By Nick Powell, Online Editor
Rory Darge will captain Scotland as they get their World Cup warm-up campaign underway against Italy at Murrayfield.
The 23-year-old, who currently only has seven caps to his name, has fellow Glasgow Warrior Stafford McDowall and Leicester Tigers second row Cameron Henderson making their debuts in an experimental and inexperienced side.
Darge’s captaincy might be the most experimental move of all, but Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend said the former U20s captain is ready to take on the mantle.
“We see a leader by example in the way he plays,” he said.
“We see a leader that can grow in the role of captain, vice-captain or in a leadership group if he’s given opportunities.
“That’s what we want to do this week. We know he’s captained the under-21s and he’s thrived in that role in the past.
“He was world class when he came into the Scotland team. He then had an injury but had a very good tour playing in a couple of games out in Argentina.”
Only four players remain from the Scotland team that faced off against the same opposition in the last game of this year’s Six Nations with full-back Ollie Smith, wing Kyle Steyn, hooker George Turner and second row Sam Skinner, as vice-captain, all holding onto their places.
Meanwhile his fellow vice-captain Chris Harris and Ali Price return to the side after being dropped during the tournament, while Darcy Graham makes his first start since 2022 on his international return from injury, and Ben Healy is handed a first start at fly-half for his country.
Italy have named a team that also contains experimental elements, but also includes plenty of experienced heads in the form of this week’s The Rugby Paper Podcast guest Tommaso Allan, Luca Morisi and skipper Federico Ruzza, who have 156 caps between them.
Nonetheless the Azzurri’s team still has – like Scotland – 11 different personnel to the side that played in the Six Nations final day defeat with just one player, Pierre Bruno, occupying the same position he had that day.
Allan was at full-back for that game but is happy to be back at fly-half, a position he wants to compete for in the lead up to, and during, the Rugby World Cup.
“I’m pushing to start at ten,” he said. “Competition is good obviously, and you need it at international level because if you don’t have competition there’s something wrong with the depth of the squad.
“So I’m happy about the competition but I do feel like I can be starting for Italy as well. If that doesn’t happen we’ll see what Kieran [Crowley, head coach of Italy] wants to do.
“But I’d love to start for Italy, whether it be 10, 12 or 15, hopefully 10.”
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