Rory Darge will make his first start for Scotland on Saturday when they take on France in the third match of this year’s Six Nations Championship at Murrayfield.

Exeter Chiefs’ Sam Skinner replaces his club teammate Jonny Gray, who is ruled out through injury, in the second row and will partner Edinburgh Rugby’s Grant Gilchrist fresh from collecting his 50th cap in Cardiff.

England and Wales meet at Twickenham on Saturday in a Guinness Six Nations clash that is critical to both countries’ title aspirations. The game will see powerhouse centre Manu Tuilagi return to England’s starting line-up after injury, providing a major boost for Eddie Jones’ team.

Here, the PA news agency looks at Tuilagi’s midfield battle in opposition to Wales’ Nick Tompkins.

Position: Centre

Debut: versus Wales, 2011

Height: 6’ 0”

Weight: 17st 4lbs

Points: 95 (19 tries)

Tuilagi has had an injury-hit career, but there are few more destructive midfield forces than the Sale centre when he is fit and firing. Tuilagi made his England debut against Wales in 2011, and his last Six Nations appearance came when Wales visited Twickenham in 2020, a game that saw him score a try before he was later sent off by referee Ben O’Keeffe. Tuilagi has been pivotal to some of England’s finest wins in the last 10 years - notably a stunning 2019 World Cup semi-final victory over New Zealand - and now fully fit again following hamstring trouble, head coach Jones will unleash him in game three of the Six Nations campaign. Wales are on red alert.

Position: Centre

Debut: versus Italy, 2020

Height: 5’ 11”

Weight: 13st 5lbs

Points: 10 (two tries)

Tompkins’ Wales debut against Italy in 2020 came as bolt out of the blue, with few people seemingly aware that the Sidcup-born Saracens centre had a grandmother from Wrexham. Wales head coach Wayne Pivac had done his homework, though, and Tompkins has become a valued and consistent Test match performer, featuring in 17 of Wales’ 23 games since entering the international arena. His club career has realised European Cup and Premiership title successes, and he has quickly become an integral part of Pivac’s plans building towards the 2023 World Cup in France. Faces a huge task trying to shackle Tuilagi, but it is a challenge he will relish.

The Scotland team to face France at Murrayfield will be announced shortly:

Courtney Lawes and Manu Tuilagi return to the England team to face Wales in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday, while Harry Randall gets another chance to impress at scrum-half in the squad named by coach Eddie Jones on Thursday.

Lawes missed the opening two games with concussion but comes back at blindside flanker to captain the team in the continued absence of the injured Owen Farrell.

Tuilagi is back after the latest of his long run of injuries and partners outside centre Henry Slade in midfield. Tuilagi made his debut in 2011 but has missed 79 available matches since then, including a remarkable 50 of the 71 since Jones took over after the 2015 World Cup.

Maro Itoje and Charlie Ewels are named as locks, Tom Curry stays at open-side flanker and Alex Dombrandt is No 8. Luke Cowan-Dickie starts at hooker with Kyle Sinckler set to win his 50th cap at prop. Max Malins and Jack Nowell are the wingers, with Freddie Steward at fullback.

Randall, who looked lively for 55 minutes in the win over Italy, will win his fourth cap, while replacement Ben Youngs will become England’s most-capped player with 115 if he gets on.

After losing their opening game in Scotland then beating Italy, England now have back-to-back home games against Wales and Ireland, which, if they win them both, should set up a potential title decider in Paris on the last day.

ENGLAND XV

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps) 14. Max Malins (Saracens, 12 caps) 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 45 caps) (VC) 12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 46 caps) 11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps) 10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 7 caps) 9. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 3 caps).

1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps) (VC) 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps) (VC) 3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 49 caps) 4. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 28 caps) 5. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 53 caps) 6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 90 caps) (C) 7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 38 caps) (VC) 8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 6 caps).

Replacements 16. Jamie George (Saracens, 63 caps) 17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 76 caps) 18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 17 caps) 19. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 5 caps) 20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps) 21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 114 caps) 22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps) 23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 54 caps).

France coach Fabien Galthie has announced the following team to play Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on Saturday.

