Scotland full-back Rowen Shepherd is determined to banish the memory of two botched Italian jobs when he returns to Treviso for a Five Nations warm-up on Saturday. Two years ago, Shepherd was a member of a strong Scotland `A' side which went down to a 26-17 defeat in Rieti after missing a string of attempts at goal.

More recently, he gifted Treviso two tries in the same Stadio di Monaghi that will be used for Saturday's match in a crushing 52-6 European Cup defeat for Caledonia back in September.

After winning the last of his 14 caps in the 68-10 Murrayfield trouncing by South Africa before Christmas, the Melrose stalwart has showed signs, particularly in the European qualifying decider against Glasgow, that he is back to his best form.