Scotland predicted team v Italy: Gregor Townsend facing ‘stick or twist’ decision amid the need to ‘become serious contenders’
Gregor Townsend (right) could pick Blair Kinghorn (centre) and Finn Russell (left) this weekend.
Ahead of Scotland’s Six Nations opener against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome, here is how we think Gregor Townsend’s side will line up.
Scotland will arrive at this year’s Championship under pressure following a disappointing 2025 Test season, but that also presents an opportunity, too.
Townsend’s side have threatened to join the top table of the competition, notably flipping the narrative of the Calcutta Cup in the process, but this year needs to be the year that they finally break through and become serious contenders.
In an effort to do that, Scotland initially named a strong 40-man squad, to be assisted by a 15-strong A squad, with numerous squad members coming from the red-hot Glasgow Warriors. Since the initial group was named, there have, however, been a few changes, with Gregor Hiddleston and Gus Warr being drafted in and Liam McConnell dropping out through injury.
Stick or twist?
Improving on their fourth-placed finish from 2025 is simply a must for Scotland this year, and it could see Townsend rotate his squad. But, does he stick or twist within his 23-man group?
It seems Duhan van der Merwe is set to be on the sidelines, at least for the opener, following his selection for Edinburgh last weekend, leaving Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham and Kyle Steyn fighting for the two spots on the wing. This is arguably his biggest call, considering the form of the Glasgow pairing and the genuine X-factor quality that Graham possesses.
In the here and now, it seems Graham and Steyn are the leading options to start, with Dobie’s versatility to cover both scrum-half and wing allowing him to take up a spot on the probable 6:2 bench. This is a major call, given Dobie’s form, but Graham has been exceptional for Scotland for a number of years now, and that credit in the bank could serve him well.
Townsend must also choose between Blair Kinghorn and Tom Jordan at full-back, with both men enjoying great seasons with Toulouse and Bristol, respectively. Again, you would think Kinghorn just edges that selection call, given his level of performance over the past few years for Scotland, but again, Jordan’s versatility should see him named on the bench.
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Another genuinely tough call comes at scrum-half, with Ben White and George Horne both in the mix. Horne has again been in tremendous form for Glasgow and is arguably one of the driving forces behind their impressive start to the season, but White is also in good touch for Toulon and has been so key for Scotland for a while. That could again lean in his favour, therefore forcing Horne out of the 23 entirely. It’s incredibly harsh on him, though.
Elsewhere in the backline, you would expect more straightforward calls, with Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu reuniting in midfield and Finn Russell starting at 10.
Big boppers
For years, the Scotland pack had always lacked a big bopper, but they will likely have a pack filled with them on Saturday. Jack Dempsey has been at his brutal best for Glasgow lately and should come straight in at eight, while Matt Fagerson will also offer his sizeable frame to the group at six. Seven also seems an easy prediction, with breakdown poacher Rory Darge also in great form. There could also be room for Magnus Bradbury on the bench, which would again give them another aggressive carrier.
Lock is an interesting call, with lots of genuine options emerging. Experienced head Jonny Gray is back in the mix after his injury woes across the past few years, Alex Craig is enjoying a good run of form for Glasgow, as is Scott Cummings, while Grant Gilchrist has been a real cornerstone of the Scotland pack for a while. At the time of writing, it appears that Cummings and Gilchrist will start, with Gray possibly in line to feature on the bench. The impressive Gregor Brown is also likely to take up a bench spot, given Scotland are likely to go 6:2, with his ability to cover lock and back-row.
The props pick themselves in this side, with the fit-again Zander Fagerson likely to start alongside Pierre Schoeman, with Rory Sutherland and Elliot Millar Mills coming off the bench, but hooker is again a big call for Townsend. Ewan Ashman seems to be in pole position to start, but it could also be a good time to deploy Gregor Hiddleston off the bench and give him a taste of life as a Test player. Again, like several of his clubmates, he is bang in-form right now and could give them another little boost around the tight.
Scotland predicted team in full
Starting XV: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Bench: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Jonny Gray, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Magnus Bradbury, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Tom Jordan
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