Scotland vs Italy team news: Sam Johnson to make debut while uncapped Gary Graham and Jake Kerr included

Australian Johnson qualifies on residency and starts at inside centre while both Graham and Kerr could make their debuts off the bench against an Italy side led by Sergio Parisse

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Thursday 31 January 2019 15:31 GMT

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Six Nations preview: Scotland in profile

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend will hand a Test debut to Glasgow centre Sam Johnson when his side open their Guinness Six Nations campaign at home to Italy on Saturday.

Newcastle flanker Gary Graham - previously called up by England coach Eddie Jones - and Leicester hooker Jake Kerr could also win their first caps if they appear off the bench.

Edinburgh full-back Blair Kinghorn, meanwhile, will start on the left wing as the Dark Blues welcome the Azzurri to Murrayfield.

With Edinburgh resurgent under Richard Cockerill this season, Townsend has chosen to go with the capital outfit's tight five. Hooker Stuart McInally will squeeze in between props Allan Dell and WP Nel, with Ben Toolis and Grant Gilchrist forming the second row.

Exeter lock Sam Skinner will slot into the back-row after showing he can fill in at flanker during his impressive introduction to the national team set-up during the autumn, with Ryan Wilson and Jamie Ritchie completing the back-row.

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

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1/15Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Cian Healy (Ireland)

Rolled back the years to his very best form and the sight of him leaving the field against New Zealand completely exhausted demonstrated just how much he gave to Ireland’s caused. Has ended any doubts over who the best current loosehead in Ireland is once and for all.

Getty Images

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Ken Owens (Wales)

The most consistent hooker throughout the autumn, both in performance and in selection. Strong showings against Australia and South Africa that both resulted in victories saw him clinch the shirt with relative ease.

Getty Images

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Kyle Sinckler (England)

Looks to be on the way to fulfilling his potential after a standout autumn, with the man-of-the-match performance against Australia being one of the best showings from an English tighthead we’ve ever seen. Could well become a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.

AFP/Getty Images

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Maro Itoje (England)

The consistent figure in England’s second row that was hit by injury after injury. Overcame a difficult start against the Springboks to star in the near-miss against New Zealand and the comeback victory over Japan. Is growing into a real leader of the pack as he took control of the lineout against Australia with huge success.

AFP/Getty Images

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)

The best player in the world right now and it was his domination of the English lineout that helped secure the comeback victory at Twickenham. Unlucky to be on the losing side against Ireland but overall it was a strong series from the towering lock.

REUTERS

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Peter O’Mahony (Ireland)

Phenomenal performance against the All Blacks saw him hobble off the pitch to a standing ovation. A crucial figure in the lineout against Argentina too and he is developing into a new talisman for the Irish.

AP

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Ellis Jenkins (Wales)

Two brilliant showings against Tonga and South Africa on either side of the back-row. His performance against the Springboks was phenomenal, with a line-break to set up Tomas Francis for a try and a try-saving tackle on Jesse Kriel, and we can only hope he makes a full recovery from the nasty knee injury he suffered at the end of the match.

AFP/Getty Images

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Mark Wilson (England)

Came into the autumn as an unknown quantity and leaves having put himself firmly in the frame for England’s World Cup squad. Man of the match against South Africa in only his second start and provided some much-needed ball carrying against Australia that apparently England were lacking.

EPA

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)

May be off the radar playing in France but he is back to his best as Scotland’s first-choice No 9. Has looked lively all autumn and as reliable as ever kicking for goal to lift that responsibility off half-back partner Finn Russell.

PA

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Owen Farrell (England)

Say what you want about his controversial tackling technique that for some reason is going unpunished, but he offers so many match-defining moments that he has to feature in the side. Unsurpring mention for Johnny Sexton too, but his lack of game time compared to Farrell’s three-and-a-half outings sees Farrell take the shirt.

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Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Jacob Stockdale (Ireland)

Part of a well-drilled team move to secure victory against New Zealand but his individual contribution cannot be ignored as he executed a perfect chip-and-chase to win the match for the Irish and inject them with a huge show of momentum ahead of the World Cup.

