Right I'm off for a coffee, thanks for your company this morning. You will not miss a thing from the Six Nations on the BBC over the next six weeks. For now:

• You can read the team news story in full as Scotland shake up their back three with Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn missing out
• The Scottish rugby page will have all the reaction and analysis you need throughout the day
• The BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast already has several Six Nations episodes, with another reacting to today's news dropping later
• And remember, the Six Nations starts TONIGHT as defending champions France host Ireland (20:10 GMT). We'll have you covered on that one via the BBC Sport app and on BBC Radio 5 Live too

Image source, BBC Sport

Oscaig: Can't complain about that team generally. Kinghorn wasn't at his best during the autumn internationals but he's a classy player and Jordan has been almost exclusively a 10 at Bristol in recent months so that has to be a gamble. Some pace, power and energy to come off the bench apart from the replacement front row with looks underpowered and short of Club game time. That's a worry.

Graeme: GT finally picking more to form than reputation, hopefully it means the big names knuckle down and it pushes us forward

Greg: Refreshing to see form being rewarded! Will be interesting to see the balance of this team, a lot more ball players and rugby intelligence but maybe a lack of pure speed / dynamism? I'm excited to see how it goes though!

Tom English
BBC Scotland chief sports writer

I was hoping that Gregor Brown would be in the second-row with Scott Cummings, but always suspected tht Gregor Townsend would want the experience of Grant Gilchrist in there.

The bench is going to be hugely important, though. Brown and Max Williamson are two enormously impressive players and they'll add dynamism and muscle from the hour-mark.

Along with George Horne and Darcy Graham, there's some impressive 'finishers' coming off that bench.

Adam Hastings has been in excellent form (brilliant against Toulouse) and he deserves his place in this squad.

Nathan McBeth ahead of Rory Sutherland is a surprise that nobody saw coming, but he played 80 minutes against Toulouse. An under-rated loosehead, I think.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "It's our most important game [Italy]. And when you look at the context of the Six Nations it's a lot about momentum.

"You build momentum through performances, and with three games in a row this year it's going to be massive.

"You roll on to next week pretty quickly so getting a performance and win will really help how you're going to play the rest of the tournament."

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: "Blair, Duhan and Darcy have had some terrific games for us and they're very proud playing for Scotland. But there is competition in that back three area as there is in other positions.

"We feel Jamie, Kyle, and Tom deserve their starts given how well they've been playing.

"Selection is about giving players opportunities and they've earned it. All three of them individually have taken games to the opposition, worked really hard at areas really important at Test level.

"But the three players that weren't selected are quality players and their reactions over the last few weeks knowing the competition in place.

"How they've trained will be positive for the future if and when they get back into the team."

Image source, SNS

Gregor Townsend on his selection: "We've been really delighted with the form of the players in that 23 throughout December.

"In Europe and the 1872 Cup games for our players playing in Scotland. And then the last two weeks, it became tougher as players came into form.

"But we feel it's a team which can show the best of what we want to be out in Rome on Saturday."

Right, let's move back on to the team reaction to finish off after addressing the Newcastle stuff.

Tom English
BBC Scotland chief sports writer

"Speculation" is an interesting word for Gregor Townsend to use re the report in the Daily Telegraph yesterday that he is joining Newcastle after the World Cup.

He hasn't signed a deal with anybody, he says. And it's all a tactic to disrupt Scotland ahead of the Six Nations.

Sorry, but I'm not sure anybody is buying that one. Has he committed to signing a deal?

He hasn't exactly blown this story out of the water with "speculation" and obfuscation.

There's probably a reason for that. Still, as said before, win against Italy and win against England and win against Wales in the next three games and it won't matter where he might be going in 2027.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend on reports he is set to join Newcastle Red Bulls after the World Cup: "It's pure speculation, I've not signed a contract beyond the World Cup with anybody.

"It's a story that is being put out there to try to disrupt ahead of this game or next week's game against England.

"Not at all, it's just something that comes out, things like these, ahead of the England game in particular.

"There's no truth I've signed the contract beyond the World Cup and my focus is on the Scotland team right now and hopefully up to the World Cup."

