Team news

Scotland travel to Italy in the Six Nations on Saturday with a point to prove after losing the Calcutta Cup in awful weather conditions two weeks ago.

That defeat means Scotland lie fifth in the table, with no wins and no tries, while only bonus points keep them ahead of their bottom-placed opponents.

Fly-half Finn Russell remains in exile following disciplinary issues.

Head coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes to the side beaten by England at Murrayfield.

Gloucester centre Chris Harris starts, having scored his only Six Nations try to date in the win against Italy last year, with Huw Jones dropped.

Injured Glasgow lock Jonny Gray is replaced by Edinburgh second row Ben Toolis, while former captain Stuart McInally is preferred to Fraser Brown at hooker.

There are also four changes on the bench, where Edinburgh forwards WP Nel and Grant Gilchrist, Glasgow flanker Matt Fagerson and Sale wing Byron McGuigan all come in.

Alessandro Zanni returns to Italy's starting line-up for his 119th cap.

The 36-year-old withdrew injured shortly before defeat to France and is the hosts' only change from that match, with Dean Budd dropping to the bench.

Zanni's appearance will take him level with former prop Martin Castrogiovanni in second on Italy's all-time cap list.

Commentator's notes

Sara Orchard: A Six Nations weekend in Rome will no doubt appeal to the whole Scotland team. Storm Russell is calming (albeit not died away) and expectations of a first win should be well-met. Among the changes, the return to the starting XV of former captain Stuart McInally should offer some subtle leadership to assist the green Stuart Hogg.

Italy were much improved at the Stade de France as they tried to forget their Principality performance, reflected by head coach Franco Smith's faith in an unchanged team.

View from both camps

Italy head coach Franco Smith: "We have shown improvements against France. We want to make an important performance in front of our fans at the Stadio Olimpico, showing everyone our game and our true potential."

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "Italy are always a very tough opponent, especially in Rome, where we know they'll look to play with a huge amount of energy.

"It's a different Italy team to the one we've played in the past. In their opening two games, they have played with real ambition and width.

"They've also selected athletic ball-players who suit this strategy and are comfortable playing at a high tempo.

"We are well aware of the threats throughout their team and how their attacking game can cause problems for any defence."

Line-ups

Italy: Hayward; Bellini, Morisi, Canna, Minozzi; Allan, Braley; Lovotti, Bigi (captain), Zilocchi, Zanni, Cannone, Polledri, Negri, Steyn.

Replacements: Zani, Fischetti, Riccioni, Lazzaroni, Budd, Licata, Palazzani, Bisegni.

Scotland: Hogg (captain); Maitland, Harris, Johnson, Kinghorn; Hastings, Price; Sutherland, McInally, Z Fagerson, Toolis, Cummings, Ritchie, Watson, Bradbury.

Replacements: Brown, Dell, Nel, Gilchrist, M Fagerson, Horne, Hutchinson, McGuigan.

Match facts

Head-to-head

Italy

Scotland

Match officials

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)

Touch judges: Mathieu Raynal (France) & Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)