McGeechan has kept faith with the same team which lost 40-9 to England at Twickenham last weekend.

Scotland know victory over the Italians would ensure they do not end the tournament with the wooden spoon.

McGeechan believes keeping the same side for the Italy game will allow the coaching staff an opportunity to build after the Twickenham defeat.

He said: "We had a good discussion on the back of the video analysis.

"There were a lot of things we were pleased with, which we wanted to make better and work on.

"You don't like making changes all the time but there were a lot of good things there which we feel we can drive forward.

�?�¢??At the weekend, it flattered England. There were things in there which we probably could have avoided.

"You have got to look at performances and not get carried away with results, whether they are wins or losses.

"You have to be pretty honest about how players played and which parts of the game worked and didn't work.

"So that will make the individual and collective performance better next time."

Scotland XV and replacements: G Metcalfe (Glasgow); C Paterson (Edinburgh), J McLaren (Bordeaux-Begles), A Craig (Orrel), K Logan (Wasps); G Townsend (Borders), B Redpath (Sale Sharks, Capt); T Smith (Northampton), G Bulloch (Glasgow), B Douglas (Borders), S Murray (Edinburgh), N Hines (Edinburgh), J White (Glasgow), S Taylor (Edinburgh), A Mower (Newcastle).

Replacements: R Russell (Saracens), G Kerr (Leeds), S Grimes (Newcastle), R Beattie (Bristol), M Blair (Edinburgh), G Ross (Leeds), K Utterson (Borders).