Scotland v Italy Six Nations match preview: What time does it start and where can I watch it?
A look ahead to Saturday's Six Nations clash between Scotland and Italy
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Your support makes all the difference.On Saturday afternoon Scotland will entertain Italy at Murrayfield as both sides look to secure their first win of this season's Six Nations.
Scotland coach Vern Cotter has made four changes to the side that narrowly lost to Wales two weeks ago.
Peter Horne comes in at fly half to replace the banned Finn Russell, while Tommy Seymour returns from injury to take over from Tim Visser on the wing.
Euan Murrary, who missed the Wales defeat because he does not play on Sundays due to religious reasons, returns to the front row at the expense of Geoff Cross.
Tim Swinson takes his place in the second row in the absence of the injured Richie Grey.
Uncapped duo Ben Toolis and Hamish Watson have been named on the bench alongside Ryan Grant, who has been called up as front row cover after Gordon Reid and Jon Welsh sustained injuries in the Wales defeat.
Russell's appeal against his two-match suspension, for a dangerous tackle on Dan Bigger against Wales, was rejected on Wednesday. But he will be available for Scotland's final two Six Nations matches.
In the meantime, Cotter has entrusted Russell's Glasgow Warriors teammate Horne with the task of orchestrating Scotland's backline.
Scotland have shown plenty of promise in their first two Six Nations matches, especially with the ball in hand, but poor finishing and ill discipline prevented them from picking up any points from those encounters.
Azzurri coach Jacques Brunel has made six changes to the side that were thrashed by England as his side look to exact revenge on the hosts, after Scotland snatched a 21-20 victory at the Stadio Olimpico last season, with a last-gasp drop goal.
Michele Visentin and Enrico Bacchin both come into the Italian backline to make their international debuts.
Visentin replaces his injured Zebre teammate Leonardo Sarto while Bennetton Treviso's Bacchin fills in for the injured Andrea Masi.
Dario Chistolini comes in to replace Martin Castrogiovanni, who misses out after being bitten by his dog. He is joined by Matias Aguero in the front row.
Newcastle Falcon's Joshua Furno starts in the second row, in the absence of the injured Marco Bortolami, while Simone Favaro returns to the back row for the first time since the autumn series, as Mauro Bergamasco drops out of the squad.
KICK-OFF: Saturday, 14.30
PAST THREE MEETINGS…
Scotland 21 Italy 20, Six Nations February 2014
Scotland 30 Italy 29, South African Quadrangular Tournament, June 2013
Italy 10 Scotland 34, Six Nations, February 2013
STATS…
Italy have not won at Murrayfield since February 2007
Scotland have won 15 of their 22 meetings with Italy
Ten of Scotland's staring XV play for Glasgow Warriors
CLASSIC MOMENTS/MATCH
In last season's fixture, Italy were clinging on to a two-point lead, with just 30 seconds left on the clock. Until the Scottish forwards engineered a central position and the ball was fed to Duncan Weir, who struck it beautifully and sent the ball sailing through the uprights to secure a dramatic Scottish victory.
ODDS…
Scotland to win: 1.16
Italy to win: 5.0
Draw: 26.0
TV: Live on BBC 1 at 14.30
Teams:
Scotland: Hogg, Seymour, Bennett, Dunbar, Lamont, Horne, Laidlaw (capt); Dickinson, Ford, Murray, Swinson, J Gray, Harley, Cowan, Beattie
Replacements: Brown, Grant, Cross, Toolis, Watson, Hidalgo-Clyne, Tonks, Scott
Italy: L McLean, M Visentin, L Morisi, E Bacchin, G Venditti, K Haimona, E Gori, M Aguero , L Ghiraldini, D Chistolini, G Biagi, J Furno, F Minto , S Favaro, S Parisse
Replacements: A Manici, A De Marchi, L Cittadini, M Fuser, S Vunisa, G Palazzani, T Allan, G Bisegni.
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