Scotland name team: Pierre Schoeman, Grant Gilchrist out of Calcutta Cup but backline vote of confidence

Hooker Ewan Ashman also drops out, with a neck injury, and the absence of Schoeman, Gilchrist and Ashman means there are no Edinburgh players in the starting XV.

Schoeman is named on the bench along with club-mate Darcy Graham.

Gregor Townsend has made the four changes in the aftermath of Scotland’s desperately disappointing 18-15 loss to Italy in Rome last weekend. But the head coach has kept faith with his backline, selecting the same seven players who started at the Stadio Olimpico.

No place for Calcutta Cup hero

It means there is no place in the squad for Duhan van der Merwe, so often Scotland’s match-winner in this fixture.

He scored seven tries in five matches against England, including a hat-trick in the last Murrayfield meeting of the sides two years ago.

Blair Kinghorn is also absent from the Scottish 23 for the second week in a row.

Townsend’s four changes all come in the pack. Scotland suffered horribly at the lineout in Rome and the coach has decided to pick George Turner to start at hooker against England. The Harlequins man was a replacement against Italy and was yellow-carded after coming on in the second half but has the chance to atone this weekend. Dave Cherry, the experienced Vannes hooker, is named on the bench.

Nathan McBeth is preferred to Schoeman as the starting loosehead and the Glasgow Warriors prop will be making his first Six Nations start. Schoeman was another who struggled in Rome but could have a significant role to play as a replacement against England.

Gregor Brown to start

Gilchrist, one of Scotland’s most experienced campaigners, is replaced by Gregor Brown who did well as a substitute in the Italy game. Ritchie, meanwhile, is brought back in from the cold and starts at six in place of Matt Fagerson who drops to the bench. Ritchie has impressed Townsend with his form in France for Perpignan.

Once again, the coach has opted for a five-three split of forwards and backs on the replacements’ bench. George Horne, Adam Hastings and Graham cover the backline.

Scotland team to play England

Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Murrayfield, Saturday, 4.40pm

Scotland: 15. Tom Jordan; 14. Kyle Steyn, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Sione Tuipulotu (capt), 11. Jamie Dobie; 10. Finn Russell (vice-capt), 9. Ben White; 1. Nathan McBeth, 2. George Turner, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Gregor Brown, 5. Scott Cummings, 6. Jamie Ritchie, 7. Rory Darge (vice-capt), 8. Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: 16. Dave Cherry, 17. Pierre Schoeman, 18. Elliot Millar Mills, 19. Max Williamson, 20. Matt Fagerson, 21. George Horne, 22. Adam Hastings, 23. Darcy Graham.

Get 50% off an annual subscription to The Scotsman and a chance to win a Scotland rugby shirt as part of our Six Nations deal. Subscribe to unlock full access to our website today.