Grant Gilchrist to captain Scotland against Italy in Turin

Edinburgh Rugby second rower Grant Gilchrist will captain Scotland against Italy in their World Cup warm-up at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin on Saturday.

The giant lock will take the captain’s armband against the Azzurri 10 months after injury cost him the captaincy ahead of the Autumn Internationals.

Having lost their first warm-up match 28-22 to Ireland last Saturday, the Scots will field a much-changed line-up this weekend, particularly in the pack.

Head coach Vern Cotter has made 11 changes to the squad which lost at the Aviva Stadium and the back row will comprise three from Adam Ashe, John Hardie, Alasdair Strokosch and Hamish Watson, none of whom played in Dublin.

There are also places in the squad for forwards Kevin Bryce, Alasdair Dickinson, Richie Gray, Stuart McInally and Willem Nel.

The upheaval is much less among the backs, although uncapped pair Damien Hoyland and Rory Hughes come into the squad in place of Dougie Fife and Tim Visser.

After Italy, the Scots will host them in a return fixture at Murrayfield on August 29, and their 31-man World Cup squad will be announced ahead the final warm-up against France in Paris on September 5.

Scotland squad to play Italy:

Backs: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Hughes (Glasgow Warriors), Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps), Sean Lamont, Henry Pyrgos (both Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott, Greig Tonks (both Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Vernon, Duncan Weir (both Glasgow Warriors),

Forwards: Adam Ashe, Kevin Bryce, Mike Cusack (all Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, Grant Gilchrist (all Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Saracens), John Hardie (unattached), Stuart McInally, Willem Nel (both Edinburgh Rugby), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Alasdair Strokosch (Perpigan), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby).