Scotland v Italy match preview, coverage & key stats

Guinness Men's Six Nations: Scotland v Italy

Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 1 February Kick-off: 14:15 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One & iPlayer; listen on Radio 5 Sports Extra, Radio Scotland Extra & BBC Sounds; live text & highlights on BBC Sport website and app.

Overview

Scotland host Italy in their opening match of this year's championship seeking to establish their credentials for winning a first title of the Six Nations era.

The hosts are missing several key players because of injury, including captain Sione Tuipulotu, and first face an Italy side who upset them in Rome last year.

Italy's 31-29 victory in 2024 ended a run of 26 defeats at home in the Six Nations and was a first triumph against Scotland in 13 meetings.

The visitors, who have beaten Scotland more than any other nation in this tournament, will now target a third successive Six Nations win for the first time since they joined the competition 25 years ago.

View from both camps

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "Getting to start at home is massive and it has been a good training week. Italy are a quality side and have shown that for two or three years.

"They have been a difficult opponent for us and other teams. They really upped their game in last year's Six Nations with two wins and a draw, and one of those victories was against us, so they will be confident.

"There is intelligence in how they play, when they look after the ball, when they move it. They are a quality side and play with a lot of passion."

Italy captain Michele Lamaro: "The most important thing for us is to keep improving, keep going in that direction.

"There is a lot of expectations on us. Now the other teams are looking at us differently."

Scotland team news

Scotland are missing a raft of regulars, including captain Tuipulotu, who has been sidelined for five months with a pectoral injury.

Dylan Richardson, Scott Cummings, Josh Bayliss, Kyle Steyn, Adam Hastings, Max Williamson, Andy Onyeama-Christie, Ben Muncaster and Magnus Bradbury are also unavailable.

Stafford McDowall fills the midfield void left by Tuipulotu, with former captain Jamie Ritchie coming into the back row after impressing in the autumn against Australia.

Matt Fagerson moves to eight, with Jack Dempsey on the bench, while second row Jonny Gray is set for a first cap in nearly two years.

Scotland: 15-Kinghorn, 14-Graham, 13-Jones, 12-McDowall, 11-van der Merwe, 10-Russell (co-capt), 9-White; 1-Schoeman, 2-Cherry, 3-Z Fagerson, 4-J Gray, 5-Gilchrist, 6-Ritchie, 7-Darge (co-capt), 8-M Fagerson

Replacements: 16-Ashman, 17-Sutherland, 18-Hurd, 19-Brown, 20-Dempsey, 21-G Horne, 22-Jordan, 23-Rowe.

Italy team news

Italy welcome back Tommaso Allan after he left last year's tournament partway through citing issues with fatigue and time away from family.

He starts at full-back, with Ange Capuozzo moving onto the wing, where he plays regularly for Toulouse.

There are three changes to the starting XV that defeated Scotland in Rome in 2024, with Allan effectively replacing Louis Lynagh.

Lock Dino Lamb and number eight Lorenzo Cannone have been brought into the pack in place of Niccolo Cannone and Ross Vintcent, who both drop to the bench.

Italy line-up: 15-Allan, 14-Capuozzo, 13-Brex, 12-Menoncello, 11-Ioane, 10-P Garbisi, 9-Page-Relo; 1-Fischetti, 2-Nicotera, 3-Ferrari, 4-Lamb, 5-Ruzza, 6-Negri, 7-Lamaro (capt), 8- l Cannone

Replacements: 16-Lucchesi, 17-Rizzoli, 18-Riccioni, 19-N Cannone, 20-Zuliani, 21-Vintcent, 22-A Garbisi, 23-Gesi

Commentator's notes

Andrew Cotter:

The loss of captain Sione Tuipulotu as well as a number of others will test the reserves of the Scotland squad, but this is in many ways the ideal start.

The Azzuri may have won a close and hectic encounter in Rome last year, but had lost the previous 13 meetings between the sides, and many of Scotland's strengths are still there in a back-line bristling with attacking skill.

However, this is perhaps the most well-rounded Italian side we have seen in the championship and their own midfield pairing of Menoncello and Brex is a match for any in the game.

Scotland are still being given at heavy odds-on to win, but don't be surprised if the scoreline is close.

Match facts

Head-to-head

• Italy's tally of eight Six Nations wins against Scotland is their best against any side. They have recorded a combined total of seven victories against the other four nations.

• Italy last won an away match against Scotland in 2015. They triumphed 22-19 at Murrayfield in a year in which the Scots eventually finished bottom.

• Scotland have won the last six home meetings in all competitions by an aggregate score of 213-64.

• Their 52-10 home victory in 2021 is their biggest winning margin in the Six Nations era.

Scotland

• Scotland have won their opening Six Nations match in six of the last eight editions, including the last four in a row. They had triumphed in just one of their initial 17 openers since 2000.

• This will be the third time they have faced Italy in round one, after losing 34-20 in Rome in 2000 and winning 33-20 in Edinburgh in 2019.

• Scotland have won seven of eight Tests since the 2024 Six Nations, losing only to world champions South Africa.

• Finn Russell's goal-kicking success rate of 96% was the best in the 2024 championship. He missed one kick.

Italy

• Italy are unbeaten in their last three Six Nations matches – their longest streak in the championship.

• They are attempting to win three consecutive Six Nations matches for the first time.

• Italy have won their opening Six Nations game in just three of their 25 campaigns, losing their last 11 in a row since beating France 23-18 in 2013.

• However, Italy's last two opening losses have come by five points or fewer – 29-24 versus France in 2023 and 27-24 against England in 2024.

Make your prediction

Six Nations quiz

Bonus points explained