gray will pack down alongside each other in the second row for the fourth consecutive Test, with the side again captained by Gloucester scrum-half Greig Laidlaw.
The Scotland skipper will have Glasgow fly-half Russell outside him, with 'kilted Kiwi' Cowan at openside flanker.
"Seeing the passion and desire among our players in the build up to the tournament has been special," Cotter said in a Scottish Rugby Union statement.
"The players really enjoy the atmosphere of these big occasions, and the pressure of having to perform for their country, in front of huge crowds."
Cotter, who previously coached French Top 14 club Clermont, added: "France will be tough. They will be very difficult to contain so we'll have to stay tight as a unit, work hard for each other and try to apply some pressure.
"It'll be a very tough start to the championship, but we're looking forward to that challenge."
France have won their last eight matches against Scotland but were pushed close last year before recording a 19-17 victory at Murrayfield.
Scotland (15-1)
Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Tim Visser; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Johnnie Beattie, Blair Cowan, Rob Harley; Jonny Gray, Richie Gray; Euan Murray, Ross Ford, Alasdair Dickinson
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Gordon Reid, Geoff Cross, Jim Hamilton, Alasdair Strokosch, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Peter Horne, Dougie Fife
AFP
