SCOTLAND HEAD coach Andy Robinson yesterday insisted Italy is his sole focus amid suggestions he might resign after the Six Nations. Robinson has been in charge since 2009 and is contracted until the 2015 World Cup, but prior to his third Six Nations in charge made it clear he was determined for Scotland to shed their “unlucky losers tag”.
Robinson yesterday made one change in personnel to his starting line-up following the loss to Ireland – centre Nick De Luca coming in for the concussed Lee Jones, with Max Evans moving to the wing and Jack Cuthbert coming on to the bench – as Scotland bid to avoid the wooden spoon by winning on the final weekend of the championship for the third straight year.
Scotland are seeking to improve a record of 11 losses in 14 Six Nations matches under Robinson and avoid a first whitewash since 2004. Asked if he will be in charge beyond the tournament, Robinson said: “I’ve got a contract to 2015. I just focus on this next game. I’ve just got to look at the way we’re trying to play, focus on the team and that’s the big thing for me.”
Italy coach Jaques Brunel has made six changes to the squad that lost against Wales. Giovanbattista Venditti replaces Luke McLean on the right wing, while Tommaso Benvenuti will start at centre. Edoardo Gori replaces Fabio Semenzato at scrumhalf, while Simone Favaro drops to the bench with flanker Robert Barbieri taking his place in the starting XV.
Lock Marco Bortolami replaces Cornelius Van Zyl. Prop Martin Castrogiovanni has recovered from a fractured rib that saw him miss the last two games and will start this weekend.
SCOTLAND (v Italy, Rome, Saturday, 1.30pm): S Hogg; M Evans, N De Luca, G Morrison, S Lamont; G Laidlaw, M Blair; A Jacobsen, R Ford (capt), G Cross, R Gray, J Hamilton, J Barclay, R Rennie, D Denton. Replacements: S Lawson, E Murray, A Kellock, R Vernon, C Cusiter, R Jackson, J Cuthbert.
ITALY: A Masi; G Venditti, T Benvenuti, G Canale, Mirco Bergamasco; K Burton, E Gori; A Lo Cicero, L Ghiraldini, M Castrogiovanni, Q Geldenhuys, M Bortolami, A Zanni, R Barbieri, S Parisse. Replacements: T D’Apice, L Cittadini, J Furno, S Favaro, M Vosawai, T Botes, G Toniolatti, M Rizzo, A Sgarbi.
