Scotland v Italy: Six Nations 2019, Match Preview pt II – head to heads

320 days since Scotland and Italy met in Rome to round out their 2018 Six Nations’ campaigns they’re back at it in Edinburgh to open up the 2019 tournament. There are just 23 survivors from the 46 players who contested that last game – 11 for Scotland and 12 for Italy. Here’s how those recast line-ups compare against each other:

Tale of the tape

BACKS
58   Tries   21
93kg   Average weight   93kg
243   Total caps   172
117   6N caps   62
27.1   Average age   28.0

FORWARDS
885kg   Pack weight   890kg
10   Tries   24
157   Total caps  333
51   6N caps   153
27.5   Average age   29.3

SUBSTITUTES
74   Total caps   88
26   6N caps   30
3   Tries   4
26.5   Average age   26.2

7 Scotland changes from last Test (v Argentina)

• 12/10 – Johnson for Hastings with Russell moving to 10 [+]
• 11 – Seymour for Maitland [-]
• 2 – McInally for Brown [+]
• 3 – Nel for Berghan [+]
• 4/5 – Toolis for Gray [-]
• 6/7 – Skinner for Watson with Ritchie moving to 7 [-]
• 8 – Wilson for Strauss [=]

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Overall

Backs – advantage Scotland

Bringing his excellent club form (and possibly a couple of extra kilos!) into this game, Finn Russell will be looking to carry the attacking flair he’s demonstrated for Racing 92 into the Test arena. ‘The Muscle’ has had the number 10 shirt for 19 out of last 21 games in the Six Nations for Scotland. He’s absolutely crucial to the way Gregor Townsend wants this side to play.

After sporadic spells both in and out of the Italian team, Tomasso Allan is enjoying his best ever run for the Azzurri, starting all of their last 11 Tests. The match-up in Rome a year ago showcased a more mature and consistent side to his performances and he very nearly inspired Italy to victory. The battle between the two stand offs will be an intriguing one.

Forwards – advantage Scotland

The selection of the Edinburgh tight 5 en masse allows them to bring their superlative European form to an even bigger stage. Even without Pierre Schoeman they will feel they can dominate almost anyone. With the Italians themselves seemingly a bit of a fading force at scrum time in particular, Stuart McInally and co. will be looking to set the foundations for Scotland to attack from.

Subs – advantage Italy

Italian replacement scrum half Guglielmo Palazzani is the only one of the 16 players on the combined benches with more than 20 caps to his name. Injuries have taken a toll for both sides (although definitely rather more on Scotland) however, in a World Cup year, there are opportunities there to be grabbed. The subs need to take their chances to shine when they get on.

The physicality and aggression of Gary Graham will provide an interesting change-up for Scotland. For Italy, Cherif Traore is a wrecking ball of a carrier and always entertaining to watch – although not to play against!

Miscellany

– Sam Johnson will be Scotland cap number 1100 when he takes to the field on Saturday. He could be joined by both number 1101 and 1102 if Jake Kerr and Gary Graham are brought on as replacements.

– In addition to Scotland’s debutants a further 3 players will get their first ever experience of the Six Nations – Sam Skinner, Jamie Ritchie and Adam Hastings (there are 4 potential newbies to this tournament on the Italian side).

– Grant Gilchrist made his Six Nations’ debut back in 2013 but this will be just his 7th appearance in the tournament.

– If he comes off the bench Jake Kerr will be the 7th member of Scotland’s squad for the 2016 U20 World Championships to make his Test debut, following in the footsteps of Zander Fagerson, Murray McCallum, Blair Kinghorn, Adam Hastings, Jamie Ritchie and Darcy Graham.

Arrivederci Sergio

This may well be the last time that Sergio Parisse plays on the Murrayfield turf so here are some stats and facts in tribute to the 134-cap Italian legend:

• This will be the 19th occasion that he will have played against Scotland and the 10th of those games to take place at Murrayfield.
• The first of those appearances came during a RWC warm-up match in the summer of 2003. He was a sub as Scotland beat Italy 47-15 in front of a crowd of 25,304.
• It’s more than 6 years since anyone in that 2003 Scotland side last played Test rugby and yet Parisse shows no signs of stopping – he’ll almost certainly go to what will be his 5th World Cup at the end of this year.
• He has played more Six Nations games at Murrayfield (this will be his 8th) than any of the 13 Scottish forwards in the 23 for Saturday bar Ryan Wilson (10th).