Rugby Union: Hastings' Italian job

GAVIN HASTINGS, Scotland's captain-elect, today has a last chance to silence doubters who still question his fitness to perform in the forthcoming Five Nations' Championship.

Hastings returns to the dark blue jersey against Italy at Melrose after missing Scotland's last international, in Australia during the summer, because of a back injury. A bulging disk was identified and the injury continued to cause problems up until late October when he took a fortnight's rest.

Since returning Hastings has shied clear of goalkicking and however much today's Scotland XV might resemble an embryonic Five Nations side, the manager, Duncan Paterson, yesterday said that the full-back was not certain to face Ireland at Murrayfield on 16 January. 'There are 15 - not 14 - places up for grabs.'

Italy, unlike their hosts, have raised stakes by awarding caps and the priority for Scotland is plugging gaps created by the retirements of David Sole and Sean Lineen plus a likely vacancy at No 8 caused by Rob Wainwright's damaged Achilles tendon.

The identity of Sole's eventual successor is clouded by the fact that Bristol prop Alan Sharp is one of two original choices to have withdrawn, the other being flu victim Kenny Milne at hooker. Scott Hastings moves from outside to inside centre with Gregor Townsend, normally a stand-off, introduced wide out to inject further pace into an already dynamic- looking threequarter line. The favourite to take over at No 8 is Stuart Reid, a former England schools cap who probably lost most by Finlay Calder's comeback for the World Cup last season.

The building of two new stands at Murrayfield, which ruled out the traditional autumn international, is blamed for Scotland's failure to make an earlier start on constructing a team that will do the eventual pounds 41m stadium development justice.

The team may take time to settle and adding to local apprehension is the memory of how easily Italy ran through Scotland at under-21 level this season, scoring three tries without reply in a 29-18 victory.

SCOTLAND A: G Hastings (Watsonians, capt); M Appleson (London Scottish), G Townsend (Gala), S Hastings (Watsonians), D Stark (Boroughmuir); C Chalmers (Melrose), G Armstrong (Jed-Forest); P Jones (Gloucester), I Corcoran (Gala), P Burnell (London Scottish), D Cronin (London Scottish), G Weir (Melrose), C Hogg (Melrose), S Reid (Boroughmuir), I Smith (Gloucester).

ITALY: L Troiani (L'Aquila); P Vaccari (Calvisano), S Barba (Milan), I Francescato (Treviso), Marcello Cuttitta; D Dominguez (both Milan), U Castellato (Treviso); Massimo Cuttitta (Milan), C Orlandi (Piacenza), G Grespan, C Checchinato, P Reale (all Rovigo), M Giovanelli (Milan, capt), J Gardner (Rovigo), S Rigo (Treviso).

Referee: R McDowall (Ireland).