Cherry, Gray & McDowall start for Scotland against Italy

Six Nations: Scotland v Italy

Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 1 February Kick-off: 14:15 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One, listen on Radio 5 live, Radio Scotland & BBC Sounds and follow live on the BBC Sport website and app.

Edinburgh hooker Dave Cherry will earn his first cap in two years as Stafford McDowall replaces injured captain Sione Tuipulotu at inside centre for Scotland's opening Six Nations match against Italy on Saturday.

Fly-half Finn Russell will co-captain the side along with forward Rory Darge at Murrayfield.

Cherry will earn his 12th cap, but the 34-year-old will be playing his first Scotland game since the 2023 World Cup, while Bordeaux lock Jonny Gray is also in line for a first cap in nearly two years.

McDowall, who captained the side against Portugal in the Nations Series last year, will partner the experienced Huw Jones in the centre.

The familiar duo of Russell and Ben White and Finn Russell start as half-backs.

The players selected in the back three have amassed nearly 150 caps combined, with Darcy Graham starting alongside Duhan van der Merwe on the wings and Toulouse's Blair Kinghorn at full-back.

Matt Fagerson, who won a 50th cap for Scotland against Australia in November, is named at the back of the scrum, with flankers Darge and Jamie Ritchie completing the back row.

At the front of the scrum, loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman lines up alongside Cherry, with Zander Fagerson at tighthead.

Gray joins Edinburgh's Grant Gilchrist in the second row to complete the pack.

Backs: Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Finn Russell (Bath Rugby), Ben White (Toulon).

Forwards: Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux Bègles), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors).