Gregor Townsend: It’s the right time to replace Finn Russell with Blair Kinghorn

Gregor Townsend has named his team for Ireland (Mike Egerton/PA)

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend insists he would prefer to focus on why he selected Blair Kinghorn to start at stand-off rather than the demotion of talisman Finn Russell to the bench for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash in Ireland.

The Racing 92 number 10 has not been at his brilliant best in this year’s tournament but eyebrows have been raised by the decision to replace him for a formidable trip to Dublin with 25-year-old Edinburgh player Kinghorn, who has made only one start for the national team.