Six Nations Rugby: Grimes axed by Scotland

Newcastle lock Stuart Grimes has been axed from the Scotland side to face Lloyds TSB Six Nations favourites France at Murrayfield.

Grimes has paid the price for a below-par display in the 43-22 defeat by Ireland three weeks ago, as coach Ian McGeechan tries to find the right formula to beat the Grand Slam-chasing French.

McGeechan has opted to switch Jason White from the back-row to partner Scott Murray, with Martin Leslie coming off the replacements’ bench to give the Scots a more aggressive edge.

The selection was a double celebration for the Leslie family as Martin’s older brother John also returns.

McGeechan saw the Northampton centre turn in an outstanding display for his club in their Powergen Cup semi-final hammering of Newcastle a fortnight ago, and has chosen him ahead of Glasgow’s Andrew Henderson.

Stand-off Gregor Townsend will equal the Scottish record of 65 caps as he takes on a team he knows well from his experiences in France with Brieve and Heineken Cup semi-finalists Castres.

McGeechan said the return of the Leslie brothers bore no reflection in the performances of Grimes and young centre Henderson, who has impressed since breaking into the national side in September.

‘‘Andrew will benefit from the rest,’’ said Scotland coach.

‘‘He will stay with the squad all week because I want to try to manage him over an 18-month period.

‘‘The last thing I want to do is over-pressurise him. He has played a lot of rugby over the last 12 months and we shouldn’t under-estimate the progress he has made.

‘‘But we don’t want to put that at risk by getting any adverse effects from playing too much rugby.’’

Scotland team for the Lloyds TSB Six Nations international with France at Murrayfield on Saturday, March 23 (1600): B Laney (Edinburgh); C Paterson (Edinburgh), J McLaren (Glasgow), J Leslie (Northampton), G Metcalfe (Glasgow); G Townsend (Castres), B Redpath (Sale, cpt); T Smith (Northampton), G Bulloch (Glasgow), M Stewart (Northampton), S Murray (Saracens), J White (Glasgow), M Leslie (Edinburgh), B Pountney (Northampton), S Taylor (Edinburgh).

Replacements: G Graham (Newcastle), R Russell (Saracens), S Grimes (Newcastle), J Petrie (Glasgow), G Beveridge (Glasgow), D Hodge (Edinburgh), K Logan (Wasps).