Otherwise the pack is again unchanged for the third successive game with captain Ross Ford warning his colleagues that an increase in accuracy and intensity is a pre-requisite for any success against Italy.

Meanwhile, on the bench, Jack Cuthbert, the 24-year-old Bath Rugby full-back/wing is involved in a Six Nations 22 for the first time. Cuthbert won his only cap to date off the bench in the EMC Test against Ireland last August.

Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said today: “Nick was unfortunate to miss the game in Ireland through a hamstring problem and the challenge for him on Saturday will be to contribute as purposefully against the Italians as he did in his last game, against France.

“Jack has featured regularly for Bath this season. He’s strong and we know from his involvement with the squad back in the summer how much it means to him to play for Scotland.”

Scotland have beaten Italy in the last two internationals between the countries but Robinson knows that Scotland have only won twice in Rome since the Italians were admitted to the Championship in 2000.

“We are not where we wanted to be at this point in the championship. Yes, we have played some good rugby at some points in games and there has been some improvement but we all know that we need the substance that comes from a win, especially after the display in Dublin.”

Scotland team (sponsor RBS) to play Italy at the Olympic Stadium, Rome on Saturday 17 March in the RBS 6 Nations Championship, kick-off 1.30pm local time (12.30pm GMT)

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps, 1 try, 5 points

14 Max Evans (Castres) 27 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 32 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 34 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
11 Sean Lamont (Scarlets) 64 caps, 8 tries, 40 points

10 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 6 caps, 1 try, 2 conversions, 6 penalties, 27 points
9 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Rugby), 79 caps, 7 tries, 35 points

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Rugby) 64 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 57 caps, 2 tries, 10 points CAPTAIN
3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 12 caps
4 Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 20 caps, 1 try, 5 points
5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) 38 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
7 Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) 15 caps
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 5 caps

Substitutes

16 Scott Lawson (Gloucester) 32 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons) 43 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
18 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 40 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks) 17 caps
20 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 59 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
21 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 12 caps, 2 conversions, 2 penalties, 2 drop-goals, 16 points
22 Jack Cuthbert (Bath Rugby) 1 cap

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland). Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland) and Pascal Gauzere (France). TMO: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales).

ENDS

For further information please contact:
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Tel: +44 (0)131 346 5126/5164/5166/5266/5008/5184 or +44 (0)141 435 4367
www.scottishrugby.org

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