Scotland have hope of mounting a Six Nations title challenge as they embark on a fresh campaign against Italy.

While optimism has been punctured somewhat by a string of untimely injuries, Gregor Townsend’s settled squad are confident that they can build on their development over the last few years and back up big performances to challenge for a long-awaited title. In the absence of captain Sione Tuipulotu, all-action openside Rory Darge and star fly half Finn Russell lead the hosts into a first battle with a visiting team that enjoyed a tournament to remember in 2024.

Two wins and a draw last year marked Italy’s best performance in 25 years as a constituent part of this championship. Many of the faces remain the same as Gonzalo Quesada seeks yet more progress with belief that his side’s days scrabbling for the wooden spoon may be at an end. An opening weekend win in Edinburgh would be quite the statement of intent...

Follow all of the latest from Murrayfield in our live blog below:

Scotland vs Italy LIVE

• Scotland host Italy on the opening weekend of the Six Nations | Live on the BBC with kick off at 2.15pm GMT

• Injury-hit hosts retain belief that this might be their year for a title challenge

• Italy enjoyed a successful campaign in 2024 with two wins and a draw

Finn Russell and Scotland plot a ‘different’ answer to the same old Six Nations question

11:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Is this Scotland’s year? It has become the perennial question that their players are bored of fielding - but even Finn Russell admits that their development will count for little if they do not cap their progress with a title...

Finn Russell and Scotland plot a ‘different’ answer to same old question

Scotland vs Italy LIVE

Thursday 30 January 2025 16:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle

After the Friday night fun in Paris, the opening weekend of the Six Nations continues with a clash between Scotland and Italy at Murrayfield. Is this the year that Gregor Townsend’s men mount a title challenge? Or can Italy build on the promise they showed in 2024?

Kick off in Edinburgh is at 2.15pm GMT.