THE Scotland selectors bowed to the inevitable yesterday by switching Gregor Townsend to his natural position of out-half for the Calcutta Cup match against England at Twickenham on Saturday week.

Townsend, favourite to land the number 10 role with the Lions in South Africa this summer, played at inside centre in the side beaten 34-19 by Wales at Murrayfield on Saturday.

In all, there are seven changes, two of them positional. Townsend moves to his preferred position at the expense of Craig Chalmers, who collected his 50th cap against Wales, while Bryan Redpath is recalled as his partner.

Ron Eriksson, the burly London Scot, is recalled at inside centre and Tony Stanger moves from wing to outside centre in place of record cap-holder Scott Hastings.

Derek Stark, who came on as a replacement against Wales, retains his place on the right wing while the axed trio of Hastings, Chalmers and scrum-half Gary Armstrong are all on the bench.

The remaining changes are in the pack, with uncapped Watsonians loose-head prop Tom Smith (25) displacing David Hilton and Ian Smith returning from injury at open-side flanker in place of Murray Wallace.