International rugby match preview: Scotland v Italy in South Africa
Scotland name three changes to their line-up ahead of the final Quadrangular Tournament clash against Italy in Pretoria.
Last Updated: 21/06/13 10:29am
Fly-half Ruaridh Jackson has failed to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in Nelspruit last weekend, paving the way for Bath stand-off Tom Heathcote to win his third international cap.
In the second row, Alastair Kellock deputises for Jim Hamilton who has returned to Scotland for the birth of his second child.
Kellock will be joined in the pack by David Denton, who starts at blindside flanker with Ryan Wilson unavailable for selection having picked up an injury last time out.
Meanwhile Italy have made 10 changes to their starting XV as the Azzurri's search for a win in South Africa continues.
Changes
Leonard Sarto will start on the right wing while Luca Morisi and Alberto Sgarbi form a new centre partnership as Jacques Brunel rings the changes at Loftus Versfeld.
In the half-backs, Alberto Di Bernardo and Tobias Botes are preferred as Luciano Orquera and Edoardo Gori are left out of the match-day 23.
Up front, Martin Castrogiovanni retains his place in the starting line-up where he will be joined by hooker Davide Giazzon and prop Matias Aguero.
Robert Barbieri and Joshua Fumo come into the flanks as Mauro Bergamasco and Alessandro Zanni make way, while Leandro Cedaro gets the nod ahead of Valerio Bernabo.
Scotland completed a comfortable 34-10 victory when the pair met at Murrayfield during the Six Nations earlier this year.
Scotland: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Greig Laidlaw (capt), 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Alasdair Strokosch, 6 David Denton, 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Scott Lawson, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Moray Low, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Robert Harley, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Tim Visser.
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Alberto Di Bernardo, 9 Tobias Botes, 8 Sergio Parisse (capt), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Joshua Furno, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Leandro Cedaro, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Antonio Pavanello, 20 Alessandro Zanni, 21 Alberto Chillon, 22 Gonzalo Canale, 23 Luke McLean.
What they said...
Scotland head coach Scott Johnson
"This is the end of a long season for both the northern hemisphere teams in this tournament and, as I've said, before we want no rocks under our beach towels after Saturday's game.
"I was encouraged by our performance against South Africa last week but having set that standard we have to ensure that we build upwards from it against Italy."