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Horne steps in for suspended Russell as Scotland name side for pivotal Italy clash

Vern Cotter has made two enforced and two tactical changes for Saturday’s meeting with the Azzurri.

SCOTLAND COACH VERN Cotter has made four changes to his side for this weekend’s meeting of the Six Nations’ remaining winless sides.

Scotland host Italy in Murrayfield hoping to get a win under their belt and steer cleer of wooden spoon contention before facing England and Ireland at the tail end of the tournament.

Suspended out-half Finn Russell will be replaced by Peter Horne with Mark Bennett partnered by Alex Dunbar in midfield. Captain Greig Laidlaw is the only member of the back-line who doesn’t play for Glasgow Warriors.

Tommy Seymour returns to the wing at the expense of Tim Visser while Euan Murray returns to the starting line-up after another self-imposed Sunday exile. An arm injury to giant lock Richie Gray gray means the second row will feature another all-Glasgow pairing with Tim Swinson stepping in alongside Jonny Gray.

Edinburgh duo Ben Toolis and Hamish Watson meanwhile, will be hoping to make their debut from the bench.

Scotland team (v Italy) Saturday, 14.30:

15 Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13 Mark Bennett
12 Alex Dunbar
11 Sean Lamont
10 Peter Horne
9 Greig Laidlaw CAPT
1 Alasdair Dickinson
2 Ross Ford
3 Euan Murray
4 Tim Swinson
5 Jonny Gray
6 Rob Harley
7 Blair Cowan
8 Johnnie Beattie

Replacements:

16 Fraser Brown
17 Ryan Grant
18 Geoff Cross
19 Ben Toolis
20 Hamish Watson
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22 Greig Tonks
23 Matt Scott

Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)

Originally published at 12.04

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