Scotland lock Gregor Brown will be missing from his team's Six Nations match against Ireland

London (AFP) - Scotland will be without first-choice second-row pair Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings as they chase a first Six Nations title against Ireland on Saturday.

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

Defending champions 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.

Ireland, two points behind France and Scotland, can also win the Six Nations if results go their way.

Townsend has lost six players to injury for Scotland’s final match, 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.

The Irish Rugby Football Union announced that Jeremy Loughman is not fit to face Scotland, with 20-year-old uncapped prop Billy Bohan called up.

Loughman started Ireland’s first three games of the championship but missed Friday’s 27-17 win against Wales in Dublin, which kept their title hopes alive.

Favourites France are likely to kick off their evening match on Saturday behind Ireland or Scotland, who play at 1410 GMT.