Italy open their Six Nations campaign at home against Scotland in a fixture that has become increasingly competitive in recent seasons. Scotland arrive as favourites, but Rome has been a venue where Italian confidence and ambition have steadily grown.
Six Nations preview – contenders, questions and betting angles
The teams
Italy (1–15)
15 Leonardo Marin, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Michele Lamaro (c), 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Bench: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Giacomo Da Re, 23 Lorenzo Pani.
Scotland (1–15)
15 Blair Kinghorn; 14 Darcy Graham; 13 Huw Jones; 12 Sione Tuipulotu (capt); 11 Duhan van der Merwe; 10 Finn Russell; 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman; 2 George Turner; 3 Zander Fagerson; 4 Scott Cummings; 5 Grant Gilchrist; 6 Jamie Ritchie; 7 Rory Darge; 8 Jack Dempsey.
Bench: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 WP Nel, 19 Jonny Gray, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 Jamie Dobie, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Kyle Steyn.
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Selection storylines
Italy
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Italy continue to double down on a high-skill, high-pace backline, built around Garbisi’s game management and Capuozzo’s broken-field threat.
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The Brex–Menoncello midfield remains the emotional and tactical core of this side.
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Italy’s challenge is sustaining intensity for the full 80 rather than producing isolated bursts.
Scotland
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Scotland field their first-choice attacking spine, with Russell, Tuipulotu and Jones all starting.
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This is a side selected to play fast and wide early, then lean on bench power late.
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Anything less than a composed, professional away win would be seen as a missed opportunity.
5.0/5
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Recent head-to-head (last five)
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1 Feb 2025: Scotland 31–19 Italy (Six Nations, Edinburgh)
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9 Mar 2024: Italy 31–29 Scotland (Six Nations, Rome)
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29 Sep 2023: Scotland 25–13 Italy (Rugby World Cup, Nice)
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18 Mar 2023: Scotland 26–14 Italy (Six Nations, Edinburgh)
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12 Mar 2022: Italy 22–33 Scotland (Six Nations, Rome)
Italy’s win in Rome in 2024 still looms large and confirms that Scotland cannot afford a slow start.
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Key points
1) Scotland’s edge power vs Italy’s scramble defence
Van der Merwe and Graham test Italy’s ability to hold width repeatedly.
2) Tempo control at the ruck
If Italy slow ball, they stay competitive. If Scotland get quick ball, the gap opens.
3) Finn Russell’s discipline
Controlled ambition from Russell is key — overplaying keeps Italy alive.
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Scotland -6.5 handicap @1.67
Projected score: Scotland by 8–12.
Understanding rugby markets – tries, handicaps and winning margins
Keo and Zels pick different winners for Saturday’s Six Nations clash in Rome. pic.twitter.com/UdGZYUIajX
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) February 5, 2026
Betting prediction
Pick: Scotland to win @1.30
Scotland’s cohesion, bench depth and attacking clarity should tell over 80 minutes, even if Italy remain competitive early.
Other angle worth considering:
Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
