Scotland’s Stafford McDowall will earn a ninth cap at inside centre in place of injured captain Sione Tuipulotu in an otherwise experienced backline to face Italy in their Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday (2.15, live RTÉ 2).
Tuipulotu is expected to miss the entire competition in a huge blow for coach Gregor Townsend, but McDowall will be able to show his quality as he partners Huw Jones in the midfield.
“Stafford has been very consistent for Glasgow and for us when he has had the opportunity,” Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said. “He really brings a physicality and an edge to the game, both in attack and defence.”
Blair Kinghorn is at fullback, with Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham on the wings. Co-captain Finn Russell is at outhalf with Ben White making up the halfback pairing.
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South African-born Van der Merwe has a Scotland record 30 Test tries and Graham has 29, providing an intriguing sideshow for the two speedsters.
Matt Fagerson is at number eight, with flankers Rory Darge (also co-captain) and Jamie Ritchie in the backrow, while Jonny Gray and Grant Gilchrist make up the lock pairing.
Hooker Dave Cherry has props Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson either side of him.
Cherry will play his first game since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and Gray won the last of his 77 caps in March 2023.
“They bring experience and a real motivation to play well. The Scotland jersey brings that out in you,” Townsend said of the pair.
Scotland are seeking to lift the trophy for the first time since 1999, the last year it was known as the Five Nations and before Italy’s entry into the competition.
“Getting to start at home is massive and it has been a good training week. Italy are a quality side and have shown that for two or three years,” Townsend said.
“They have been a difficult opponent for us and other teams. They really upped their game in last year’s Six Nations with two wins and a draw, and one of those victories was against us, so they will be confident.
“There is intelligence in how they play, when they look after the ball, when they move it. They are a quality side and play with a lot of passion.”
Italy have made five changes from their last international as Tommaso Allan returns and Michele Lamaro takes over as captain.
Allan, who skipped last season’s Six Nations, earns his 82nd cap at Murrayfield and plays at fullback, meaning influential Ange Capuozzo switches to wing in place of Jacopo Trulla, who played in their last game against New Zealand in November.
The other changes to the team are in the pack as Lamaro replaces Manuel Zulinai on the flank and takes over the captaincy from Juan Ignacio Brex, who led the team in the 29-11 defeat to the All Blacks in Turin.
Lamaro missed the November clash against the Kiwis because of a shoulder injury.
Lorenzo Cannone replaces Ross Vintcent at the base of the scrum while Simone Ferrari comes into the frontrow for Marco Riccioni and Giacomo Nicotera takes over at hooker from Gianmarco Lucchesi.
All of the four forwards dropped for Saturday’s game are on the replacements bench.
There will be a Six Nations debut for Dino Lamb in the secondrow, while uncapped prop Luca Rizzoli will likely get a chance for a debut off the bench.
Italy finished fifth in last year’s tournament, beating Scotland and Wales and drawing with France in their last fixtures and therefore take an unprecedented three-game unbeaten streak in the tournament to Murrayfield.
SCOTLAND: Blair Kinghorn; Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Stafford McDowall, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-capt), Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry, Zander Fagerson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge (co-capt), Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Will Hurd, Gregor Brown, Jack Dempsey, George Horne, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe.
ITALY: Tommaso Allan; Ange Capuozzo, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari; Dino Lamb, Federico Ruzza; Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (capt), Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Luca Rizzoli, Marco Riccioni, Niccolo Cannone, Manuel Zulinai, Ross Vintcent, Alessandro Garbisi, Simone Gesi.
