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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend tells BBC Sport: "The Six Nations is a very tough tournament, to have any success you've got to start fast.

"We believe in our group today and they've prepared very well.

"They've had a lot of experiences now together, some good, some painful at times.

"It's the most experienced starting XV we've ever put together so that should help us over the next few weeks.

"The players know what goes into a win and it's not just 80 minutes. The confidence does spread round the team but the challenge you have is new every time."

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Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada tells BBC Sport: "We know, especially after last year, the momentum, tempo and speed Scotland can put into the game and I'd be surprised if that wasn't the strategy to take us to a really high speed game.

"We need to be in the game for as long as possible, we need to finish the first half and start the second half still in that game - that will be our biggest challenge. If we're still there after an hour we'll have our weapons to go and fight but that won't happen if we're not there in those first moments.

"We don't really talk about results. We knew it would be a lack of respect to the level of every team in this competition.

"We are doing our best, optimising every resource, to compete at this level."

Let's hear from both head coaches, shall we?

As well as reading my delightful text updates, you can also follow this match across the BBC's platforms.

You can watch live on BBC One or via the link at the top of the page, and there will also be live radio commentary on 5 Live and Radio Scotland.

Don't say we never spoil you.

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.

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

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.

• 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.

• 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.

Sergio Parisse
Italy number eight on BBC One

It definitely going to be a tough game for Italy. They are really well prepared, and they are really confident about today, but they are going to have a big task especially in the first 20 minutes.

We know that Scotland want to put some speed into their game and some fire into their attack.

Finn Russell says Scotland must be braced for the best Italy side he has ever faced this afternoon.

The Scots' title challenge was derailed last year when they lost to gli Azzurri in Rome.

And with danger men such as Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello and Ange Capuozzo behind a powerful pack of forwards, Russell knows injury-hit Scotland will need to hit the ground running.

"I think the first game of the tournament is tough for everyone because you've not seen what's going to happen," Russell said.

"Over the past few years Italy have always had something different and something up their sleeves.

"It's going to be interesting to see if they have something and how we adapt to that.

"But for me, it's the best, strongest Italian team that I've faced."

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Scotland's title hopes ended in 2024 with a hugely disappointing defeat in Rome, the last meeting between the sides.

In a collapse of epic proportions, Scotland conceded 21 unanswered points as they completely lost their discipline and composure. A 22-10 lead soon became a 31-22 deficit.

A seemingly unstoppable stream of penalties went the Italians way, gifting them both territory and points.

It is a performance and result Scotland will be desperate to avenge today.

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Martin Johnson
England's World Cup winning captain on BBC One

They will absolutely want to [make an impact on the score board today]. I think to do that Scotland need to win today because they have Ireland next week.

Win today, play well and use it as a dress rehearsal before Ireland next week.

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.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Stafford McDowall is not Sione Tuipulotu but he's still a seriously accomplished footballer, a leader, a big presence who will relish a run in the team. Save for Dave Cherry and the undercooked, but freakish unit, Jonny Gray, then this is an impressive Scotland team with an impactful bench.

And they'll most likely need it. A recurring theme throughout last season's championship was Scotland's fast starts and slow finishes, the opening day hair-raiser against Wales being the classic illustration of that.

Townsend has some terrific firepower on the bench. George Horne, Tom Jordan and Kyle Rowe can create things out of nothing. Gregor Brown, with his physicality and skill-set, could be a real breakout star. Jack Dempsey hasn't played a whole pile of rugby but his carrying and his intensity might be just the ticket to get Scotland over the line.

It could be nervous, it could be positively terrifying, but it's the Six Nations and it's back and it's a hell of a time to be alive.

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Scotland are missing a raft of regulars, including Tuipulotu.

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, but it remains a hugely impressive backs division with Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham and Blair Kinghorn forming the back three.

Former captain Jamie Ritchie comes 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.

Fly-half Finn Russell co-captains the side with flanker Rory Darge.

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Scottish cheer was riding high when Gregor Townsend named his squad a few weeks ago, but that was reduced by the news that influential captain Sione Tuipulotu will miss the entirety of the tournament with a pectoral muscle injury.

The Glasgow centre is one of the game's top players in his position, able to combine both power and precision to devastating effect.

His absence dents Scotland's chances in the championship, and also casts doubt on Tuipulotu's chances of touring Australia with the British and Irish Lions this summer, although he is expected to return before the end of the domestic season.

The 2025 Six Nations began last night as Antoine Dupont inspired France to a crushing 43-0 victory over a ragged Wales side in Paris.

It was Wales' 13th successive Test match defeat, a dismal streak stretching back to October 2023.

You can relive the action by clicking the wee play button below.

Scotland: Kinghorn, Graham, Jones, McDowall, Van der Merwe, Russell, White; Schoeman, Cherry, Z. Fagerson, J. Gray, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Darge, M. Fagerson.

Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Hurd, Brown, Dempsey, Horne, Jordan, Rowe.

Italy: Allan, Capuozzo, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane, P. Garbisi, Page-Relo; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari, Lamb, Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro (capt), l. Cannone.

Replacements:Lucchesi, Rizzoli, Riccioni, N. Cannone, Zuliani, Vintcent, A. Garbisi, Gesi.

Optimism, hope, anticipation - all emotions firmly associated with the start of a new Six Nations tournament.

Scotland get their 2025 campaign under way in an hour's time against Italy at Murrayfield, as they search for a first title win since the 1999 Five Nations.

Can this be the year Gregor Townsend's side go the distance, or will there be more crushing disappointment in store?

We'll soon find out. Let's get stuck in...

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