Scotland and Italy name teams for Six Nations opener as Stafford McDowall partners Huw Jones at centre
Stafford McDowall will start for Scotland against Italy on Saturday. Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Stafford McDowall will earn a ninth cap at inside centre for Scotland in the place of injured captain Sione Tuipulotu in an otherwise experienced backline to face Italy in their Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm).
Tuipulotu is expected to miss the entire competition in a huge blow for coach Gregor Townsend, but McDowall will be able to show his quality as he partners Huw Jones in the midfield.
Blair Kinghorn is at fullback, with Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham on the wings. Co-captain Finn Russell is at flyhalf with Ben White making up the halfback pairing.
Matt Fagerson is at number eight, with flankers Rory Darge (also co-captain) and Jamie Ritchie in the back row, while Jonny Gray and Grant Gilchrist make up the lock pairing.
Hooker Dave Cherry has props Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson either side of him. Cherry will play his first game since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Scotland are seeking to lift the trophy for the first time since 1999, the last year it was known as the Five Nations and before Italy's entry into the competition.
Meanwhile, Italy have made five changes from their last international for their Six Nations opener.
Allan, who skipped last season's Six Nations, earns his 82nd cap at Murrayfield and plays at fullback, meaning influential Ange Capuozzo switches to wing in place of Jacopo Trulla, who played in their last game against New Zealand in November.
The other changes to the team, announced on Thursday, are in the pack as Lamaro replaces Manuel Zulinai on the flank and takes over the captaincy from Juan Ignacio Brex, who led the team in the 29-11 defeat to the All Blacks in Turin.
Lamaro missed the November clash against the Kiwis because of a shoulder injury.
Lorenzo Cannone replaces Ross Vintcent at the base of the scrum while Simone Ferrari comes into the front row for Marco Riccioni and Giacomo Nicotera takes over at hooker from Gianmarco Lucchesi.
Scotland: 15-Blair Kinghorn, 14-Darcy Graham, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Stafford McDowall, 11-Duhan van der Merwe, 10-Finn Russell (co-captain), 9-Ben White, 8-Matt Fagerson, 7-Rory Darge (co-captain), 6-Jamie Ritchie, 5-Grant Gilchrist, 4-Jonny Gray, 3-Zander Fagerson, 2-Dave Cherry, 1-Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16-Ewan Ashman, 17-Rory Sutherland, 18-Will Hurd, 19-Gregor Brown, 20-Jack Dempsey, 21-George Horne, 22-Tom Jordan, 23-Kyle Rowe.
Italy: 15-Tommaso Allan, 14-Ange Capuozzo, 13-Juan Ignacio Brex, 12-Tommaso Menoncello, 11-Monty Ioane, 10-Paolo Garbisi, 9-Martin Page-Relo, 8-Lorenzo Cannone, 7-Michele Lamaro (captain), 6-Sebastian Negri, 5-Federico Ruzza, 4-Dino Lamb, 3-Simone Ferrari, 2-Giacomo Nicotera, 1-Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16-Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17-Luca Rizzoli, 18-Marco Riccioni, 19-Niccolo Cannone, 20-Manuel Zulinai, 21-Ross Vintcent, 22-Alessandro Garbisi, 23-Simone Gesi