Scotland make changes for Italy Six Nations clash

Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Matt Scott, Adam Hastings and Richie Vernon are all added to the group, while Tommy Seymour is retained despite missing Saturday's defeat in Dublin with a back problem and Alex Dunbar is among those to miss out.

The Glasgow trio of Cummings, Fagerson and Hastings are yet to make their Scotland debuts but have previously been involved in Townsend's squads and could feature in Rome on Saturday.

Scotland, one of four sides with two wins and two defeats after home victories against France and England, are currently fifth in the table after their 8-28 defeat away to Ireland.

Scotland squad:

Backs: Nick Grigg (Glasgow), Chris Harris (Newcastle), Adam Hastings (Glasgow), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow), George Horne (Glasgow), Pete Horne (Glasgow), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Lee Jones (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Byron McGuigan (Sale), Ali Price (Glasgow), Finn Russell (Glasgow), Matt Scott (Gloucester), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow), Richie Vernon (Glasgow).

Forwards: John Barclay capt (Scarlets), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow),Fraser Brown (Glasgow), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), David Denton (Worcester), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Glasgow), Richie Gray (Toulouse), Luke Hamilton (Leicester), Scott Lawson (Newcastle), Darryl Marfo (Edinburgh), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Gordon Reid (London Irish), Tim Swinson (Glasgow), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow).

Agence France-Presse