Mike Blair retains the Scotland captaincy against England © Getty Images

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Matches: Scotland 15 - 9 England

Players/Officials: Mike Blair

England's preparations for this weekend's clash with Scotland took a dramatic turn on Thursday when coach Brian Ashton opted for a late change to his line-up with Danny Cipriani dropped from the side for "inappropriate behaviour".

Cipriani, who was set to make his first start for England, had been handed the full-back role instead of Gloucester's Iain Balshaw but has paid a hefty price for being pictured in a newspaper leaving a London nightclub after midnight.

The 20-year-old, whose two previous England appearances both came during the current Six Nations campaign as a substitute against Wales and Italy, has been dropped from the matchday squad altogether.

Ashton said: ''I've taken the decision regarding Danny and the matter is now closed.'I will keep an open mind on selecting him for future games.'' The RFU added that no further disciplinary action would be taken against Cipriani, but he has been ''warned and advised'' about his future conduct.

As a result Balshaw retains his place at No.15 with Sale Sharks' Charlie Hodgson joining the replacements. Ashton makes two other changes from the side that beat France 24-13 in Paris 10 days ago. Bath hooker Lee Mears is preferred to Bristol veteran Mark Regan, who misses out completely, with Leicester forward George Chuter providing bench cover.

It will be Mears' 22nd cap, but only his fourth start, and first since England faced South Africa at Twickenham in November 2006. Ashton's decision could signal the end for 36-year-old Regan as an international player after 46 caps during a Test career that started more than 12 years ago.

Chuter, meanwhile, has not been on England Test duty since the World Cup last autumn. The other switch is enforced, as Leicester flanker Tom Croft takes over from Wasps' James Haskell. Haskell suffered an ankle injury during the France clash and was replaced by 6ft 5in Croft barely 20 minutes into the game.

England are still in the Six Nations title shake-up, but their points difference is vastly inferior to current leaders Wales. Realistically, they need victory over Scotland - and by a sizeable margin - to remain in the hunt ahead of meeting Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday week.

Scotland have recalled number eight Simon Taylor for Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash - but there is no place for Scott Murray in Frank Hadden's match-day squad. Taylor, 28, will make his first appearance since the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina after recovering from a hand injury.

The exclusion of Murray from the 22-man squad comes as a surprise, with the 87-cap lock's recall expected to see him handed at least a place on the bench. Stade Francais back-row forward Taylor replaces Kelly Brown who drops to the bench, and Hadden has shown belief in his team by making just one further change, as Graeme Morrison replaces Glasgow Warriors team-mate Andy Henderson at inside centre.

Scotland have lost all three of their matches in the RBS 6 Nations this season, slumping to defeats against rance, Wales and Ireland. Head coach Hadden expects Taylor, who will win his 59th cap, to strengthen the side. Hadden said: ''Simon Taylor has played well in the three games for his club since recovering from a hand injury and he is now ready to return to the national side.

''Graeme Morrison is being rewarded for his outstanding performances for the Scotland A team, away in Italy and then against Ireland A at Perth.''

The captaincy remains with scrum-half Mike Blair, however regular skipper Jason White should be involved at some stage. He is named on the bench after recovering from a head injury. There had been questions over the fitness of Nathan Hines and Scott MacLeod but both men keep their places in the second row.

Hadden expects the pair to be fully fit for Saturday so he opted to exclude Montauban man Murray from his squad, just a day after his arrival in Edinburgh to strengthen Scotland's options. Edinburgh centre Nick De Luca was unavailable to Hadden after sustaining an ankle injury on Magners League duty with his club last Friday.

White's selection among the substitutes may raise some eyebrows. The Sale Sharks flanker suffered concussion during Scotland's match in Cardiff last month and missed the clash with Ireland as a result. His omission from the starting line-up suggests he is being left out on merit, or is barely match fit.

Key Battles:

HUGO SOUTHWELL (Scotland) v IAIN BALSHAW (England)

Scotland full-back Southwell has had little chance to showcase his attacking skills in a side that has scored just one try during successive Six Nations defeats against France, Wales and Ireland.

But there is unquestionably less pressure on him than his England counterpart Balshaw, who has been called back into the side following England head coach Brian Ashton's decision to ditch Danny Cipriani. Balshaw's form is a concern, and he has it all to prove in anticipated wet and windy conditions at Murrayfield.

CHRIS PATERSON (Scotland) v JONNY WILKINSON (England)

Fly-half Paterson's goalkicking was a vital component of Scotland's 18-12 victory over England at Murrayfield two years ago, and he will punish the World Cup finalists if poor discipline allows him opportunities.

Whatever Paterson achieves tomorrow though, it will be eclipsed the minute Wilkinson slots a first successful kick to take him past Neil Jenkins' world Test points record for Wales and the Lions of 1090.

ALASDAIR STROKOSCH (Scotland) v TOM CROFT (England)

Dynamic Gloucester flanker Strokosch has commanded rave reviews for his displays in the Guinness Premiership this season, and he is performing sufficiently well to keep a fit-again Jason White on the Scotland bench. Strokosch's work-rate and power make him a key weapon in Scotland's armoury.

Opposite number Croft grew impressively into his Test debut against France after replacing an injured James Haskell. Tall, rangy and quick, his pace could prove a real problem for Scotland's defence if England can utilise him in attacking channels.

SIMON TAYLOR (Scotland) v NICK EASTER (England)

Injury-plagued Stade Francais number eight Taylor begins his latest comeback in Scotland colours tomorrow, and that should concern England, given his potential to deliver world-class performances at the highest level.

England must look to keep Taylor and company on the back foot, with Easter controlling operations from number eight. The Harlequins forward was named man-of-the-match in Paris, an achievement he repeated for his club in their impressive victory over Gloucester last weekend, so England would warmly welcome a hat-trick.

Teams for Scotland versus England, RBS 6 Nations Championship, Murrayfield, tomorrow, 1515.

Scotland: H Southwell (Edinburgh); R Lamont (Sale Sharks), S Webster (Edinburgh), G Morrison (Glasgow), N Walker (Ospreys); C Paterson (Gloucester), M Blair (Edinburgh, capt); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), N Hines (Perpignan), S MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), A Strokosch (Gloucester), A Hogg (Edinburgh), S Taylor (Stade Francais).

Replacements: F Thomson (Glasgow), A Dickinson (Gloucester), C Smith (Edinburgh), J White (Sale Sharks), K Brown (Glasgow), R Lawson (Gloucester), D Parks (Glasgow).

England: I Balshaw (Gloucester); P Sackey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), T Flood (Newcastle), L Vainikolo (Gloucester); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps, capt), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Bath), T Croft (Leicester), M Lipman (Bath), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), B Kay (Leicester), L Narraway (Gloucester), P Hodgson (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks).

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa).

Touch judges: Marius Jonker (South Africa) and Carlo Damasco (Italy).