REUTERS

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Bundee Aki (Ireland)

The standout performer in an autumn that was difficult for a lot of inside centres. Ben Te’o and Hadleigh Parkes were also in the running and Damien De Allende was perhaps the most consistent, but Aki takes the spot with strong performances against the All Blacks and Italy.

PA

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Garry Ringrose (Ireland)

He is developing into a wonder player at international level, and is able to form strong partnerships with whoever is inside him as we saw when Robbie Henshaw was ruled out at late notice to see Aki come in inside him. Somewhat strangely the only player retained in the side to face the USA, but delivered with a virtuoso performance in playing a key role in Andrew Conway’s hat-trick.

AP

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

George North (Wales)

Looked like the wing of old at the start of the autumn and looks to be reaping the rewards of his move back to Wales and the National Dual Contract that came with it. Fully fit and firing at his best, it has been a joy to watch North get back into his stride this autumn.

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Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Israel Folau (Australia)

The superstar playing in one of the most average Australia teams we’ve ever seen. The finish for his first try against England was the sign of a special player that few others could replicate, while he was also mighty under the high ball throughout the autumn.

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Skipper Greig Laidlaw will partner Racing 92 star Finn Russell in the half-backs, while Australia-born Johnson - who qualifies on residency grounds after signing for Glasgow in 2015 - lines-up alongside Huw Jones in midfield.

Stuart Hogg will again provide an attacking threat from full-back as he slots in beside Kinghorn and Tommy Seymour in the back three.

Townsend said: "It's a privilege to be involved in the Guinness Six Nations, a tournament that has grown in quality over the past few seasons. You can sense the excitement throughout the rugby world on the eve of this year's Championship and we're looking forward to starting our campaign at BT Murrayfield.

"Italy have made life tough for Scotland in every Test match we've played. I remember that as a player, as a supporter and as a coach - and they were better than us in most of last season's contest in Rome. They played with pace, were physical and we had to play really, really well in the final quarter to win.

"That performance and also the recent displays of Benetton Treviso are sharp reminders for our players that this will be a difficult fixture.

"Our challenge is to win the physical battle, which is a strength of Italian rugby. We will also have to bring energy and accuracy in order to get our campaign off to a winning start."

Sam Johnson will make his Scotland debut against Italy on Saturday (PA)

Italy make six changes to the side that lost to New Zealand 66-3 last November with Sergio Parise back in the starting line-up to lead what is expected to be his final Six Nations campaign. The 35-year-old will win his 135th cap for Italy, and leads a pack that will see Leonardo Ghiraldini win his 100th Test cap and also has uncapped lock David Sisi in the second row and Abraham Steyn moving from No 8 to openside flanker, making way for Parisse and covering for the injured Gloucester back-row Jake Polledri.

In the backs, Tito Tebaldo and Scotland Under-20 international Tommaso Allan continue at half-back, with Exeter’s Michele Campagnaro moving from centre to wing to allow Luca Morisi to start in the No 13 shirt. The final change to the side sees Angelo Esposito start on the right wing.

Teams

Scotland: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw; Allan Dell, Stuart McInally, WP Nel; Ben Toolis, Grant Gilchrist; Sam Skinner, Jamie Ritchie, Ryan Wilson.

Replacements: Jake Kerr, Jamie Bhati, Simon Berghan, Gary Graham, Josh Strauss, Ali Price, Adam Hastings, Chris Harris.

Italy: Jayden Hayward; Angelo Esposito, Luca Morisi, Tommaso Castello, Michele Campagnaro; Tommaso Allan, Tito Tebaldi; Andrea Lovotti, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Simone Ferrari; David Sisi, Dean Budd; Sebastian Negri, Abraham Steyn, Sergio Parisse.

Replacements: Luca Bigi, Cherif Traore, Tiziano Pasquali, Federico Ruzza, Jummy Tuivaiti, Guglielmo Palazzani, Ian McKinley, Edoardo Padovani.

PA

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