Dropping hat-trick hero Kinghorn was tough decision - Townsend

Gregor Townsend admits he was racked with second thoughts as he weighed up whether to drop hat-trick hero Blair Kinghorn for Saturday's crucial Guinness Six Nations crunch with Ireland.

In the end, the Dark Blues head coach opted to go with experienced wing campaigner Sean Maitland to face Joe Schmidt's men at Murrayfield as Kinghorn was consoled with a place on the bench.

The 22-year-old Edinburgh star became the first Scottish player for 30 years to score a Championship treble as he ran in three times against Italy last weekend.

And Townsend admits his stunning display against the Azzurri forced a rethink on his plan to recall Maitland after his recovery from the hamstring injury that saw him miss the Scots' opening win.

But he was ultimately swayed by the experience offered by the Saracens wing – who has 35 Test caps and a British and Irish Lion tour under his belt – as he plots a way to down an Ireland line-up still ranked second in the world despite last week's England set-back.

Asked how tough a call it was to leave Kinghorn out of his starting XV, Townsend said: "More difficult than what we planned it was going to be the week before.

"We were always hoping Sean would get back fit for this game. Sean would have been starting against Italy with Tommy Seymour if he'd been fit.

"Blair's performance did mean that we had an extended discussion that probably went on a second day, but we believe that Tommy and Sean are best equipped for this game.

"They've been on excellent form for Scotland. Sean just missed out because of injury, but he's been playing very well, and Tommy played well at the weekend and has played in these games before.

"But nothing should be taken away from Blair's performance and what he could do if he was selected this week.

"Players take (being dropped) differently – sometimes they're quiet, sometimes they're accepting and sometimes they argue back. Blair was quiet. He'll be disappointed, I know."

Townsend also has key second-rower Jonny Gray back from injury while hooker Fraser Brown is named on the bench.

But with WP Nel and Sam Skinner now ruled out with knocks picked up last weekend, the Scotland boss admits than his team must rely on their tried-and-trusted troops more than ever if they are to repeat their 2017 Murrayfield triumph.

"Most of those players played against Ireland last year and in 2017, so they know what Ireland are capable of and what a good team they are," he said.

"But they also know what we did well in those two games, so to have that level of quality and conversation as you lead into a game is important as it the experience they have when they get on the field."

Ireland won the Grand Slam last year but head to Edinburgh with their title hopes hanging by a thread.

Townsend added: "Ireland know that if they do lose this weekend it's unlikely they are going to win the Championship.

"They will be driven to bounce back straight away after losing to England but we are expecting an excellent Ireland performance going into this game whether they won or lost last weekend and I'm sure that's what they're going to bring on Saturday."