Finn Russell has been ruled out of Scotland’s Guinness Six Nations clash with France on Saturday after failing to recover from a head injury he suffered playing for his club Racing 92 over the weekend.

The stand-off had given Scotland a glimmer of hope he could recover when he arrived symptom-free in Edinburgh on Monday, but those hopes have proven optimistic.

A statement from the Scottish Rugby Union read: “The 26-year-old playmaker has not satisfied the requirements of today’s component of the graduated return to play protocol – two days on from sustaining the injury in Racing 92’s Top 14 clash with Toulouse – meaning there is insufficient time for him to be considered for this weekend’s action.

“He will now return to the care of his club’s medical team.”

Meanwhile, Scotland’s opponents France have made sweeping changes to the side that lost to England, the most high profile of which see experienced half-backs, Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez dropped.

The French head coach, Jacques Brunel, was quick to deny, however, that the decision had anything to do with the pair’s criticism of the staff following their Twickenham debacle.

Scrum-half Parra, who was also vice-captain, and fly-half Lopez pointed at the management’s share of responsibility in the 44-8 defeat by England.

Morgan Parra, who is France’s main kicker and playmaker, has been left out of the side to face Scotland. Photograph: Rebecca Naden/Reuters

After the match, the 71-times capped Parra hit out at preparation. “I think that we are capable of doing what the English do, but are we working on this during training? I think we don’t work on it enough, even not at all,,” Parra said.

“Yet these are very simple things that are today part of high-level rugby. We can do this. But do we work on it? No.”

Brunel, however denied the duo had been sanctioned when he reshuffled his cards, making four changes to unveil a new-look, young team on Tuesday.

They have been replaced by the Toulouse pair of Antoine Dupont, 22, and the 19-year-old Romain Ntamack, who rarely plays at fly-half with his club.

“I’m telling you it’s not the case [that they are sanctioned],” Brunel said. “Ask them, ask their team mates.”

“Given our performance (against England) we needed to change things.”

Quick Guide France XV to play Scotland Show France XV to play Scotland T Ramos; D Penaud, M Bastareaud, G Fickou, Y Huget; R Ntamack (above), A Dupont; J Poirot, G Guirado (capt), D Bamba, S Vahaamahina, F Lambey, W Lauret, A Iturria, L Picamoles. Replacements: C Chat, E Falgoux, D Aldegheri, P Willemse, G Alldritt, B Serin, A Belleau, M Medard. Photograph: Michael Mayhew/Sportsphoto/Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar

As a result, Yoann Huget shifts back to the wing after struggling out of position at full-back at Twickenham and Gael Fickou is back at inside centre after playing at the wing.

Thomas Ramos, 23, will start at full-back and will hold the main kicking responsibilities in the absence of Parra and Lopez.

Ntamack, who started the opening game against Wales at centre, his usual club position, will have the playmaking responsibilities.

“We have been working on this with him,” Brunel assured after naming his team two days ahead of schedule.

Asked if he was not showing his cards too early, Brunel replied: “After seeing our performance against England, Scotland must be pretty confident anyway.

France have lost eight of their past nine matches. Scotland, who have not win in Paris since 1999, started their campaign with a victory against Italy before losing to champions Ireland.