Italy vs Scotland Preview & Prediction | 2026 Six Nations Championship | Round 1
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Italy welcome Scotland to Rome as both sides begin their 2026 Six Nations campaign.
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC & Premier Sports / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – BBC’s digital platforms & Premier Player / USA – Peacock
Italy form: Promising Autumn Nations Series
Italy generally view this as a winnable fixture in the competition, although recent history is not on their side as they have lost their last eight Six Nations contests against Scotland.
The Azzurri looked in decent shape during the November internationals though, notably defeating southern hemisphere giants Australia 26-19 on home turf.
Last five: LLWLW
Scotland form: Aiming higher
Scotland lost two of their four matches in the Autumn Nations Series, thrashing USA and Tonga either side of narrow defeats to New Zealand and Argentina.
Fourth in each of the last two stagings of the Six Nations Championship, Gregor Townsend's side know that they need to start with a victory here if they have hopes of finishing even higher, especially with England coming up the following weekend.
Last five: WWLLW
Italy team news: Injury issues
Squad: Marin (Benetton); Lynagh (Benetton), Brex (Toulon), Menoncello (Benetton), Ioane (Lyon); P Garbisi (Toulon), Fusco (Zebre); Fischetti (Northampton), Nicotera (Stade Francais), Ferrari (Benetton); A Cannone (Benetton), Zambonin (Exeter); Lamaro, Zuliani, L Canonne (all Benetton)
Replacements: Di Bartolomeo (Zebre), Spagnolo (Benetton), Hasa (Zebre), Ruzza (Benetton), Favretto (Benetton), A Garbisi (Benetton), Da Re (Zebre), Pani (Zebre)
Scotland team news: No place for Graham or Van der Merwe
Squad: Jordan (Bristol); Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu (c), Dobie (all Glasgow); Russell (Bath), White (Toulon); Schoeman (Edinburgh), Ashman (Edinburgh), Z Fagerson (Glasgow), Cummings (Glasgow), Gilchrist (Edinburgh); M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey (all Glasgow)
Replacements: Turner (Harlequins), McBeth (Glasgow), Millar-Mills (Northampton), Williamson, Brown, Horne, Hastings (all Glasgow), Graham (Edinburgh)
Italy vs Scotland prediction
Although Italy produced some excellent rugby in November, with the defeat of the Wallabies a particular high point, head coach Gonzalo Quesada has been hampered in terms of his team selection ahead of their opening Six Nations fixture.
With the likes of Tommaso Allan, Ange Capuozzo and Sebastian Negri missing through injury, there is no doubt that the hosts will need to field a weakened side in Rome.
The Azzurri have often started strong in the Six Nations in recent years, but their personnel issues should open the door for the Scots. As a result, we're expecting Finn Russell to run the show in a Scottish victory.
Italy vs Scotland tip: Scotland to win
