Warriors trio fit for Six Nations showdown against Italy

GLASGOW Warriors trio Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour and Ryan Wilson have all been passed fit to play for Scotland against Italy in tomorrow’s final Six Nations game – but their team-mate Fraser Brown has been dropped to the bench.

Ross Ford comes in for Brown, edging closer to the record number of Test appearances for a Scot – this will be his 107th cap, two shy of Chris Paterson’s record.

The change at hooker is the only difference in the starting line-up from last week’s defeat by England, and there is just one change on the bench too, with Matt Scott coming in for the injured Mark Bennett.

Full-back Hogg, winger Seymour and No.8 Wilson all had to go through head-injury-assessment protocols this week before being allowed to train, while stand-off Finn Russell was also carrying a knock from the Calcutta Cup match.

Scotland could finish second in the table for the first time since the Five Nations became six if they win and other results go their way, and that would be the ideal way for Vern Cotter to sign off after three years in charge.

But the head coach insisted he has had no time this week to get nostalgic about his time in the post. “I was probably sweating more on who I could put in it,” Cotter said.

“We had a number of players who we weren’t sure would be able to take the field this weekend, and we couldn’t really name the team until this morning.

“We haven’t been able to do anything with a full team because of return-to-play protocols, while Finn Russell and Huw Jones had niggles in knees and ankles.

“So today was really the only day we’ve trained as a full team.”

Scotland will finish second if they win with a bonus point, Ireland lose to England, and Wales beat France without a bonus point.

But Cotter insisted that securing a simple victory had to come first before they could think of running in enough tries to get all five points. First and foremost, we want to win.”