Price to bring up half-ton in Rome
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Glasgow Warriors’ scrumhalf Ali Price is in line to make his 50th appearance for Scotland having been named in the starting XV to face Italy in the penultimate round of fixtures for the Six Nations.
The 28-year-old Ali Price made his international debut in 2016 against Georgia at Rugby Park and has since gone on to combine with Finn Russell to create an established partnership at No.9 and No.10.
The two will start for the seventh successive occasion on Saturday.
In one of five changes made to the team that was defeated against France, Sam Johnson returns to the line-up following his start in the victory over England in Round One of this year’s championship and will partner Gloucester’s Chris Harris in the centre.
Kyle Steyn makes his first start in the Six Nations having come off the bench against France in 2020.
The Glasgow Warriors wing marked his first Scotland start in style last year, scoring four tries in the year-end Tests against Tonga.
Edinburgh’s Darcy Graham will occupy the opposite wing following three impressive performances so far in the championship, with Exeter Chiefs fullback Stuart Hogg once again captaining the side.
In the forwards, Glasgow Warriors’ Matt Fagerson returns from injury to start at No.8.
Fellow Edinburgh back row forward Hamish Watson is also named in the starting line-up having missed out against France through COVID. Fresh from signing a long-term contract with Glasgow Warriors, Rory Darge retains his place.
Edinburgh’s Grant Gilchrist and Exeter Chiefs’ Sam Skinner are unchanged in the second row from the France match.
In the front row, George Turner is brought into the starting line-up.
Glasgow Warriors’ prop Zander Fagerson keeps his place in the first XV, along with Edinburgh’s Pierre Schoeman.
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In the replacements, Ben Vellacott is in line to make his debut. The scrumhalf has been capped for Scotland Under-20 and joined Edinburgh this season following two years at Gloucester.
Adam Hastings could make his first appearance of the 2022 Six Nations from the bench and will take his place alongside Sione Tuipulotu who is also named as a replacement.
Stuart McInally, Willem Nel and Allan Dell are options in the front row as replacements while Edinburgh duo Magnus Bradbury and Jamie Hodgson are available to come off the bench in the back five.
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg (captain), 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Rory Darge, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Sam Skinner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Willem Nel, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Sione Tuipulotu.
Date: Saturday, March 12
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 15.15 (14.15 UK & GMT)
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (England), Craig Evans (Wales)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)
