Laidlaw returns to starting XV as Scotland make six changes

Scotland were caught off guard by a thrilling Welsh display at the Principality Stadium, losing their opening Six Nations clash 34-7 in Cardiff on Saturday.

Former captain Laidlaw has not started for Scotland since last year's trip to Paris due to a combination of injury and British and Irish Lions selection, while Ali Price kept him out of the team last time out.

However, the 32-year-old is back at scrum-half this weekend, with Sean Maitland, Pete Horne, Grant Gilchrist, Ryan Wilson and Simon Berghan also included.

Maitland takes the place of injured wing Byron McGuigan, while tighthead prop Berghan is available following the conclusion of a six-week ban for stamping on the head of Fraser Brown during a Pro14 clash between Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors.

Townsend said: "As a group we're delighted to be playing at home in front of another sell-out crowd at Murrayfield and are looking forward to putting in a performance that can energise our supporters.

"To do that we need to out-work the opposition and be more accurate in a number of aspects of our play.

"We've seen a response from the players in training this week and that needs to continue into and through the 80-plus minutes of the match because France will pose a massive and immensely physical challenge."

Scotland XV: Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Pete Horne, Sean Maitland, Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw; Gordon Reid, Stuart McInally, Simon Berghan, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, John Barclay, Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson.