De Luca to face the French

Nick De Luca will make his Scotland debut in the RBS Six Nations clash with France - but Chris Paterson has been left out of the side for Sunday's clash at Murrayfield.

Coach Frank Hadden confirmed that 23-year-old Edinburgh player De Luca will start at centre alongside Andrew Henderson, who has been passed fit to add some ballast to the midfield.

But it is the omission of Paterson, who has been struggling for game time at Gloucester, which is the biggest surprise. Rory Lamont plays at full-back with Simon Webster and Nikki Walker on the wings.

Hadden said: "A lot of people focus on the XV but as far as I'm concerned as a coach the emphasis is on the 22 and if you look at my track record I have made full use of the 22. Chris Paterson is still an integral part of the Scotland squad."

In the other area of concern, the back row, John Barclay will play at openside flanker with Dave Callam drafted in at number eight to fill in for Simon Taylor, who has a broken thumb. Ally Hogg is not included in the pool of 22.

France coach Marc Lievremont has named four newcomers in his team.

Flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc will make an international entrance as will wing Julien Malzieu and props Lionel Faure and Julien Brugnaut.

Flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo and lock Loic Jacquet - have one and two caps each respectively - also featuring in a largely experimental side.

Thierry Dusautoir, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, Damien Traille, Vincent Clerc and Cedric Heymans are the only players in the starting line-up who played in the World Cup semi-final defeat by England last year.

Lievremont took over from Bernard Laporte as coach in the wake of France's World Cup exit.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.