Hat-trick hero Kingorn drops to bench

– Fit-again wing Sean Maitland (left) has gone straight into Scotland’s starting XV to play Ireland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield tomorrow despite Blair Kingorn, the man he replaced, scoring a hat-trick against Italy.

Maitland has recovered from a hamstring injury that saw the Saracens wing miss Scotland’s tournament-opening 33-20 win at home to Italy last weekend.

Kinghorn, who ran in three tries against the Azzurri, drops to the bench with Maitland lining up alongside fellow British and Irish Lions Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour in the back three.

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has made four changes in all for the visit of champions Ireland to Murrayfield, with the other three switches coming in the pack.

Pop Simon Berghan and backrow Josh Strauss start in place of the injured Willem Nel (calf) and Sam Skinner (ankle) respectively.

Meanwhile Jonny Gray’s recovery from a shoulder injury sees him replace lock Ben Toolis, who moves to the bench.

Reigning Six Nations champions Ireland, whose hopes of backto-back Grand Slams ended with a 32-20 defeat by England in Dublin last weekend, have to name their side. – AFP