Italy and Scotland will both be eyeing Saturday’s clash in Rome as a chance to get their respective campaigns off to a winning start, aware there are likely to be much tougher tests to come.
Statistically these two nations have been the worst in Six Nations history, with neither having finished in the top two while between them sharing 22 of 26 wooden spoons — 18 for Italy.
Both are again firm outsiders to lift their maiden title in 2026 — Scotland are 12/1 while Italy are 200/1 with BOYLE Sports — but whatever their respective aim is for the coming weeks, it is likely to be dependent on victory this weekend.
Italy vs Scotland Prediction – 2026 6N
Therefore we expect both teams to be going full throttle in the Eternal City with plenty of scoring opportunities on the menu.
This fixture has produced an average of 5.4 tries per game over the last five years — one of the highest tallies in the tournament — and in the last 14 meetings, only three have ended with less than 40 points in total.
With that in mind, our opening Italy vs Scotland prediction is a Scotland win with over 48.5 points in the match @ 6/5.
Match Details
Matchup: Italy vs Scotland
Venue : Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Referee : Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)
How to Watch
How to Watch Italy vs Scotland
The match is scheduled to begin at 2.10pm on Saturday, February 7th. The match will be shown live on BBC One in the UK while Irish viewers can catch all the action on Virgin Media One, with streaming available via Virgin Media Play.
Betting Odds
Italy vs Scotland Betting Odds – 2026 Six Nations
Result | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Italy | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Scotland | 2/7 | 77.8% |
Draw | 22/1 | 4.3% |
Scotland are firm favourites at 2/7, with Italy priced at 5/2, while the draw is available at 22/1, indicating a clear away-team lean in the market.
Don’t let a dominant start go unrewarded. With BOYLE Sports’ 17 Points Ahead Early Payout, your rugby bet is settled as a winner the moment your team leads by 17, regardless of the full‑time result. Valid on all pre‑match Rugby Union match‑betting singles and multiples. T&Cs apply.
Total Points Betting
Over 46.5 Points @ 10/11
Under 46.5 Points @ 4/5
Over or Under 46.5 Points? Italy vs Scotland 2026 6N
Handicap Betting
Italy +9 @ 10/11
Scotland -9 @ 10/11
Handicap Draw (+9) @ 18/1
Italy vs Scotland Handicap Prediction – 2026 6N
Try Scorer Odds
Try Scorer Betting
Player | First Try Scorer | Anytime Try |
Ewan Ashman | 8/1 | Evens |
Huw Jones | 8/1 | Evens |
Jamie Dobie | 8/1 | Evens |
Kyle Steyn | 10/1 | 13/10 |
Ben White | 12/1 | 13/8 |
Bar | 12/1 | 13/8 |
With Scotland expected to control large spells of the game in Rome, hooker Ewan Ashman looks well positioned from close range, making him the standout first try scorer option at 8/1.
Team News
Team News
Italy
Starting XV
15 Leonardo Marin, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Simone Ferrari, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 6 Michele Lamaro (capt), 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements
16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Riccardo Favretto, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Giacomo Da Re, 23 Lorenzo Pani
Italy are missing several important players through injury, including Tommaso Allan, Sebastian Negri, Ange Capuozzo, Gianmarco Lucchesi, and Jacopo Trulla.
Captain Michele Lamaro leads a squad featuring several up-and-coming prospects eager to establish themselves.
Despite injuries, Italy bring continuity and momentum from their improving performances under Gonzalo Quesada.
Scotland
Starting XV
15 Tom Jordan, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Scott Cummings, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey
Replacements
16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 George Horne, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Darcy Graham
Star winger Duhan van der Merwe is unavailable, forcing Scotland to reshuffle their back-three options.
The wide positions are contested by Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, and Kyle Steyn with Dobie and Steyn getting the nod to start. Graham’s attacking threat has created selection pressure and makes him sure to be an impactful player off the bench.
Finn Russell remains central to Scotland’s attacking structure and playmaking responsibilities.
Head-to-Head
Italy vs Scotland Head-to-Head
Scotland have bossed this encounter over the last decade, winning 14 of the last 15 meetings in all competitions.
However, Italy won 31-29 in a Rome thriller two years ago and, prior to 2016, the Azzurri had beaten the Scots six times in the Six Nations — including in their inaugural campaign in 2000.
Gregor Townsend’s team will be confident of continuing their dominance on Saturday, though, and you can get 8/13 for Scotland to be leading at half-time and full-time in the Italy vs Scotland odds.
Form Guides
Team Form Guides
Italy form guide
Italy head into 2026 buoyed by a 26-19 upset win over Australia in November and are no longer the pushovers of old in the Six Nations.
They have finished fifth in the last two editions while in 2024 they enjoyed their best championship, beating Scotland and Wales, drawing with France and only losing 27-24 to England.
The Azzurri haven’t finished in the top four since 2013 but with Wales in a rebuilding phase, Scotland could be their direct rival for that spot, which could make this weekend’s match especially crucial.
The loss of several key players such as Ange Capuozzo, Sebastian Negri, Tommaso Allan and teenage rising star Edoardo Todaro to injury is a major setback, but Gonzalo Quesada’s side can still cause the Scots problems and we think an away winning margin of between 1–12 points @ 11/8 is tempting.
Scotland form guide
Scotland had a mixed autumn campaign at Murrayfield, thrashing the USA and Tonga either side of defeats to Argentina and New Zealand.
Despite boasting a squad packed with talent and experience, Scotland have struggled to consistently produce their best for 80 minutes and that was again the case against the Pumas when they surrendered a 21-0 lead to lose 33-24 — after which they were booed off by home fans.
Prop Pierre Schoeman, who was part of the Scotland side that lost in Rome two years ago after leading 22-10 in the first half, said: “Our mental resilience and momentum in the last 20 minutes has to be better. We have to be better at closing games out.”
Therefore, if Scotland haven’t eradicated those issues then both teams to score 20 points or more @ 11/10 on Saturday could be a good option which completes our Italy vs Scotland betting tips.
Betting Tips
Italy vs Scotland Betting Tips
Scotland to win & over 46.5 points @ 6/5
Scotland to lead at half-time and full-time @ 8/13
Scotland win by 1–12 points @ 11/8
Both teams to score 20+ points @ 11/10
Ewan Ashman first try scorer @ 8/1
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