An absolute brute of a kick from Stuart Hogg, punching the ball through the damp Edinburgh air and right through the middle of the sticks from way, way downtown.

That is another weapon in his considerable arsenal. One heck of a player.

A landslide victory for Scotland at the first scrum as Gordon Reid and Zander Fagerson march their opposite numbers backwards at pace.

Referee Pascal Gauzere has seen enough and awards the penalty as Italy's front row pops north under pressure.

Stuart Hogg is going to take on a mammoth shot at goal from just inside the Italy half...

Grant Gilchrist gets a chance to stretch his legs as he rumbles forward.

A bit of aerial ping pong and Stuart Hogg wins the rally as he chases up his own snowy up-and-under, putting the wind up Italy scrum-half Eduardo Gori as he tries to catch.

Knock-on, scrum down Scotland.

Scotland - decked out in their predominantly white change kit - get us underway with Finn Russell clipping a high, hanging drop-out towards his forwards.

Italy gather safely.

This is apparently the first time that Scotland have sold out the 67,000 Murrayfield seats for a home match against Italy.

That well-founded mood of optimism is perhaps Vern Cotter's greatest legacy.

It is fair piddling down in Edinburgh by the way.

Anthems done - Flower of Scotland as soul-stirring as ever - and it is time for kick off. 

Italy make four changes, including Tommaso Benvenuti for Michele Campagnaro at outside centre.

Flanker Maxime Mbanda replaces Simone Favaro, lock George Biagi is in for Andries van Schalkwyk and hooker Ornel Gega takes Leonardo Ghiraldini's place.

Italy: Padovani, Esposito, Benvenuti, McLean, Venditti, Canna, Gori, Lovotti, Gega, Cittadini, Fuser, Biagi, Mbanda, Steyn, Parisse. Replacements: Ghiraldini, Panico, Chistolini, van Schalkwyk, Ruzza, Minto, Violi, Sperandio. 

Scotland coach Vern Cotter has been forced into a late change after Richie Gray failed to overcome a hamstring injury, so Grant Gilchrist comes in.

In the only other change, hooker Ross Ford is preferred to Fraser Brown.

Scotland: Hogg, Seymour, Jones, Dunbar, Visser, Russell, Price, Reid, Ford, Fagerson, Gilchrist, J. Gray, Barclay, Watson, Wilson. Replacements: Brown, Dell, Berghan, Swinson, Du Preez, Pyrgos, Weir, Scott. 

Image source, Rex Features

Italy head coach Conor O'Shea:  "We are very, very close to being competitive. Our challenge is mostly mental. We have to win many small challenges, working minute by minute.

"After a year in Italy I have seen some progress in the training process, but there is still much to improve. I really believe in this group."

Image source, Getty

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter:  "The players were frustrated by last weekend but we must take all the learning from the past year and produce a strong, complete performance to put us in the best possible position to finish in the top half of the table.

"Italy are a tough team to overcome. They've been leading at half-time in three of their Six Nations games, so they're obviously a good team that are improving."

Chris Paterson
Former Scotland international on BBC One

Today is all about bouncing back from last week’s disappointment, they have got to get the defence right and I think they will do.

There is a lot of respect between the two coaches. Vern Cotter will want to finish on a high.

This is Vern Cotter's final match in charge after three years at the helm of Scotland.

Glasgow boss Gregor Townsend will take the reins after June.

And it will be quite an inheritance to pick up.

Win today and Scotland will likely end up second in the Six Nations table having three victories for the first time since 2006.

Image source, PA

Matt Dawson
England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 live

I think England would have spent most of the week realising they are on the edge of Six Nations greatness. 

Eddie Jones will probably have been trying to calm them down a bit, because it would be easy for England to peak too early.

Ireland are going to bring it, and they are going to bring it in spades. There is a lot of pride at stake for Ireland, and they will be thinking of Lions places.

Of course this is just the opening act of a stellar Six Nations bill this afternoon.

12:30 GMT: Scotland v Italy

14:45 GMT: France v Wales

17:00 GMT: Ireland v England

Eddie Jones' England will be attempting to secure only the seventh back-to-back Grand Slams in Dublin.

Image source, Getty Images

How much damage has last weekend's defeat done to the chances of a sizeable Scottish contingent boarding Warren Gatland's Lions-liner to New Zealand this summer?

Finn Russell looked less like a dirt-tracker maverick and more like a liability as he gambled increasingly recklessly.

The midfield of Alex Dunbar and Huw Jones was as solid as a set of Wild West saloon doors in defence.

And the front row was sent into reverse at the mere sniff of their English counterparts.

So which Scots would you have in your Lions squad? Text 81111 or tweet #bbcsixnations and let us know.

Image source, PA

Gabby Logan, Andy Nicol and Marco Bortolami are in position and ready for the off on BBC One.

Eilidh Barbour is poised on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and Radio Scotland.

And you can access all the video and audio goodness at the top of this very page.

• Scotland have won six of their last seven games against Italy.
• Italy have beaten Scotland eight times (six in the Six Nations), the most times they’ve beaten another Tier One nation.
• Italy’s last victory over Scotland came at Murrayfield in 2015
• The Azzurri have won just two of 44 away Six Nations games – both against Scotland.

A rugby union taster-session scheme that attracted more than 1,000 new female players earlier this year is being rolled out to a further 100 clubs in May. 

Watch as participants from England Rugby's January sessions explain what trying out the sport has meant to them. 

If you want to get involved with Warrior Camps, find a participating club near you, here., external Or check out our BBC Get Inspired guide to rugby union and see what your local club has to offer.