Stafford McDowall will earn a ninth cap at inside centre for Scotland in the place of injured captain Sione Tuipulotu in an otherwise experienced backline to face Italy in their Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Scotland lock Jonny Gray will make his first Test appearance for nearly two years after being named in the starting team for Saturday's Six Nations opener at home to Italy. "We had to be sure that Jonny was fully fit,

Full Contact focused on certain players - Russell, Wales' Louis Rees-Zammit, England's Owen Farrell and Ellis Genge, and Ireland's Johnny Sexton and Andrew Porter - but as with many documentary of that type, it only told part of the story.

Head coach Gregor Townsend has named his matchday 23 for Scotland's opening Six Nations encounter against Italy at Murrayfield.

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Stafford McDowall will earn a ninth cap at inside centre for Scotland in the place of injured captain Sione Tuipulotu against Italy on Saturday.

Dave Cherry and Jonny Gray earn first caps in two years as Stafford McDowall replaces injured captain Sione Tuipulotu at inside centre for Scotland's opening Six Nations match against Italy on Saturday.

Italy beat Scotland in Rome last year in a tight game before going on to beat Wales a week later, finishing the tournament with two wins and a draw, their best ever result. They a

Stafford McDowall will earn his ninth cap for Scotland at inside centre, replacing injured captain Sione Tuipulotu against Italy in the Six Nations opener. The seasoned backline aims for victory with McDowall partnering Huw Jones,

Scotland's Stafford McDowall will earn a ninth cap at inside centre in place of injured captain Sione Tuipulotu in an otherwise experienced backline to face Italy in their Six Nations opener at Murrayfield on Saturday.

In one of his final acts as a Bath player before heading into the Six Nations, Finn Russell produced a try for Tom Carr-Smith that left his usually stoic coach Johann van Graan open-mouthed in awe.

Bayliss limped off late in the first half with what Bath head of rugby Johan van Graan labelled a “serious” groin injury. Townsend has already lost captain Sione Tuipulotu and lock Scott Cummings to injury, while there are slight concerns over Duhan van der Merwe’s fitness due to an ankle issue.