In the absence of injured captain Sione Tuipulotu, Scotland will be seeking a fast start to their Six Nations campaign against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday.
To Win
Scotland 1/14 | Draw 45/1 | Italy 15/2
The loss of Tuipulotu, an arguably nailed-on British & Irish Lion Test match starter, has left a massive void in Gregor Townsend’s Scotland side, but there is still enough star power to believe they have what it takes to get the win over the Azzurri this weekend.
Fellow Glasgow Warrior Stafford McDowall replaces Tuipulotu at No 12 and partners Huw Jones in midfield, with Finn Russell and Ben White at halfback and a formidable back three combo of Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham and Blair Kinghorn.
Dave Cherry packs down at hooker with veterans Zander Fagerson and Pierre Schoeman on either side of him, and Grant Gilchrist and Jonny Gray forming the second row. Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, and Jamie Ritchie make up a highly mobile loose trio.
Itay boss Gonzalo Quesada has himself named a full-strength team for the trip to Edinburgh, with Tommaso Allan at fullback in a back three that also contains Monty Ioane and the brilliance of Toulouse’s Ange Capuozzo. In midfield, 2024 Six Nations Player of the Year Tommaso Menoncello partners Ignacio Brex, while Paolo Garbisi and Martin Page-Relo are at No. 10 and No. 9 respectively.
Locks Federico Ruzza and Dino Lamb, and front rankers Simone Ferrari, Giacomo Nicotera, and Danilo Fischetti make up the tight five, with inspirational skipper Michele Lamar at eighth man and Lorenzo Cannone and Cradock-born Sebastian Negri on the flanks.
Much has been made of Italy’s improvements over the past several years, and they will fully believe they have what it takes back up last year’s 31-29 win over the Brave Hearts in Rome with a first victory at Murrayfield since 2015. However, the class of the Scotland back three and the genius of Russell means they could be on the receiving end this time around.
Verdict: Scotland (-8.5) 1/4
Scotland to edge out the visitors at Murrayfield.
