Scotland v Italy: Five talking points ahead of the Six Nations clash at Murrayfield
Last Updated: 18/03/17 3:27pm
Five talking points ahead of Vern Cotter's last match in charge of Scotland as they welcome Italy to Murrayfield.
A win for Scotland could see them finish as high as second in the Six Nations championship, but a loss would see them finish fifth as well as becoming the first team to concede any tournament points to Italy.
Scotland lost to Italy last time the teams met at Murrafield in the Six Nations, but they are a much improved side two years on.
Righting Twickenham wrongs
Scotland No 8 Ryan Wilson wants to "right the wrongs" of the Twickenham nightmare this weekend.
The Scots' 61-21 defeat by England cast a dark shadow over a campaign previously rich in promise, kicked off by home victories over Ireland and Wales.
A third win at Murrayfield on Saturday would be only the second time in the Six Nations era that Scotland have won three games in the same season, the only other time coming in 2006.
That year was also one of three - along with 2001 and 2013 - which brought a third-place finish, Scotland's highest to date since the old Five Nations became Six in 2000.
A bonus-point win over Italy, combined with a Wales win in France without a bonus point and Ireland failing to beat England would see the Scots finish second.
"At the beginning of this campaign I said that to get three home wins would be a massive thing for us," said Wilson, who has recovered from a head knock sustained against England.
"We're on track to get that and if we finish second then it will be a successful campaign because we will finish higher than we ever have.
"What happened last week was unacceptable in a Scotland shirt. We're excited to right the wrongs, go out and put in a good performance at home. We need to go out with all guns blazing - start well and carry it on for 80 minutes."
Cotter says goodbye
After Saturday's game, Vern Cotter will vacate his role as Scotland coach, and will be replaced by Gregor Townsend.
Regardless of this weekend's result, Cotter will end his Dark Blues reign by becoming the first Scottish coach in the professional era to achieve a win ratio of at least 50 per cent, having already clocked up 18 victories in 35 Tests.
His team may have staggered to a record-equalling 40-point defeat against England at Twickenham last week, but improvements under his watch have been clear to see.
His first Six Nations campaign included the ignominy of a five-game whitewash, but the progress since has been rapid, with the run to the World Cup quarter-finals in 2015 and this year's climb to a highest-ever world ranking of fourth the clear highlights.
Cotter will head to France at the conclusion of the championship to take up the reigns at Montpellier.
World rankings
Scotland currently sit in fifth place in the world rankings, which puts them in the pot of second seeds for May's draw for the 2019 World Cup.
Given Italy's ranking of 15th, and the fact that Scotland are playing at home, Cotter's side cannot sneak into fourth even if Ireland and Wales get thrashed this weekend.
However there is one scenario that could see Scotland drop out of the top eight; an Italy victory by more than 15 points.
It's an unlikely outcome - very unlikely given that Italy haven't lost to any of their opponents by less than 20 points in 2017 - but it will serve as a warning to any Scottish player with thoughts of an easy outing at Murrayfield.
2015 in Edinburgh
Last time these teams met in Edinburgh was during the 2015 Six Nations. Scotland had a four-point lead with just under four minutes remaining when the home side were awarded a scrum penalty deep in their own half.
Scotland looked sure to hold out for the win but Peter Horne failed to make touch with his kick, Italy counter-attacked, won a penalty and set up a lineout on the home 22m line.
The Azzurri secured the throw and employed a driving maul which was then collapsed by Ben Toolis who was shown a yellow card for the offence.
With the man advantage Italy kicked for the corner and attacked the line once again, and when Scotland brought another maul down George Clancy awarded Italy a penalty try in the 80th minute.
Cotter's side are a far better outfit than they were in 2015, but it serves as a reminder of how dangerous Italy can be if they're still within striking distance late in the game.
Gray injured
Richie Gray picked up a hamstring strain in last weekend's defeat to England at Twickenham, and on Friday the 27-year-old failed a fitness test.
The second rower is replaced by Edinburgh's Grant Gilchrist, who comes straight into the starting side for his first appearance in this year's Six Nations.
Tim Swinson, who has been Scotland's replacement lock in all four matches to date, remains on the bench.
"We felt the way they both play, Tim would be better to start on the bench, and Grant - with the things he offers around the pitch - would be better suited to start," said Scotland resource coach Nathan Hines.
How much of an impact will the late withdrawal of Gray have on Scotland's preparations?
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price; 1 Gordon Reid, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Zander Ferguson, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 John Barclay (c), 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Ryan Wilson.
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Cornell Du Preez, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Matt Scott.
Italy: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Luke McLean, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti; 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Edoardo Gori; 1 Andrea Lovotti, 2 Ornel Gega, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 4 Marco Fuser, 5 George Biagi, 6 Maxime Mbanda, 7 Abraham Steyn, 8 Sergio Parisse (c).
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Sami Panico, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Andries Vanm Schalkwyk, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 Francesco Minto, 22 Marcello Violi, 23 Luca Sperandio.
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