Scotland name side to face Ireland

Vern Cotter has announced his starting line up to face Ireland at Murrayfield. 

The back row consists of Josh Strauss at 8, while Wilson starts on 6 and Watson on 7. 

Brothers Jonny and Ritchie Gray are at lock, while Ford makes way at Hooker for Frasier Brown, who is partnered with Allan Dell and Zander Fagerson.

Laidlow continues to lead the side from scrum-half and will looking to link up well with Finn Russel at flyhalf. 

Huw Jone has recovered from his injury and partners up with Alex Dunbar in the centres.

The team is finished off with Hogg at 15 as he is joined by Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour on the wings.

15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 48 caps; 13 tries, 3 pens, 74 points

14. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 26 caps; 5 tries, 25 points
13. Huw Jones (Stormers) – 3 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
12. Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps; 5 caps, 25 points
11. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 31 caps, 14 tries, 70 points10. Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 22 caps; 2 tries, 3 cons, 1 pen, 19 points
9. Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester) CAPTAIN – 56 caps; 4 tries, 74 cons, 134 pens, 570 points

1. Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby) – 3 caps
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 4 caps
4. Richie Gray (Toulouse) – 60 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 28 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
6. Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 23 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps, 1 try, 5 points
8. Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps

Substitutes:
16. Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 102 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17. Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps
18. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped
19. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 25 caps
20. John Barclay (Scarlets) – 55 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 caps
22. Duncan Weir (Edinburgh Rugby) – 23 caps; 2 tries, 7 cons, 10 pens, 1 drop, 57 points
23. Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps, 6 tries, 30 points

Finishing above France and Italy in the 2016 Six Nations tournament, followed by a good Autumn, Scotland will be heading into the 2017 full of confidence.  

Scotland will be hosting Ireland at Murrayfield for their opening 2017 Six Nations match on Saturday, 4 February.

Scotland will play 3 home matches (vs Ireland, Wales and Italy) and 2 away matches (vs England and France) in the 2017 Six Nations Championship.