| Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Date:Saturday, 12 March Kick-off:14:15 GMT |
| Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio Scotland DAB/810MW & BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app |
Scotland have recalled Sam Johnson, a centre for the Six Nations, and Kyle Steyn, winger for the match against Italy in Rome, has been given a Six Nations debut.
Johnson will replace Sione Tuipulotu, Glasgow’s team-mate. Steyn will be replacing the expelled Duhan van Merwe.
Hamish Watson, Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge are both available again.
Hooker George Turner has been named in the starting VIII and will be lined up between Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson.
Edinburgh Ben Vellacott has been named as one of the replacements for Ben White, and the former Scotland Under-20s scrum half is set to make his debut.
After being named on the bench to replace Blair Kinghorn who had been covering for Finn Russell, Adam Hastings, the Gloucester fly-half could make his debut appearance at the Six Nations.
Johnson was the first to play against England in the Six Nations’ opening weekend, but was replaced by Tuipulotu at Cardiff and home to Grand Slam-chasing France.
Fagerson, who is recovering from an injury, will start at number 8 in place Magnus Bradbury’s place. Watson, the flanker, effectively replaces Nick Haining.
They will form an interesting back row with Darge, 22, who switches from openside flanker and blindside after his incredible performance against France.
Scotland will travel to Rome fourth after a win against England in the opening week was followed by defeats in Wales and France in subsequent weeks.
More information to come.
Italy team faces Scotland: Hogg; Graham, Harris, Johnson, Steyn; Russell, Price; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson; Skinner, Gilchrist; Watson, Darge, M Fagerson.
Replacements: McInally, Dell, Nel, Hodgson, Bradbury, Vellacott, Hastings, Tuipulotu.
