Preview: Italy v Scotland

It will be Italy's first of two warm-up games against Scotland in Turin on Saturday and the Azzurri will be looking to replicate what they did to the Scots in the Six Nations earlier this year.

However they will have to do it without influential leader and general Sergio Parisse who has been struck down with flu-like symptoms. Second row forward Quintin Geldenhuys has been handed the captain's armband with Fiji-born Samuel Vunisa stepping into Parisse's No. 8 position.

Stand-in skipper Geldenhuys, who will be partnered in the second row by Zebre teammate Valerio Bernabo – who is making his first Azzurri start in nearly two years – now has the job of inspiring Italy to their second successive win over the Scots following the Azzurri's 22-19 Six Nations win at Murrayfield earlier this year.

But with Scotland winning the three previous encounters and the last two thanks to last-ditch efforts, Italian coach Jacques Brunel has called for consistency against a side that came close to upsetting Ireland (28-22) in last week's World Cup warm-up in Dublin.

"In recent seasons all our matches against Scotland have been decided at the death, and I don't think Saturday's game will be any different," said Brunel.

"It will be difficult, it's our first game of the season and the Scots are coming off a good performance against Ireland – it was a game they came close to winning.

"I think they will try to stop us building on our game, as they have done in the past."

Elsewhere, Brunel will send out an unprecedented first row trio of Lorenzo Cittadini, Matias Aguero and hooker Davide Giazzon, who will make his third start for Italy.

Veterans Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Marco Bortolami and Mauro Bergamasco — who have 398 caps between them – all start on the bench, as will versatile full back Luke McLean.

However most of them, and several other hopefuls, will expect to be part of Brunel's 31-man World Cup squad when it is named on Monday.

Cotter has been testing a number of combinations ahead of the World Cup, and this Test is no different. Flank John Hardie is poised to make a big impact on his Scotland debut against Italy tomorrow, even though it comes only weeks after the New Zealand-born player’s arrival in his adopted country.

Hardie said he is excited about the opportunity to play in Italy but knows the Scots are in for a challenge, especially up-front.

"I think they have got a really good set piece," said Hardie.

"Their scrum and line-out are good and they have a great mauling line-out as well so we going to have to be up for all aspects of the game and we will be doing our best to counter that."

An all-new back row completes the forwards as Hardie is joined by blind side flank Alasdair Strokosch and Adam Ashe at No.8.

In the backs Glasgow Warriors' 22-year-old wing Rory Hughes is set to make his first outing for his country in place of Tim Visser, with the returning Sean Lamont (wing) and the versatile Greig Tonks – who started the Ireland Test at flyhalf – making up the back three at fullback

A new halfback pairing sees scrumhalf Sam Hidalgo-Clyne make his first start for his country alongside flyhalf Duncan Weir; the hero of Scotland's last trip to Italy when he slotted the match-winning drop-goal in 2014.

The backs are completed by the final change, which sees centre Matt Scott start at inside centre alongside the returning Richie Vernon

Cotter is not underestimating Italy despite having the better of the Azzurri in recent times.

"We know Italy are very tough opposition, especially over there. So we need to do simple things well, work for each other – and stick to the plan. And if the plan changes halfway through the game, deal with it," said Cotter.

For Scotland: All eyes will be on gambler John Hardie who left New Zealand behind in the hopes of a Scotland World Cup spot. He has been given a chance at flank to face the Azzurri and will need to impress to have a chance of landing even a club contract. In the backline points-machine Sam Hidalgo-Clyne is operating at scrumhalf. The versatile No.9 can operate at flyhalf and fullback and he impressed during the Pro12 season. He will link up with pivot Duncan Weir who is dictated Glasgow to a Pro12 trophy.

 

Head to head: The halfback dual between Duncan weir and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne up against Guglielmo Palazzani and Tommaso Allen should be interesting to watch. Both will be key in putting points on the board and igniting their backline. The front-row is set to be a mouth-watering battle. Hooker convert Stuart McInally's first cap at No.2 will tough test against and Italian front-row. An Italian tight-five will put any opposition engine room to test.