Stuart Hogg will win his 100th Test cap, as Scotland go in search of a Triple Crown against unbeaten Ireland in Sunday’s Six Nations clash at Murrayfield.
Glasgow No. 8 Jack Dempsey joins the pack alongside lock Jonny Gray, included after Grant Gilchrist was banned after being sent off in a defeat by France last month.
Dempsey made his Scotland debut last year after a change in world rugby’s eligibility rules allowed the Glasgow back-row to switch allegiance from his native Australia.
The 28-year-old will wear the No. 8 shirt, with Matt Fagerson moving to fill the flanker position vacated by Hamish Watson.
Scotland’s third-round defeat by France ended their hopes of a Grand Slam.
But they will claim their first Triple Crown since 1990 if they win in Edinburgh against an Ireland team bidding for a clean sweep.
The Triple Crown is the reward for beating all three of the other “home” nations in any one tournament, comprising England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Scotland – 15 Stuart Hogg; 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White; 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Luke Crosbie, 6 Jamie Ritchie (c); 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Richie Gray; 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Subs: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Ali Price, 22 Blair Kinghorn, 23 Chris Harris.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Getty Images