Attack coach Townsend is off to take the Glasgow Warriors hotseat while defence coach Steadman will join Sale, to be replaced by Matt Taylor from the Queensland Reds.

This has led to many suggesting that this sort of upheaval has contributed to Scotland’s winless run of six games.

But captain Ford isn’t convinced, adamant off the field issues have had no bearing on what happens on the pitch.

"I don't think things have gone wrong off the pitch," the hooker said.

"We're all professional players. We've got a big game this weekend and that's our sole focus.

"Things on the pitch haven't been ideal, but we've shown a lot of improvements from where we were last season.

"We could have had more wins than we have just now, but it's down to our own doing.

"The boys are just desperate to get a win for all that effort we've put in - we need something to show for it.

"We've had opportunities when we could've won two out of the four games, but as it is we're going to Rome and we need to get this win.

"It's all in our hands. We've got the game to beat Italy."