6N: Scotland v Italy: Stafford McDowall gets the nod at inside-centre

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STAFFORD MCDOWALL has been handed the Scotland No 12 jersey for Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Italy at Twickenham, taking over the crucial inside-centre role from his injured Glasgow Warriors club-mate Sione Tuipulotu.

Meanwhile, Dave Cherry has been selected as starting hooker, in his first involvement in the national team since flying home from the 2023 World Cup with a concussion following a fall in the team hotel the day after Scotland’s opening round defeat to South Africa. That means Ewan Ashman who was first choice No 2 during the Autumn starts on the bench.

The only other slightly contentious call is in the back-row, although the fact that Jack Dempsey has managed just 68 minutes of competitive rugby for Glasgow Warriors against Harlequins a fortnight ago helps explain why he is on the bench, with Jamie Ritchie starting at blindside flanker and Matt Fagerson at No 8.


6N Countdown: TOL's team-by-team guide: No 1 – France … according to 'the ex-pro turned top pundit'

6N Countdown: TOL's team-by-team Guide Part 2 – Wales … according to 'the super-fan'

6N Countdown: TOL's team-by-team Guide Part 3 – Scotland … according to 'the club stalwart'

6N Countdown: TOL's team-by-team Guide Part 4 – Italy … according to 'the exiled coach'


Apart from that, it is a fairly settled squad with no real surprises in the starting line-up or on the bench.

 

Scotland (versus Italy at Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday @ 2.15pm – live on BBC): B Kinghorn; D Graham, H Jones, S McDowall, D van der Merwe; P Schoeman, D Cherry, Z Fagerson, J Gray, G Gilchrist, J Ritchie, R Darge, M Fagerson. Subs: E Ashman, R Sutherland, W Hurd, G Brown, J Dempsey, G Horne, T Jordan, K Rowe,

 

  • You can book your Six Nations hospitality and VIP tickets with Seat Unique HERE, an Official Hospitality Partner of The Murrayfield Experience

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