Scottish Rugby

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Scotland hat-trick hero and player of the match Huw Jones tells BBC Sport: "I'm pretty happy.

"It's not every day you manage to get on the end of three so thanks to the boys for setting me up.

"It was a big turning point [Jones' second try], there wasn't really anything on for him but Darcy [Graham] will find a gap when there isn't one. I just had to try and keep up with him.

"I don't want to say that our confidence is sky high, we're happy with the win today but our focus is on taking it week by week."

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Glasgow Warriors fell to a fourth-consecutive Celtic Challenge defeat as they were outclassed by defending champions Wolfhounds at Scotstoun.

Warriors raced into an early lead through Briar McNamara's try in their first home game this campaign but were 33 points behind just after the second-half restart after dominant Wolfhounds showed their quality.

Ceitidh Ainsworth and Emily Coubrough scored second-half tries as Warriors fought to claw back some of the deficit.

The result leaves the hosts second bottom of the competition table, level on points with bottom side Brython Thunder.

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Scotland's wretched run in the Under-20s Six Nations continued with 22-10 loss to Italy in Edinburgh.

With just one victory in the tournament since 2021, the Scots struck first at The Hive, with Billy Allen scoring from a maul.

However, the visitors were able to feed on errors and Federico Zanandrea profited from an interception to make sure Italy led 7-5 at the interval.

Italy scrum-half Niccolo Beni stretched that lead following an impressive surge from Jules Ducros.

Eduardo Todaro then sliced through two tackles to plunge under the posts.

Seb Stephen was held up on the line as Scotland applied some late pressure and fellow replacement Ollie Duncan crashed through soon after, selling a neat dummy pass on his way through from close range.

Any hopes of a home rally were extinguished when the conversion was missed and Italy knocked over a penalty in the closing moments.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Italy back-row Sebastian Negri believes Scotland will be out to avenge their loss to the Azzurri in Rome last year when they begin their Six Nations campaign at Murrayfield on Saturday.

A 31-29 loss at the Stadio Olimpico ended Scotland's title hopes in the 2024 tournament and Negri believes that will fuel Gregor Townsend's side.

"We know Scotland will be hurting from that," Negri said.

"We know they've talked about putting things right and a bit of revenge, so we've got to expect that."

As well as beating the Scots, Italy drew with France and beat Wales in last season's championship and there is a feeling that after years of consistently being the weakest side in the tournament, Gonzalo Quesada's team are now ready to compete.

"I feel like we're in a really good cycle at the moment," Negri added.

"Obviously, we've been through ups and downs as a team. But I feel like this is a really good Italian team to be a part of. We can't shy away from that.

"And it's a different challenge for us now. With the cycle and where we are as a team, we've got to put in some performances and get some results. That's an exciting thing to be a part of.

"We're under no illusions. We know it's going to be a tough game. I looked at their team yesterday. I just see a really quality team there. Full of depth.

"You say that maybe Italy are probably in one of their better cycles, that we're a really good team. I look at Scotland and I can say exactly the same."

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Former Scotland number eight Johnnie Beattie says the current side is "the best I've seen" but that success in this year's Six Nations "would be a top-three finish".

Scotland, who get under way against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday, are without injured captain Sione Tuipulotu for the championship.

"This is the best Scottish side I've seen", Beattie told BBC Sport. "It is the best-coached side and in terms of talent the best since they won the last Five Nations in 1999. However, other sides have a greater depth of talent.

"Tuipulotu has been our brightest spark over the last three years with the way he challenges the gainline physically and brings Huw Jones on to the ball with short passes.

"It will be a huge opportunity for Stafford McDowall, who operated at a high level in the autumn. He knows his role as it is similar to how Glasgow play.

"Success for Scotland would be a top-three finish."

Beattie has picked out Darcy Graham - absolutely electric on the wing" - as his player to watch and is backing Jonny Gray to be a Lions bolter.

"After pretty much two years out of the game he has come back this year for Bordeaux and been just incessant in the way he plays the game," Beattie said. "He doesn't miss tackles and is always in the game."

Read more Six Nations predictions

We asked for your thoughts after Scotland named their team to face Italy in the first round of the Six Nations on Saturday.

Here's the best of what you had to say:

Nathan: For many years Scotland have struggled to compete with the big teams in the front five. While we have a decent group starting, we lack depth at hooker, tight-head and second row. Could be a long Six Nations!

Steven: As strong a side that Scotland can put out, looking to get the campaign off to as good a start as possible. Dave Cherry might be seen as a surprise inclusion but for my money he's the best lineout thrower we have and might be in there to try and get our set-piece ticking over. The physicality that Ewan Ashman brings might not be needed for this game.

Paul: It's not our optimal side, but Gregor Townsend has striven to build depth and strengthen the mental fragility that was clear in the close shave against Wales and the loss to Italy. Big strides have been made if the performances in the autumn are anything to go by. If the coaches believe the players are fit they should have the skill and mental capacity to win.

Andy: A similar situation at hooker to the days where John Allan and Kenny Milne shared the position. Milne was for me the better all round player but Allan seemed to be an SRU favourite. Ashman and Cherry have the nod ahead of Johnny Mathews and I'm dumbfounded why.

Stuart: Townsend seems determined to throw a curve ball every time Scotland play. Ali Price in the autumn series and now Cherry in the Six Nations. The trouble is history shows he invariably gets it wrong. He has had perhaps the strongest squad Scotland have had in many years but has failed to take them to the next level. This must be his swan song.

