Scotland switch up playmaking axis as Finn Russell gets two new partners, including Sione Tuipulotu’s replacement
Andy Christie, George Horne and Cameron Redpath, who come into Scotland's XV to face Italy.
Cameron Redpath has taken over the 12 jersey for Scotland’s clash with Italy in one of three changes to the starting line-up.
Sione Tuipulotu suffered a tournament-ending injury during the victory over England, which means the ‘Huwipulotu’ partnership has been broken up.
Huw Jones retains his place in the XV but he is joined by Redpath, who impressed after coming on for Tuipulotu in their previous Six Nations encounter against the Red Rose.
Other alterations
There is one more change in the backline with the lively George Horne coming into the team alongside co-captain Finn Russell at half-back.
Horne takes the place of Ben White, who misses out on the 23. He is more a threat around the fringes and will look to speed up the tempo against the Italians.
Meanwhile, the final Scotland alteration is in the back-row with Jamie Ritchie once again dropped from the XV. Ritchie keeps his place in the squad this time, with the flanker on the bench, but Gregor Townsend wants to give Andy Christie an opportunity from the start.
Christie has enjoyed an outstanding season for Saracens so far and was excellent as a replacement in their Calcutta Cup triumph a couple of weeks ago. He combines with Jack Dempsey and the other co-captain, Rory Darge, to form the loose trio.
The rest of the team is as expected with the front five the same one that started against England, with Scott Cummings and Grant Gilchrist in the engine room, and Zander Fagerson, George Turner and Pierre Schoeman in the front-row.
They will be looking to lay the platform for their dangerous back three, which is once again Blair Kinghorn, Kyle Steyn and hat-trick hero from Round Three, Duhan van der Merwe.
Finally, Townsend has interestingly switched to a 6-2 split on the bench, with Ben Healy dropping out of the squad.
Kinghorn can cover fly-half, allowing the head coach to increase the number of forward replacements. Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner retain their places, while Ritchie moves down from the starting XV, but fellow back-row Matt Fagerson has been added to the bench.
Ali Price is preferred to White as the reserve scrum-half and the side is rounded off by Kyle Rowe.
Scotland side to face Italy
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (cc), 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (cc), 6 Andy Christie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Jamie Ritchie, 21 Matt Fagerson, 22 Ali Price, 23 Kyle Rowe
Date: Saturday, March 9
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Kick-off: 15:15 local (14:15 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England), Adam Leal (England)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
READ MORE: ‘Losing Sione isn’t great’ – Huw Jones ‘gutted’ after Scotland teammate’s injury
