Christie set for his first start, while Redpath comes in to replace injured Tuipulotu

nines are fit and available and Ben is in a really good position to have a full training week.”

As expected, Cam Redpath comes into the team at inside centre in place of the injured Sione Tuipulotu. There is also a change in the back row, with Andy Christie picked to make his first start for Scotland as Jamie Ritchie drops to the bench. Christie is the fourth different player to be selected in the No 6 jersey across Scotland’s four Six Nations matches this season.

Matt Fagerson and Jamie Ritchie, who played at six against France and England respectively, are both among the replacements as Townsend opts for a six-two split of forwards and backs on the bench. He believes Christie is ideally suited to start this match.

“We feel with the way this game could potentially be played, more ball in play, getting ball-carriers into play as much as possible, that's what Andy brings,” said Townsend. “It was a different opposition and a different game against England but we've gone for a six-two split as well so we know our forwards are going to be worked and the energy the subs bring on is going to be crucial.”

Scotland go into the thirdround fixture lying second in the Six Nations standings on nine points, six behind Ireland. They need to win in Rome and hope England beat Ireland at Twickenham in the later game tomorrow to have any realistic chance of keeping their championship hopes alive going into the final weekend when the Scots travel to Dublin for a potential title showdown.

Asked if he would be supporting England this weekend, Townsend demurred. “Probably not,” said the coach. “I’ll just be analysing Ireland, there’s no cheering.

“I’ll be quickly looking at the latest iteration of Ireland.

I’ve watched their first three games and then our heads quickly turn to our next opponents so we’ll be watching that game and how we can play against Ireland the following week.”

Italy also named their team yesterday. There is a new back three of Ange Capuozzo, Monty Ioane and Louis Lynagh, while Tommaso Menoncello will join Juan Ignacio Brex in the centres. Paolo Garbisi and Martin Page-relo will form the half-back pairing once again.