Scotland vs Italy LIVE: Six Nations latest updates from Super Saturday

Not the best of starts from the tee from Tommaso Allan, once of Scotland’s Under-20s. A bit of a snap hook, and away to the left from 40 metres out.

Juan Ignacio Brex carves on an outside arc before straightening, well held by a crabbing Kinghorn. Tommaso Allan steps in at first receiver and launches an up-and-under.

A couple more kicks and Italy get over the ball as Scotland take contact, Danilo Fischetti knifing in after Scotland’s initial clearers fail to protect a tackled Duhan van der Merwe. Italy will have first go at starting the scoring.

Sharp start from Jack Dempsey, catching and shimmying to find Italy a little short on the left, allowing Duhan van der Merwe to go thumping up the touchline.

Scotland soon test Italy’s aerial acumen. A couple of phases later and Italy also look to the skies, with Blair Kinghorn taking with a juggle and launching a useful touch-finder from inside his own 22. Italy’s lineout inside their own half.

The best part of seven hours of almost non-stop rugby ahead of us – are you ready?

Paolo Garbisi is the opening act on this Super Saturday. The Italy fly-half has the ball, Angus Gardner blows his whistle, and Scotland vs Italy is underway!

Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)

ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Craig Evans (Wal)

Ben Healy delivers what I believe is his first on-field rendition of “Flower of Scotland” – the Ireland-born fly-half qualifies through his Scottish mother, and this will be a mighty proud day for the whole Healy family.

Typically delightful from the Murrayfield chorus.

Much of the Italian squad claps their right fist across their heart. Danilo Fischetti closes his eyes and lifts his chin, a melodious delivering of the notes, before opening the eyelids and his mouth to roar out the final crescendo.

This final Saturday is always a test of endurance – three high-class contests back-to-back-to-back, with seven anthem singings to be delivered during the day, too.

Italy’s crowd-pleaser will kick us off.

Out of the tunnel come the players, ready for their final fully competitive international fixture before the autumn’s World Cup. Jamie Ritchie asnd Michele Lamaro, pillars of solidity in the back row, lead the lines, faces fixed in focus.

The absent Stuart Hogg has been snared by the BBC today for some pitchside punditry, revealing that the expected recovery for his ankle injury is about four to six weeks. This is the first time Scotland have started a Six Nations game without Finn Russell and Hogg in more than a decade – the rest of the Scottish backline has performed very well during this tournament but it is a significant test.

Sione Tuipulotu, by the way, has been rewarded for his excellent tournament with the vice-captaincy. I’m looking forward to seeing he and Huw Jones spar with Tommaso Menoncello and Juan Ignacio Brex.