De Luca impressed off the bench last week and earns a start

Scotland have made one change in personnel in their starting team for Saturday’s Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin.

Nick De Luca, the Edinburgh centre, who impressed off the bench against France, returns with Sean Lamont moving to take up his customary wing berth in place of his injured younger brother, Rory.

On the bench meanwhile, there are three changes with Euan Murray, Ruaridh Jackson and Max Evans replacing Ed Kalman, Duncan Weir and De Luca respectively.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: “We did many good things in the game against France but we need to be better, especially in our accuracy and execution at breakdown, in order to beat Ireland.

“If we do the basic things well and are ruthless in contact then we can put ourselves in a position to defeat a very good Ireland team.”

Robinson is asking De Luca to replicate the form he showed against France by handing him the starting berth, while he also welcomes back Jackson.  “Ruaridh has worked hard and done well in his games with Glasgow.

“He had a tough time with injury following the Rugby World Cup but he has the strength of character required in international rugby. We are also delighted to see Max and Euan back in the squad and look forward to their contribution this weekend.”

Starting XV:
15 Stuart Hogg
14 Lee Jones
13 Nick De Luca
12 Graeme Morrison
11 Sean Lamont
10 Greig Laidlaw
9 Mike Blair
1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford (CAPTAIN)
3 Geoff Cross
4 Richie Gray
5 Jim Hamilton
6 John Barclay
7 Ross Rennie
8 David Denton

Substitutes
16 Scott Lawson
17 Euan Murray
18 Alastair Kellock
19 Richie Vernon
20 Chris Cusiter
21 Ruaridh Jackson
22 Max Evans