15-Melvyn Jaminet, 14-Damian Penaud, 13-Gael Fickou, 12-Jonathan Danty, 11-Yoram Moefana, 10-Romain Ntamack, 9-Antoine Dupont (capt.), 8-Gregory Alldritt, 7-Anthony Jelonch, 6-Francois Cros, 5-Paul Willemse, 4-Cameron Woki, 3-Uini Atonio, 2-Julien Marchand, 1-Cyril Baille

Replacements: 16-Peato Mauvuka, 17-Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18-Demba Bamba, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Thibaud Flament, 21-Dylan Cretin, 22-Maxime Lucu, 23-Thomas Ramos.

Centre Jonathan Danty is recalled as Six Nations favorite France make just one change to face Scotland.

After missing the previous match against Ireland through injury, Danty slotted back into the midfield alongside Gael Kickou and in place of Yoram Moefana on Thursday. But Moefana stayed in coach Fabien Galthie’s team to replace the injured Gabin Villiere on the left wing. Moefana has already played in that position for club side Bordeaux-Begles.

The reserves were also unchanged from the side which beat Ireland 30-24 in a classic, with a 6-2 split between forwards and backs.

France opened with a 37-10 win against Italy. The Scots downed England 20-17 at home but lost by the same score away to Wales.

L Williams (Scarlets); A Cuthbert (Ospreys), O Watkin (Ospreys), N Tompkins (Saracens), J Adams (Cardiff); D Biggar (Northampton, capt), T Williams (Cardiff); W Jones (Scarlets), R Elias (Scarlets), T Francis (Ospreys), W Rowlands (Dragons), A Beard (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Dragons), T Basham (Dragons), T Faletau (Bath).

Replacements: D Lake (Ospreys), G Thomas (Ospreys), L Brown (Dragons), S Davies (Cardiff), J Morgan (Ospreys), K Hardy (Scarlets), G Anscombe (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets).

As expected, Wales boss Wayne Pivac has left out wing Louis Rees-Zammit and recalled number eight Taulupe Faletau for Saturday’s Six Nations clash against England. Rees-Zammit is replaced by a fit-again Josh Adams, with Alex Cuthbert retained on the other wing and set to win his 50th cap.

Faletau makes his first Wales appearance for 11 months, having proved his fitness following a long-term ankle injury by playing in Bath’s last two Gallagher Premiership matches against Wasps and Leicester. He returns in a reshaped back-row, with Ross Moriarty switching to blindside flanker and Taine Basham lining up at openside. Jac Morgan, who made his Test debut against Scotland 12 days ago, is on the bench.

Pivac has retained Owen Watkin and Nick Tompkins as his centre combination, while there are call-ups among the replacements for Ospreys fly-half Gareth Anscombe, Scarlets scrum-half Kieran Hardy and Dragons prop Leon Brown.

Players with English clubs are released back to them if they are not involved in a Wales matchday 23, so Gloucester star Rees-Zammit will be available for the Premiership appointment with Leicester on Saturday. He is one of the most exciting players in European rugby, collecting four tries during last season’s Six Nations and being picked for the British and Irish Lions’ South Africa tour.

The 21-year-old has carved out a reputation for scoring dazzling solo tries, which he underlined with a breathtaking touchdown against Fiji during this season’s Autumn Nations Series. But Cuthbert shone against Scotland, while Adams, who missed that game due to a calf muscle problem, has repeatedly excelled for Wales, with 17 tries in 36 Tests.

England enter their pivotal Guinness Six Nations match against Wales with Manu Tuilagi and Courtney Lawes restored to the team following spells out through injury.

Tuilagi makes his first start in the competition in almost two years after completing his recovery from a torn hamstring and will resume the centre partnership with Henry Slade last seen in the autumn.

Lawes is also making his maiden England appearance of 2022 having overcome concussion, enabling him to pack down at blindside flanker and relieve Tom Curry of the captaincy duties.

England have named Manu Tuilagi and Courtney Lawes in their starting line-up for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match against Wales, the Rugby Football Union has announced.

More to follow...

Full England and Wales team news will coming imminently...