In a bid for a first ever win on Italian soil in the championship, Scotland make five changes for the visit to Stadio Flaminio, with Duncan Hodge making way for Gregor Townsend at out-half. Andrew Mower comes into the side for the injured Budge Poutney while 22 year old Andrew Henderson partners James mcLaren in the centre now that Townsend has moved to number 10.

Italy: P Vaccari (Calvisano); R Pedrazzi (Viadana), Mirko Bergamasco (Padua), C Stoica (Castres), D Dallan (Treviso); D Dominguez (Stade Francais), A Troncon (Montferrand); F Pucciariello (Gloucester), A Moscardi (Treviso, capt), G De Carli (Calvisano), S Dellape (Viadana), C Checchinato (Treviso), M Bortolami (Padua), Mauro Bergamasco (Treviso), M Phillips (Viadana). Replacements: A Moreno (Worcester), A Lo Cicero (Toulouse), M Giacheri (Sale), A Persico (Viadana), J-M Queirolo (Dax), R Pez (Rotherham), L Martin (Northampton).

Scotland: Brendan Laney (Edinburgh Rugby); Glenn Metcalfe (Glasgow Rugby), James McLaren (Glasgow Rugby), Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Rugby), Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby); Gregor Townsend (Castres), Bryan Redpath capt (Sale Sharks); Tom Smith (Northampton Saints), Gordon Bulloch (Glasgow Rugby), Mattie Strewart (Northampton Saints); Scott Murray (Saracens), Stuart Grimes (Newcastle Falcons); Jason White (Glasgow Rugby), Andrew Mower (Newcastle Falcons), Simon Taylor (Edinburgh Rugby) Replacements: 16 Rob Russell (Saracens), 17 George Graham (Newcastle Falcons), 18 Martin Leslie (Edinburgh Rugby), 19 Jon Petrie (Glasgow Rugby), 20 Graeme Beveridge (Glasgow Rugby), 21 Duncan Hodge (Edinburgh Rugby), 22 Kenny Logan (London Wasps).

Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)