'Fun time' - Scotland full-backs Stuart Hogg and Blair Kinghorn clash in France as lucky charm claim refuted

Stuart Hogg is back in the Montpellier side and Blair Kinghorn starts again for Toulouse in what is one of the stand-out fixtures in the Top 14 this weekend.

Hogg wasn’t involved in last week’s game with Perpignan after missing training due to a court appearance in Scotland.

Thomas Vincent, usually a stand-off, played at 15 for Montpellier in Hogg’s absence and helped them to an impressive 26-7 away win over Perpignan in Beziers. But Hogg, who made a try-scoring debut for the club in the opening day defeat at home to Lyon, is back and starts for Montpellier.

Kinghorn, who took over from Hogg at full-back in the Scotland team following the latter’s decision to retire from rugby last summer, has been selected on the wing for Toulouse for the first two rounds but reverts to 15 this weekend, with Thomas Ramos moving to stand-off for the French champions who have taken up where they left off last season, winning their opening two league matches, against Vannes and La Rochelle.

Kinghorn, 27, has yet to lose a match with Toulouse following his big money move from Edinburgh last December and helped his new club win both the Champions Cup and Top 14 double in his first season.

“Yeah it's a bit crazy! 16 games, 16 wins,” said Kinghorn. “I don't think I'm the lucky one but I'm just happy to be here.

“I only arrived in December last year. I never thought I would be able to play these games, these finals with Toulouse last season. Winning the Champions Cup and the Top 14 is something I never considered.”

Hogg, 32, came out of retirement to join Montpellier ahead of the new campaign and looked sharp when playing the full 80 minutes in the narrow 26-22 loss to Lyon.

Kinghorn said he was looking forward to facing Hogg. “It's going to be a fun time,” he said. “The last time I played against him was probably in Edinburgh v Glasgow, six or seven years ago. It's a long time ago.”