McDowall to partner Jones at centre for Scotland against Italy

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.

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.

Team: 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.