Townsend, who has made 5 beginning adjustments from a slender win away to Wales, added: “We know we’ve got that final game and things to play for in Dublin, but it’s about us winning. That’s what we’re here for.
“Whatever which means within the championship, we’ll see after the sport however it’s about us delivering a profitable efficiency.”
Darcy Graham and Jack Dempsey start, while Zander Fagerson does not make the XV in a Six Nations match for the first time since 2023.
Kyle Steyn moves from right to left wing to accommodate Graham with Duhan van der Merwe missing out. Graham and Van der Merwe share the Scotland record with 35 international tries.
Back-rower Dempsey, 31, was expected to miss the rest of the tournament after picking up a bicep injury in the Calcutta Cup win over England but returned to the squad following the victory away to Wales in round three.
He replaces Matt Fagerson at number eight, with Fagerson switching to blindside flanker.
Gregor Brown moves from six to the second row to partner Scott Cummings as Max Williamson makes way.
Pierre Schoeman, George Turner and D’Arcy Rae form a new front row as Nathan McBeth and Dave Cherry drop out altogether.
Freddy Douglas, who has one cap, is primed to make his first Six Nations appearance off the bench, with Ewan Ashman and Rory Sutherland joining the 20-year-old on the bench.
Welcoming the return of “explosive ball provider” Dempsey, Townsend described Douglas as “world class” at winning the ball back and promised Zander Fagerson would get “huge minutes”.