Your wish is my command, Tom. Quotes incoming from Gregor Townsend on the Newcastle link.

They're pretty strong.

Tom English
BBC Scotland chief sports writer

It will be interesting to hear what Gregor Townsend has to say about the report in the Daily Telegraph yesterday that he is joining them after the World Cup. It just supports everything we have heard on the grapevine. If Scotland start well in the Six Nations then what he does in 2027 is not going to have much of an impact. Nobody will care. If they start badly then all sorts will get thrown at him in the here and now - distracted by his links with Red Bull and Newcastle and so on.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland at Scotland media conference

Gregor Townsend has dismissed the reports he is poised to become Newcastle Red Bulls head coach after the World Cup next year.

He says it is “speculation” and that he had not signed a contract with anyone and is fully focused on Scotland.

The Daily Telegraph reported yesterday Townsend is ready to take over the club in 2027. He is already a consultant to Red Bull's rugby operation.

Frazer: Not too much to argue with there, Steyn and Dobie had to start. Jordan more of a surprise, I’d maybe have gone for Kinghorn over him with Jordan on the bench instead of Hastings. But what do I know?!

Alan: Townsend perhaps signalling a change in MO from creating wonder moments on the pitch to prioritising score creation and efficiency. Too often VDM and KH can go missing when the game is not moving your way, particularly away from home. That being said, it's the England game that will define Scotland's championship momentum.

RodB: Totally agree with the backs but we've gone same old same old in the pack. Gilchrist? I'd start Brown I think that Hiddlestone should be on the bench. And I'd look at other young guns from the Glasgow pack - they've been immense

Loads of you are getting in touch with terrific analysis on the squad. You knowledgeable lot! Keep them coming.

Image source, BBC Sport

Replacements: George Turner, Nathan McBeth, Elliot Millar-Mills, Max Williamson, Gregor Brown, George Horne, Adam Hastings, Darcy Graham.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland at Oriam

Confirmation Blair Kinghorn is not injured - he will travel to Rome with Scotland as the 24th man.

Image source, SNS

Lezza: Happy to see Duhan and Kinghorn dropped. Kinghorn particularly has been inconsistent for Scotland and Duhan's form of late has been poor.

Keir: not controversial... Graham is one of the best in the world. Awful decision

Tom English
BBC Scotland chief sports writer

The big theme for Scotland this time around is mental resilience and learning lessons from what has being going wrong for them, particuarly in November and especially against Argentina.

This lack of composure was, of course, screamingly evident in their last visit to Rome two years ago.

They were 12 points in front - scoring three early tries - and managed to blow it. Jordan, Steyn, Dobie are all tough nuts on that score.

Nine Glasgow Warriors in the starting team and another five on the bench. Franco Smith has done a lot to shape this Scotland side.

It's worth saying, in response to Paul's comment below, as far as we are aware Blair Kinhgorn is fit and has just not been selected for this game.

Gregor Townsend may say something different in his press conference, which starts at 10:00 GMT.

Rupert: McBeth backing up Schoeman at loose head is a big call I think. He's been good for Glasgow but Rory Sutherland has been an ever-present for a couple of years now.

Paul: Guessing Kinghorn is injured on basis Hastings in on the bench?

Chris: Doesn't really matter who he picks. Scotland will be 4th or 5th with one good win. Same as it's been for the last 25 years.

That's the spirit, Chris.

Tom English
BBC Scotland chief sports writer

A huge call at full-back but it's one that has long been mooted. Blair Kinghorn is an exceptionally talented player but he has flaws in his game linked to his inherent risk-taking.

His flamboyance is a great strength when he's in full flow but it's also a weakness when Scotland are trying to tighten things up. Tom Jordan is just a steelier player, even though he's been playing most of his rugby at 10 for Bristol.

The nature of this Six Nations - three games in a row and only one fallow week - means that there could be significant changes for the Calcutta Cup even if Scotland were to win in Rome.

Managing the players' minutes will be a bigger feature this time around. Kinghorn (and Duhan van der Merwe) might well come back into the mix next week.