Cotter rings in the changes for Italy clash

Head coach Vern Cotter has rung the changes to the Scotland team named to start against Italy in this Saturday's

 summer Test match at the Stadio Olimpico.

In all there are 11 new faces taking the field in Turin, with the seven inbound forwards making up an almost entirely new pack, four new backs, and three starting debuts for John Hardie (back-row), Rory Hughes (wing) and Stuart McInally (hooker).

McInally will rubber stamp his positional switch to hooker when he surpasses his unused replacement appearance as a flanker against South Africa (2012), with a vindicating first cap for his country in the front-row.

Cotter said: "This is another chance to give opportunities to players and allow us to have a good look at our squad, be it those who haven't played or are playing in different positions.

"The Irish game was an open, fairly fluid affair for the most part but I think the Italy game will be a tighter battle so we'll be looking, perhaps, to play a bit differently.

"A lot of players put their hands up last week and we're expecting the same of this group.”