Sam Johnson, Kyle Steyn, Hamish Watson, Matt Fagerson start

Scotland have recalled centre Sam Johnson and handed a first Six Nations start to Kyle Steyn for the game against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

Johnson and Steyn are replacements for Duhan van der Merwe and Sione Tuipulotu, respectively.

The back row has two openings, one for Matt Fagerson and one forRory Darge.

George Turner will be the hooker between Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson.

The former Scotland Under-20 scrum-half is in line to make his debut after being named among the replacements in preference to Ben White.

Blair Kinghorn drops out of the match-day 23 after providing cover for Finn Russell, so Gloucester fly-half Adam Hastings could make his first appearance of the Six Nations.

Sam Skinner and Grant Gilchrist are in the second row with Jamie Hodgson on the bench.

Johnson started the game against England on the opening weekend of the Six Nations but was then dropped in favour of Tuipulotu for the matches in Wales.

Van der Merwe will miss the matches against Italy and Ireland because of a three-week ban for reckless or dangerous play.

The British and Irish Lions wing has been suspended for his part in the fight with Kyle Rowe.

Fagerson returns from injury to start at number eight in place of Magnus Bradbury, while flanker Watson takes the place of Nick Haining after recovering from Covid.

The back row will be formed by Darge, who moved from openside flanker to blindside after his performance against France.

Vellacott and Hastings will offer something different later on in the game, according to Townsend, who is pleased to welcome back-row stalwarts.

Having Matt back adds to our experience as he started the championship very well.

Ben had an excellent first half of the season. His pace could be a real weapon for us going into the final quarter.

Adam responded well to not being selected for the initial squad and his last two games for Gloucester have been at a high level. At the right time, he is putting that form together.

Ali Price will win his 50th cap in Rome, having made his debut in 2016 against Georgia. The British and Irish Lions player will start for the seventh time on Saturday.

After a victory against England, Scotland lost to Wales and then to France.

Scotland team to face Italy: Graham, Harris, Johnson, Steyn, Russell, Price, Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Skinner, Gilchrist, M Fagerson.

The replacements were McInally, Dell, Nel, Hodgson, Bradbury, Vellacott, and Hastings.