Dave Cherry and Jonny Gray to make first Scotland appearances since 2023

Jonny Gray has not played for Scotland since March 2023 (Adam Davy/PA)

Experienced forwards Dave Cherry and Jonny Gray will make their first Scotland appearances since 2023 after being selected to start Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener at home to Italy.

Bordeaux lock Gray, 30, has not featured for the national team since the last time the Azzurri visited Murrayfield on Six Nations duty in 2023 after being derailed by a serious knee injury.