Scotland v Italy: Team line-ups, kick-off time, key quotes, predictions, odds and where to watch on TV
Our guide to Saturday's Guinness Six Nations clash between Scotland and Italy at Murrayfield includes team news, predictions, statistics and more.
- Click for Six Nations schedule, TV guide, results, table & history
- Click for our outright Six Nations betting tips
- Six Nations' key questions
Scotland face Italy in their opening match of the 2019 Guineas Six Nations, and they'll be confident of making a winning start against the wooden spoon favourites.
Our preview pack will be updated all week to include the latest team news, quotes from coaches, key facts, the latest Sky Bet odds and the thoughts of our Tony Calvin to help you with your bets.
What time is kick off & what channel is it on?
The match, which takes place at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, will start 1415 GMT on Saturday February 2 and will be screened live on BBC One.
Scotland v Italy: Team news
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend will hand a Test debut to Glasgow centre Sam Johnson for the Guinness Six Nations opener at home to Italy on Saturday.
Newcastle flanker Gary Graham, previously called up by England coach Eddie Jones, and Leicester hooker Jake Kerr could also win their first caps if they appear off the bench.
Edinburgh full-back Blair Kinghorn, meanwhile, will start on the left wing as the Dark Blues welcome the Azzurri to Murrayfield.
Scotland: S Hogg (Glasgow); T Seymour (Glasgow), H Jones (Glasgow), S Johnson (Glasgow), B Kinghorn (Edinburgh); F Russell (Racing 92), G Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne, capt); A Dell (Edinburgh), S McInally (Edinburgh), W Nel (Edinburgh), B Toolis (Edinburgh), G Gilchrist (Edinburgh), S Skinner (Exeter), J Ritchie (Edinburgh), R Wilson (Glasgow).
Replacements: J Kerr (Leicester), J Bhatti (Glasgow), S Berghan (Edinburgh), G Graham (Newcastle), J Strauss (Sale Sharks), A Price (Glasgow), A Hastings (Glasgow), C Harris (Newcastle).
Italy: J Hayward (Benetton); A Esposito (Benetton), L Morisi (Benetton), T Castello (Zebre), M Campagnaro (Wasps); T Allan (Benetton), T Tebaldi (Benetton); A Lovotti (Zebre), L Ghiraldini (Toulouse), S Ferrari (Benetton), D Sisi (Zebre), D Budd (Benetton), S Negri (Benetton), A Steyn (Benetton), S Parisse (Stade Francais, capt).
Replacements: L Bigi (Benetton), C Traore (Benetton), T Pasquali (Benetton), F Ruzza (Benetton), J Tuivati (Zebre), G Palazzani (Zebre), I McKinley (Benetton), E Padovani (Zebre).
Referee: Luke Pearce (England).
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France) and Shuhei Kubo (Japan).
Scotland v Italy: Odds & advice
Scotland are 1/50 favourites to get off to a winning start, with Italy priced at a massive 12/1 with Sky Bet to cause a shock at Murrayfield.
The hosts get a 24-point start on the main handicap market, in which both sides are 10/11.
Scotland are 14/1 to win the Six Nations title and 28/1 to achieve the Grand Slam while Italy can be backed at 1000/1 in both markets.
Click here to check out all Sky Bet's Scotland v Italy odds!
Tony Calvin's verdict...
Scotland’s front row is a very capable unit, but the back five of the scrum wouldn’t scare many.
They have been hit hard by injuries in this area – no Watson at seven, no Gray brothers at lock – and their bench looks light enough, too.
Of course, they are playing Italy at home, and they could easily win this by a street. You only have to look back to Italy’s November defeats at the hands of Ireland (54-7) and New Zealand (66-3) to see that. A good old trouncing is never far away for Italy, and they did lose this fixture 29-0 in 2017.
But if Italy bring their A-game to the table – and they gave Australia far more trouble than a 26-7 loss would tell you in the autumn - then this could be a lot closer than many would have you believe, and they’re worth siding with on the handicap with a big start.
Check out Tony Calvin's Six Nations betting tips
Scotland v Italy: Key quotes
Will appear here throughout the week when the press conferences are held...
Gregor Townsend (Scotland head coach): "It's a privilege to be involved in the Guinness Six Nations, a tournament that has grown in quality over the past few seasons. You can sense the excitement throughout the rugby world on the eve of this year's Championship and we're looking forward to our starting our campaign at BT Murrayfield.
"Italy have made life tough for Scotland in every Test match we've played. I remember that as a player, as a supporter and as a coach - and they were better than us in most of last season's contest in Rome. They played with pace, were physical and we had to play really, really well in the final quarter to win.
"That performance and also the recent displays of Benetton Treviso are sharp reminders for our players that this will be a difficult fixture.
"Our challenge is to win the physical battle, which is a strength of Italian rugby. We will also have to bring energy and accuracy in order to get our campaign off to a winning start."
Conor O'Shea (Italy head coach): "Do they want me to stay on? Yes. Would I expect them to be looking at alternatives? They say they're not but I hope they are. If they weren't, they would be slammed for not looking at alternatives.
"In 10 years' time I want to be having a beer sitting in the stadium with this guy watching an Italy team doing well, (so) that we can say we had a hand in its progress.
"The only concern I have is Scotland. I can't wait to lead this team to the World Cup and beyond. It is not about me, it's about Italian rugby. The next decision has to be the right thing."
Stuart Hogg (Scotland): "I think we are on the right path to achieve something incredibly special.
"We have been working really, really hard over the last few years to get to where we are and we truly believe we can win the Six Nations.
"But for us as players we are just looking at the first game against Italy on Saturday and making sure we get off to the best possible start.
"They are a fantastic rugby team who will come to BT Murrayfield and really make it difficult for us.
"Attack-wise we have got to make the most of every opportunity and defence-wise shut them down at the earliest possible stage.
"Look, everybody is excited. We know there is a lot of hard work to be done still but we are ready to rock and roll."
Scotland v Italy: Last four meetings
2018: Italy 27-29 Scotland, Rome
2017: Scotland 34-13 Italy, Singapore
2017: Scotland 29-0 Italy, Edinburgh
2016: Italy 20-36 Scotland, Rome
Scotland and Italy: Six Nations fixtures
Round One
- Scotland v Italy (Murrayfield)
Round Two
- Italy v Wales (Saturday February 9, 1645 GMT, Stadio Olimpico)
- Scotland v Ireland (Saturday February 9, 1415 GMT, BT Murrayfield)
Round Three
- France v Scotland (Saturday February 23, 1415 GMT, Stade de France)
- Italy v Ireland (Sunday February 24, 1500 GMT, Stadio Olimpico)
Round Four
- Scotland v Wales (Saturday March 9, 1415 GMT, BT Murrayfield)
- England v Italy (Saturday March 9, 1645, Twickenham)
Round Five
- Italy v France (Saturday March 16, 1230 GMT, Stadio Olmpico)
- England v Scotland (Saturday March 16, 1700 GMT, Twickenham)
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