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Four changes to the Scotland team, with one new cap on their bench
By Liam Heagney
Gregor Townsend has announced a Scotland team to host Italy on Saturday that contains four changes from last Sunday’s home loss to Ireland. The Scots were beaten 22-7 to extinguish their title challenge and having since lost Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell to injury, there were always going to be alterations to their Guinness Six Nations round five side.
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Ollie Smith is included at full-back for Hogg with Blair Kinghorn at out-half for Russell. In the pack, Sam Skinner is chosen instead of Richie Gray with Hamish Watson promoted from the replacements in place of the benched Matt Fagerson.
On the bench this Saturday, new names after last weekend are Ewan Ashman for Fraser Brown, Rory Sutherland for Jamie Bhatti, WP Nel for Simon Berghan, the uncapped Ben Healy for the promoted Kinghorn and Cameron Redpath for Chris Harris.
Scotland team (vs Italy, Saturday – 12:30)
15. Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps
14. Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 35 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) – Vice-Captain – 15 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 27 caps
10. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 42 caps
9. Ben White (London Irish) 13 caps
1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 20 caps
2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 34 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 57 caps
4. Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) 24 caps
5. Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) – Vice-Captain – 76 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) – Captain – 40 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 56 caps
8. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps
Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks) 6 caps
17. Rory Sutherland (Ulster Rugby) 22 caps
18. WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 53 caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 24 caps
20. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps
21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 60 caps
22. Ben Healy (Munster) uncapped
23. Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 4 caps