Brian: I like the Cherry selection but I'm perplexed at Jamie Ritchie's inclusion, although he did have a good game against Australia. For me, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Dempsey should be the first-choice back row. Would love to have seen Rory Hutchinson at 12. Silky smooth and very effective.

Tom English and Andy Burke chat to Scottish Rugby's new CEO Alex Williamson, plus Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend discusses his team selection for Saturday's Scotland's Six Nations opener at Murrayfield.

Listen and subscribe to the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Gregor Townsend has been speaking to the media after naming his Scotland team to face Italy in Saturday's Six Nations opener at Murrayfield.

Here are the key points from the head coach:

• Townsend says he selected Dave Cherry over Ewan Ashman based on good form for Edinburgh and his stronger set-piece game.

• He adds: "We see a lot of positives in his game and how a lot of that work around contact allows others to play."

• Stafford McDowall has earned the 12 jersey in Sione Tuipulotu's absence. Townsend cites his impressive performance in Dublin last season when Tuipulotu was out injured and says: "Whenever he's been given the opportunity, whether on summer tour or November Test, he's really stepped. He's a very good player, Stafford, he'll bring his own strengths to the game."

• On Jonny Gray being ready for a first cap in two years despite not playing for six weeks: "What impressed us last week is that he trained fully and got up to speed really quickly."

• Darcy Graham - selected for his first Six Nations game since March 2022 - is "a big player for us" and has become a more rounded performer in the last year.

• Graham has as many assists as tries now and Townsend adds: "He wasn't very happy with his performances in November whereas we were and I'm sure the public were. He knows there's more in him and he's improved physically a lot."

• On the challenge Italy will pose: "They're a confident team in terms of the wins they've delivered together. They're a fit team, they play a brand of rugby which is very structured but also they have the individual talent and the ambition to move the ball wide and they'll be physical."

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

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The selection of Dave Cherry, uncapped since September 2023, for Scotland's Six Nations opener against Italy is a gobsmacking move from Gregor Townsend.

Cherry fell down the stairs of the Scotland team hotel in Nice during the World Cup, invalided himself out of the tournament and hasn't been seen since in the Test arena. Now he starts ahead of Ewan Ashman.

He's a solid operator, a good lineout thrower, a decent physical presence, but his inclusion is still a shock. He has rarely suggested he is a frontline Six Nations hooker.

Townsend has gone with a failing Edinburgh team's second and, occasionally, third-choice hooker ahead of Johnny Matthews, winner of the URC with Glasgow.

Matthews, of course, is not in the squad at all. Dylan Richardson, second choice during the autumn, is injured. It's all getting a bit surreal.

Darcy Graham makes a long-awaited return to championship rugby having, incredibly, not played a Six Nations game since March 2022. Stafford McDowall is at 12, as expected.

Jack Dempsey, undercooked, is on the bench for impact. Jonny Gray, also undercooked, starts.

Gray hasn't played in six weeks and has only had three games since the end of October. Where a few weeks ago all was well with this squad, now it's looking uncertain in too many areas.

Dave Cherry is a surprise starter for Scotland's Six Nations opener at home to Italy on Saturday.

The Edinburgh hooker and Bordeaux lock Jonny Gray both earn their first caps in two years, while Stafford McDowall replaces injured captain and Glasgow team-mate Sione Tuipulotu at inside centre.

Has Gregor Townsend got the big selection calls right?

Let us know your thoughts on the Scotland XV, external

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Alex Williamson did not seek out Mark Dodson for advice before taking on the job as Scottish Rugby's new chief executive, but he seems to have learned some lessons from his predecessor, such as not coming out the gate with eye-catching statements of intent.

Shortly after taking charge in 2011, Dodson set out a four-year strategy that included winning a Six Nations Grand Slam and the Rugby World Cup.

Williamson, on first impressions, is a character in stark contrast to the bullish Dodson. In his first session with the media he was keen to lay out an ambitious plan for the union, minus the any proclamations of world domination.

"I think we can be highly influential on the international stage," Williamson said on the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast.

"We can be very competitive from a playing perspective. I think our pathways can be good. And we can be outstanding at delivering the on-day experience, whether that be men's, women's, young players, or for just entertainment purposes.

"And if you can get all of those together, why can't you be the leading union? It doesn't mean you're necessarily winning the World Cup, but it does mean that you're recognised around the world as being absolutely top-drawer at what you do. And that's kind of what I'm after."

Williamson describes himself "relatively low ego" and confirmed his pay packet will be lower than the exorbitant salary and bonuses pocketed by his predecessor that so infuriated Scottish rugby fans.

Having been in the job just over a week, the CEO is still getting is feet under the table, but knows the big challenges awaiting in his in-tray.

Revamping Murrayfield is high on the list. Whether that is transforming the stadium and campus for sporting and cultural events to grow revenue, or simply sorting the more mundane and urgent priorities like fixing the toilets.

It all comes at a cost, and for a union that posted a £11.3m loss in their last set of published accounts, it is a challenge.

"We're not going to be able to do Murrayfield in one [go]. But sensible levels, as in fix stuff that doesn't work, and drive things that are going to improve our revenues, that's all do-able," Williamson said.

Sorting the business side of the operation is what Williamson has brought in to do, but what fans want to see is successful clubs and national team.

The strong sense is that performance director David Nucifora – "the big brain rugby IP that Scottish rugby needs", as Williamson describes him – has been given the keys to the entire rugby operation and the big decisions relating to on-field matters will rest with him.

Upgrading Murrayfield, financing the national sides and pro teams, diverting resources to the pathway, all against a brutally tough financial backdrop – Williamson has a big job on his hands.

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