Geoff Cross, the 28-year-old Edinburgh tight-head prop, will start his first international for two years, when he lines-up for Scotland against Italy in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship match at Murrayfield. Cross, who will be winning his fifth cap, is the only change in the starting XV from the team that played against England last weekend. Coach Andy Robinson has reiterated the team’s determination to reward Scotland fans this Saturday for their support thoughout the season – especially after coming so close in an enthralling match against England at Twickenham last weekend.
Scotland team to play Italy:
Chris Paterson (Edinburgh), Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors), Joe Ansbro (Northampton Saints), Sean Lamont (Scarlets), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), Rory Lawson (Gloucester)
Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN, Nathan Hines (Leinster), Kelly Brown (Saracens), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)
Substitutes: Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Euan Murray (Newcastle Falcons), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Gloucester), Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Dan Parks (Cardiff Blues), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)
Italy to play Scotland:
15 Andrea MASI (Racing-Metro Paris, 59 caps)
14 Tommaso BENVENUTI (Benetton Treviso, 5 caps)
13 Gonzalo CANALE (Clermont-Auvergne, 65 caps)
12 Alberto SGARBI (Benetton Treviso, 11 caps)
11 Mirco BERGAMASCO (Racing-Metro Paris, 80 caps)
10 Kristopher BURTON (Benetton Treviso, 8 caps)
9 Fabio SEMENZATO (Benetton Treviso, 3 caps)
8 Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 76 caps) – capitano
7 Paul DERBYSHIRE (Benetton Treviso, 9 caps)
6 Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Treviso, 51 caps)
5 Quintin GELDENHUYS (MPS Aironi, 20 caps)
4 Carlo Antonio DEL FAVA (MPS Aironi, 51 caps)
3 Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Leicester Tigers, 75 caps)
2 Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Benetton Treviso, 36 caps)
1 Salvatore PERUGINI (MPS Aironi, 79 caps)
Substitutes:
16 Carlo FESTUCCIA (Racing-Metro Paris, 50 caps)
17 Andrea LO CICERO (Racing-Metro Paris, 85 caps)
18 Valerio BERNABO’ (Benetton Treviso, 18 caps)
19 Robert BARBIERI (Benetton Treviso, 13 caps)
20 Pablo CANAVOSIO (MPS Aironi, 35 caps)
21 Luciano ORQUERA (Brive, 21 caps)
22 Luke MCLEAN (Benetton Treviso, 27 caps)