Kelly Brown is back for Scotland © Getty Images

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Scotland have made three changes for France with Geoff Cross, David Denton and Kelly Brown all starting.

Brown, who takes on the captaincy, was dropped for their previous two matches at the expense of Chris Fusaro but he is now back at openside ahead of Saturday's game with Fusaro dropping out of the matchday squad.

Cross is preferred to Moray Low at tight-head with Denton replacing the tonsillitis -stricken Ryan Wilson in the back-row.

"I think Saturday is a game that will really suit Kelly," Scott Johnson said. "Unlike other sides in the competition, France play above the ground a bit and there will be a lot of mauling.

"I think the pitch suits Kelly too and I've picked a side that can win the game and that's most important. The other back-row change is slightly enforced as Ryan Wilson has not been well at the start of this week with a tonsillitis bug and it was important we were not hampered in our training so Dents [David Denton] comes straight in.

"Geoff did really well when he came on against Italy and it's right that he should start this week."

Scotland head into the game on the back of their morale-boosting 21-20 win over Italy in round three but Johnson has sounded a note of caution to his team concerning the ability of their opponents.

"Whatever side France put out will be a good one. They have proven over the years that they are a great rugby nation so whatever side comes to Edinburgh we know we'll have to be at our best."

Scotland:

Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Alex Dunbar, Alex Scott, Sean Lamont, Duncan Weir, Greig Laidlaw, Ryan Grant, Scott Lawson, Geoff Cross, Richie Gray, Jim Hamilton, Johnnie Beattie, Kelly Brown (captain), David Denton

Replacements: Ross Ford, Alasdair Dickinson, Euan Murray, Tim Swinson, Ryan Wilson, Chris Cusiter, Duncan Taylor, Max Evans More to follow...