Six Nations: Scotland make four changes to face England

Grant Gilchrist and Pierre Schoeman drop out of the Scotland pack to face England in Saturday’s Six Nations meeting at Murrayfield – and there is again no place in the starting XV for British & Irish Lions trio Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe.

There are four changes, all among the forwards, as head coach Gregor Townsend reacts to a disappointing 18-15 opening defeat in Italy.

George Turner takes over from the injured Ewan Ashman at hooker, while former skipper Jamie Ritchie comes into the back row in place of Matt Fagerson.

Nathan McBeth starts at loosehead prop, with Glasgow Warriors team-mate Gregor Brown at lock.

That takes the number of players from the United Rugby Championship leaders in the team to 10, with four more among the replacements.

David Cherry offers back-up at hooker on the bench, where he is joined by Edinburgh wing Graham, as Kinghorn and Van der Merwe miss out entirely.

The nation’s record try-scorer, Van der Merwe has six scores against England, including a hat-trick the last time they met at Murrayfield in 2024.

England started the tournament with a thumping 48-7 home win over Wales.

Scotland lost 16-15 in London last year, having won the previous four encounters with England.

More to follow.