Scots axe hat-trick hero Blair

GREGOR TOWNsEND admits he had a troubled couple of days before deciding to drop hat-trick hero Blair Kinghorn for the six Nations battle with ireland. After much discussion, the scotland coach opted to go with experienced winger sean Maitland at Murrayfield with Kinghorn on the bench. Kinghorn, 22, was the first scottish player to score a six Nations treble for 30 years as he ran in three times against italy. But Townsend explained: ‘We were always hoping sean would get back fit for this game. sean would have been starting against italy with Tommy seymour if he’d been fit. ‘Blair’s performance meant we had an extended discussion that went on a second day, but we believe that Tommy and sean are best for this game. But nothing should be taken away from Blair’s performance and what he could do if he was selected this week. ‘Players take (being dropped) differently — sometimes they’re quiet, sometimes they’re accepting and sometimes they argue back. Blair was quiet. He’ll be disappointed, i know.’ ireland coach Joe schmidt has recalled full back Rob Kearney, 32, in place of Robbie Henshaw and brought Chris Farrell into the centres. ‘Robbie has a dead leg and hasn’t recovered in time,’ said schmidt. ‘it’s an exciting opportunity to give Chris Farrell a run.’

SCOTLAND: Hogg; Seymour, Jones, Johnson, Maitland, Russell, Laidlaw (capt); Dell, McInally, Berghan, Gilchrist, Gray, Wilson, Ritchie, Strauss. Replacements: Brown, Bhatti, Rae, Toolis, Harley, Price, Horne, Kinghorn.

IRELAND: Kearney; Earls, Farrell, Aki, Stockdale, Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best (capt), Furlong, Ryan, Roux, O’Mahony, O’Brien, Conan. Replacements: Cronin, Kilcoyne, Porter, Dillane, Van Der Flier, Cooney, Carbery, Larmour.