MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / Sport / Three changes as Scotland name team to play Italy

Three changes as Scotland name team to play Italy

Head coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes to Scotland’s starting line-up ahead of their trip to Rome to face Italy in the penultimate round of 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations fixtures.

Andy Christie, Cameron Redpath and George Horne all start, having been replacements in the win against England on 24 February.

For Christie, named at blindside flanker, a first start in Scotland colours will see him join co-captain Rory Darge (openside) and No 8 Jack Dempsey in the back row.

Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings link up in the second row once more, the former named as vice-captain.

For the fourth match in succession, and eighth in the championship since last year’s meeting with Wales, Scotland’s front row comprises George Turner at hooker, with Pierre Schoeman and loosehead prop and Zander Fagerson packing down at tighthead.

In the back division, Redpath is named at inside centre alongside Huw Jones, after Sione Tuipulotu was ruled out of the remaining matches through injury.

Scrum-half Horne gets the nod to partner stand-off and co-captain Finn Russell as Scotland seek to retain the Cuttitta Cup, which will be played for the third time since its 2022 inauguration.

Fresh from his scintillating hat-trick against England, Duhan van der Merwe is part of an unchanged back three with fellow winger Kyle Steyn and Blair Kinghorn, who occupies the full-back berth.

The front row replacements are also unchanged, with Ewan Ashman (hooker), Alec Hepburn and Elliot Millar-Mills (loose and tighthead respectively), joining second row Sam Skinner, whilst Jamie Ritchie and Matt Fagerson provide back row replenishments.

With those six forwards, it means there are two backs listed as replacements in the form of the experienced scrum-half Ali Price, who would make a first championship appearance of the campaign, and versatile back-three operator Kyle Rowe.

Scotland team to face Italy at Stadio Olimpico, Rome, in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations on Saturday 9 March, kick-off 2.15pm (UK) – live on ITV/STV (caps in brackets):

15. Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (51)
14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (17)
13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (46)
12. Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby (12)
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (37)

10. Finn Russell – Co-Captain – Bath Rugby (78)
9. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (28)

1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (29)
2. George Turner – Glasgow Warriors (43)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (65)
4. Grant Gilchrist – Vice-Captain – Edinburgh Rugby (70)
5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (36)
6. Andy Christie – Saracens (6)
7. Rory Darge – Co-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (17)
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (18)

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (15)
17. Alec Hepburn – Exeter Chiefs (3)
18. Elliot Millar-Mills – Northampton Saints (2)
19. Sam Skinner – Edinburgh Rugby (33)
20. Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (48)
21. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (42)
22. Ali Price – Edinburgh Rugby (66)
23. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (3)

Category: Tag:

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Older Persons Grants Land Today — No Need to Queue at Dawn

    Dear Editor, Older Persons grants are paid today, 30 October, under SASSA’s revised November payment schedule — with disability grants on Monday 2 November, children’s grants on Tuesday 3 November, and grants under review on Thursday 5 November. Two things every beneficiary should know. First, grant money does not expire on payment day. It stays…

  • November Grants Pay Early – No Need to Queue at Dawn

    Dear Editor, I run SAGrant (sagrant.co.za), a free resource helping South Africans navigate SASSA grants. November grants pay earlier than usual. Older Persons grants are paid on Friday 30 October, Disability grants on 2 November, and Child Support and other grants on 3 November. Grants still under review are paid on 5 November. The money…

  • NSFAS 2027 applications close on 31 October — SASSA households, apply now

    Dear Editor, I run SAGrant (sagrant.co.za), a free resource helping South Africans navigate SASSA grants. NSFAS applications for the 2027 academic year close on Friday 31 October 2026, and no extension is expected. If your household receives a SASSA grant, your child already passes the NSFAS financial eligibility test — but they still have to…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Although there are 31 countries that play cricket in the international stage, only 12 have qualified for Test status. The first countries to acquire this status are England and Australia (1877) and the latest is Afghanistan (2018).

  2. Sport Trivia: Which South African athelete won the 100 metres at the Olympic Games in London in 1908? Answer: Reggie Walker won the 100 metres at the Olympic Games in London in 1908, the first South African, and the first African, to win the Olympic 100 metres title.