Italy vs Scotland live stream: How to watch Six Nations fixture online and on TV
Scotland will be looking for their first victory of the Six Nations when they take on Italy in Saturday’s opening match at the Stadio Olimpico.
Both sides are currently winless in this year’s championship, with the Italians suffering successive losses against Wales and France and Scotland falling to narrow defeats against Ireland and England, leaving the pressure on in what is widely regarded as the duel for the Wooden Spoon.
Italy coach Franco Smith makes just one change to his starting line-up as Alessandro Zanni returns for his 119th cap, taking him level with legendary prop Martin Castrogiovani as the nation’s second all-time capped player behind Sergio Parisse, with Dean Budd dropping to the bench.
Scotland boss Gregor Townsend meanwhile makes three changes to the side that lost at home to England, with Huw Jones dropped from the side completely as Chris Harris is preferred in the centre. Ben Toolis replaces the injured Jonny Gray at lock, and Stuart McInally returns at hooker in place of Fraser Brown. However, the fallout from the very public row between Townsned and exiled fly-half Finn Russell continues to overshadow the side’s campaign.
Here’s everything you need to know about the match.
When is the match?
Italy vs Scotland takes place on Saturday 22 February at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
What time does it start?
The match kicks off at 2:15pm.
How can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on ITV and online on the ITV Hub from 1:25pm. Highlights will be shown on BBC Two at 6pm on Sunday.
Teams
Italy: J Hayward (Benetton); M Bellini (Zebre), L Morisi (Benetton), C Canna (Zebre), M Minozzi (Wasps); T Allan (Benetton), C Braley (Gloucester); A Lovotti (Zebre), L Bigi (Zebre, capt), G Zilocchi (Zebre), A Zanni (Benetton), N Cannone (Benetton), J Polledri (Gloucester), S Negri (Benetton), A Steyn (Benetton).
Replacements: F Zani (Benetton), D Fischetti (Zebre), M Riccioni (Benetton), M Lazzaroni (Benetton), D Budd (Benetton), G Licata (Zebre), G Palazzani (Zebre), G Bisegni (Zebre).
Scotland: S Hogg (Exeter, capt); S Maitland (Saracens), C Harris (Gloucester), S Johnson (Glasgow), B Kinghorn (Edinburgh); A Hastings (Glasgow), A Price (Glasgow); R Sutherland (Edinburgh), S McInally (Edinburgh), Z Fagerson (Glasgow), B Toolis (Edinburgh), S Cummings (Glasgow), J Ritchie (Edinburgh), H Watson (Edinburgh), M Bradbury (Edinburgh).
Replacements: F Brown (Glasgow), A Dell (London Irish), W Nel (Edinburgh), G Gilchrist (Edinburgh), M Fagerson (Glasgow), G Horne (Glasgow), R Hutchinson (Northampton), B McGuigan (Sale).
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand).
Odds
Italy to win: 16/5
Scotland to win: 1/3
Draw: 33/1
Prediction
Italy 12-30 Scotland: Scotland have lost both of their games so far this championship by a converted try and have not looked a million miles away from pinching both victories, so it should not take too much for Townsend’s side to improve in order to see off an Italian side going through something of a messy transition.
