Italy vs Scotland Six Nations preview: What time does it start, what channel is it on, where can I watch it?

A look ahead to the Six Nations fixture at the Stadio Olimpico

(Getty Images)

With what looks to be the Wooden Spoon decider, the two bottom sides set their teeth against each other, with Scotland still seething from last year’s defeat.

It’s a big game for…

Carlo Canna: the nine capped fly-half has been considered as the potential solution to a long term problem of a half-back. He performed admirably against France, scoring a try, penalty, drop goal and conversion against Les Bleus, but seemed to falter against the English. His kicking stats are good, but not great and they will need to improve in a potentially tight contest this weekend.

Teams...

Italy: David Odiete; Leonardo Sarto, Michele Campagnaro, Gonzalo Garcia, Mattia Bellini; Kelly Haimona, Edoardo Gori; Sergio Parisse (cap), Alessandro Zanni, Francesco Minto; Joshua Furno, Marco Fuser; Lorenzo Cittadini, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lovotti.

Replacements: Davide Giazzon, Matteo Zanusso, Martin Castrogiovanni, Valerio Bernabo, Andries Van Schalkwyk, Guglielmo Palazzani, Edoardo Padovani, Andrea Pratichetti.

Scotland: Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett, Duncan Taylor, Tim Visser; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); David Denton, John Hardie, John Barclay; Jonny Gray, Richie Gray; Willem Nel, Ross Ford, Alasdair Dickinson.

Replacements: Stuart McInally, Rory Sutherland, Moray Low, Tim Swinson, Ryan Wilson, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Peter Horne, Sean Lamont.

Captain Comparison...

Name Sergio Parisse Greg Laidlaw

Position Number 8 Scrum half

Club Stade Français Gloucester

Caps (As captain) 116 (63) 48 (23)

Points scored 73 466

Remember when…

Italy gave a dramatic end?

In a close contest between the bottom two sides, Italy were down 19-15 in the final 5 minutes. A scrum on the Scotland 5m line went against the Italian, but Horne missed touch. Italy counter attacked and looked certain to make it to the line but Hamish Watson sacked the driving maul and the penalty try was awarded.

Best stat…

14. This is the number of Wooden Spoons Italy and Scotland collectively have. With the exception of 2003 (Wales) and 2013 (France), every Wooden Spoon has gone to the Italians or the Scots. Ten have headed into Italy, and four up to the highlands.

Up and coming...

Ornel Gega. The Benetton Treviso hooker has been drafted straight into the starting line up for his first two games for Italy. Born in Lezhë, Albania, he became the first Albanian born player to feature in a major International tournament. Unusually tall at 6’4” and deadly accurate, he has proved himself by playing nearly the whole match in the defeat to Leicester Tigers on January 16 against Tom Youngs and in a six year career, he has managed to score ten tries for his various clubs.

Past three-meetings…

Scotland 48 (Lamont (2), Barclay, Visser (2), Bennett) v Italy 7 (Campagnaro) World Cup Warm up August 2015

Italy 12 v Scotland 16 (Pyrgos) World Cup Warm up August 2015

Scotland 19 (Bennett) v Italy 22 (Furno, Giovanbattista, Pen Try) Six Nations February 2015

Form guide…

Italy: LLWLWL

Scotland: LLWLW