Chiefs duo to meet in Six Nations

By Mark Stevens
25/2/16

Exeter Chiefs duo Moray Low and Michele Campagnaro are set to go head-to-head this weekend when Italy play host to Scotland in the RBS Six Nations Championship.

Tight-head prop Low is recalled on the bench having missed the opening two rounds of the competition, while Campagnaro keeps his place at outside centre after impressive displays against France and England.

Scotland have also recalled fit-again wing Tim Visser in the only change to their starting XV in Rome. Visser, who has played two matches for Harlequins since returning from a hamstring injury, replaces Sean Lamont.

Lamont moves to a much-changed bench, which includes uncapped Edinburgh loose-head prop Rory Sutherland, 23. Low, flanker Ryan Wilson and centre Peter Horne are also named among the replacements.

Scotland have won five of their last six meetings with Italy, including home and away victories in warm-up Tests before last year's World Cup, but have lost on five of their eight Six Nations visits to Rome.

"Italy have shown they are a talented team, particularly in their performance away against France, but also against England," said Scotland head coach Vern Cotter. "They surprised both teams with their physicality, intensity and quality, all of which we will have to be ready for, and at least equal to, if we are to win in Rome this weekend.

"We have worked hard to improve our game and will stay true to the core values of this team, which is to work hard but stay calm; have belief in our systems, ourselves, and enjoy the opportunity."

Meanwhile, Kelly Haimona is one of four changes to the Italy starting XV, replacing Carlo Canno at fly-half. Experienced hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini takes the jersey off the promising Ornel Gega, who picked up a fractured cheekbone against England.

In another forced change, Josh Furno comes in for George Biagi in the second-row, though in positive news David Odiete returns to the side at full-back after sitting out against England.

Italy could inflict Scotland's tenth RBS 6 Nations loss in a row on Saturday, having secured a last-gasp

Italy team: David Odiete (Marchiol Mogliano); Leonardo Sarto (Zebre Rugby), Michele Campagnaro (Exeter Chiefs), Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre Rugby), Mattia Bellini (Petrarca Padova); Kelly Haimona (Zebre Rugby), Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso); Andrea Lovotti (Zebre Rugby), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester Tigers), Lorenzo Cittadini (Wasps); Marco Fuser (Benetton Treviso), Josh Furno (Newcastle Falcons); Francesco Minto (Benetton Treviso), Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais, capt)

Replacements: Davide Giazzon (Benetton Treviso), Matteo Zanusso (Benetton Treviso), Martin Castrogiovanni (Racing '92), Valerio Bernabo' (Zebre Rugby), Andries Van Schalkwyk (Zebre Rugby), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre Rugby), Edoardo Padovani (Zebre Rugby), Andrea Pratichetti (Benetton Treviso)

Scotland team: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett (all Glasgow), Duncan Taylor (Saracens),Tim Visser (Harlequins); Finn Russell (Glasgow), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester, capt); Al Dickinson, Ross Ford, Willem Nel (all Edinburgh); Richie Gray (Castres); Jonny Gray (Glasgow); John Barclay (Scarlets), John Hardie (Edinburgh), Dave Denton (Bath).

Replacements: Stuart McInally, Rory Sutherland (both Edinburgh), Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs), Tim Swinson, Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh), Peter Horne, Sean Lamont (both Glasgow).