The China Mail - Scotland locks Cummings and Brown ruled out of Ireland Six Nations clash

Gregor Townsend's men scored seven tries in their stunning 50-40 victory over France at Murrayfield at the weekend, ending Les Bleus' dreams of a Grand Slam.

France remain top of the table on points difference ahead of their match with England in Paris but the second-placed Scots will head to Ireland with a chance of making history if Steve Borthwick's men can do them a favour.

Townsend has lost six players to injury for their final match of their campaign, including Brown, who has a calf injury, and Cummings, who has hurt his hamstring.

The locks started together in the impressive wins against England and France.

Winger Duhan van der Merwe is ruled out, though he has only started one Test during the tournament -- the narrow win over Wales.

Adam Hastings, Nathan McBeth and Elliot Millar Mills are also sidelined.

Scottish Rugby said in a statement on Monday that Euan Ferrie, Alec Hepburn, Arron Reed and Alex Samuel had been called up to the squad.

Scotland have never finished higher than third in the Six Nations era and were last crowned kings of European rugby when they won the final Five Nations in 1999.

Z.Huang--ThChM