Scotland face Italy without Evans

Scotland were today aiming to avoid the RBS 6 Nations wooden spoon in their clash with Italy at Murrayfield.

Max Evans, Scotland’s try-scorer in last Sunday’s 22-16 loss to England, was yesterday forced to withdraw from the squad due to an ankle injury, with his place on the wing taken by Nikki Walker.

Geoff Cross was the only other change from the team which lost at Twickenham, coming in at tighthead prop in place of Moray Low, with Euan Murray among the substitutes.

Kelly Brown was included at number eight despite being carried off on a stretcher with concussion in London as Scotland suffered a fourth loss from four games in the tournament.

Italy travelled to Edinburgh buoyed by their 22-21 win over France and with a side showing six changes to the one which began last Saturday’s match in Rome.

Five of the changes involved players who came off the bench to finish the game against Les Bleus, with Kris Burton at fly-half and forwards Salvatore Perugini, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Quintin Geldenhuys and Paul Derbyshire all selected to start.

The sixth change saw Alberto Sgarbi recalled at centre in place of Gonzalo Garcia as Italy went in search of a second Six Nations away win – their first was at Murrayfield in 2007.

Scotland v Italy Scotland: Paterson, Walker, Ansbro, S. Lamont, Danielli, Jackson, R. Lawson, Jacobsen, Ford, Cross, Gray, Kellock, Hines, Brown, Barclay.

Replacements: S. Lawson, Murray, Vernon, Strokosch, Blair, Parks, De Luca.

Italy: Masi, Benvenuti, Canale, Sgarbi, Bergamasco, Burton, Semenzato, Perugini, Ghiraldini, Castrogiovanni, Del Fava, Geldenhuys, Zanni, Derbyshire, Parisse.

Replacements: Festuccia, Lo Cicero, Bernabo, Barbieri, Canavosio, Orquera, McLean.

Referee: S Walsh (New Zealand)