Scotland look to sign off for World Cup in style

A second win in a week over the Azzurri today would not go amiss if Vern Cotter's Scotland side are to leave for the World Cup with anything like a skip in their stride.

Not that it will be easy. For the third warm-up game running the New Zealander has made wholesale changes.

In fact, only Sean Lamont, seeking to prove that his 34-year-old legs are up to the task, survives from the side that won in Turin last weekend.

However, today’s starting XV has more than a hint of the real deal about it.

For a start, the Six Nations half-backs Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell both play their first game and Grant Gilchrist will start in the second row alongside another World Cup shoo-in, Jonny Gray.

The partnerships

Add what is fast looking like Cotter’s first choice front row, the all-Edinburgh unit of

Alasdair Dickinson

,

Ross Ford

and

Willem Nel

and there are three of the partnerships that could easily open Scotland’s campaign, against Japan in Gloucester on September 23rd.

That fixture will be home from home for Laidlaw, who plays his club rugby at Kingsholm.

Italy, who confirmed their World Cup 31 this week, make eight changes, including a major overhaul of the backline, from the Turin side but there is still not sign of the national captain and totem, Sergio Parisse.

Cotter will be looking for a convincing win after a lean lead-up to Turin and the first victory of 2015. Guardian Service