Scotland are making five changes in personnel and two further positional switches. Introduced to the team are scrum-half Rory Lawson and hooker Ross Ford, both making their first starts for their country, wing Nikki Walker, his first starting cap for five years, centre Andrew Henderson and No 8 Johnnie Beattie.

Chris Paterson – who set two Scotland Six Nations records last week for most points (61) and most penalties (16) in a championship – moves from wing to full-back following Hugo Southwell’s shoulder injury and Rob Dewey will operate at outside centre.

Omitted from the team defeated 18-19 by Ireland last weekend are Dougie Hall, Chris Cusiter, Marcus Di Rollo and Dave Callam.

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden said: “We are keen to give Ross Ford, Johnnie Beattie and Rory Lawson an opportunity to start a Six Nations match in order for us to learn a bit more about them.  We are confident in their ability and they get this chance to prove they are capable of starting a game of this importance.

“In pairing Rob Dewey with Andrew Henderson in the centre and also in selecting Nikki Walker, whose qualities will suit the way we wish to play on Saturday, we will have a very big back division, full of pace and power.”

Scotland team to play France in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Stade de France, Paris on Saturday 17 March, kick-off 3.30pm GMT
15 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby)(capt)
14 Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints)
13 Rob Dewey (Edinburgh Rugby)
12 Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors)
11 Nikki Walker (The Ospreys)
10 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Rory Lawson (Gloucester)
1 Gavin Kerr (Border Reivers)
2 Ross Ford (Border Reivers)
3 Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors)
4 Nathan Hines (Perpignan)
5 Scott Murray (Edinburgh Rugby)
6 Simon Taylor (Edinburgh Rugby)
7 Kelly Brown (Border Reivers)
8 Johnnie Beattie (Glasgow Warriors)

Substitutes:
16 Dougie Hall (Edinburgh Rugby)
17 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby)
18 Jim Hamilton (Leicester Tigers)
19 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Rugby)
20 Chris Cusiter (Border Reivers)
21 Marcus Di Rollo (Edinburgh Rugby)
22 Rory Lamont (Glasgow Warriors)