Stafford McDowall is set to make just his second Scotland appearance after being selected to start in the Six Nations match against leaders Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

The 26-year-old Glasgow centre made his debut against Italy in a World Cup warm-up match last year before being dropped from Gregor Townsend’s squad for the tournament in France.

Regular midfielder Sione Tuipulotu’s recent injury enabled Cameron Redpath to make a rare start in last weekend’s damaging 31-29 defeat away to Italy.

But McDowall, in good form for Glasgow, has now been chosen ahead of Redpath as Scotland look to end the Championship on a high.

The other change to the team that started in Rome sees first-choice scrumhalf Ben White return in place of George Horne after the Toulon number nine was rested for the Stadio Olimpico clash with the Azzurri.

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