RBS SIX NATIONS - ITALY v SCOTLAND
Venue: Stadio Flaminio Date: Saturday, 27 February Kick-off: 1330 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC HD channel, Red Button and online; full commentary on BBC Radio Scotland and Radio 5 live sports extra; text commentary and score updates on BBC Sport website and mobiles  Max Evans showed his support for Thom when he scored against Cardiff
Max Evans has vowed to "play for Thommy" as much as for Scottish pride when he takes to the field against Italy in the Six Nations. Evans will run out at the Stadio Flaminio just two weeks after watching younger brother Thom suffer a serious neck injury against Wales. "I wanted to keep playing and also play for Thommy," said centre Max ahead of Saturday's game in Italy. "So, in a way, it helped to slightly take my mind off it a bit." Having recovered sufficiently from two operations at a Cardiff hospital, Thom was allowed to return home to Glasgow on Friday, the latest piece of good news in what is set to be a long and painful recuperation.  | I'm honoured to be back in the team again and I'm really looking forward to this game Scotland centre Max Evans |
The wing was out cold on the Millennium Stadium turf for some time after running head first into Wales full-back Lee Byrne and Max revealed his relief at learning the injury was not career-ending - or worse. "It was great news to hear it wasn't as bad as it could've been," he said. "I just have to be completely grateful to all the medical staff who were on the pitch and all the surgeons. "James Robson, our team doctor, said it's a one-in-a-thousand type accident. "Thom was unlucky to have the accident. But, at the same time, he was also very lucky to get the outcome that he's got, considering what it could've been." Max, 26, revealed that Thom remembers little of the incident, only recalling he had just retaken the field in place of his brother. "He's watched the game since and is just grateful to be all in one piece," Max said. The Evans brothers could hardly be closer. There is less than two years between them and they live and work together. Max is therefore determined to do everything he can to aid Thom's recovery. "I said to him to take one day at a time and just try to get himself as fit as possible," he revealed. "One day at a time is all he can do at the moment." Max has decided one of the best ways he can lift Thom's spirits is by helping both club and country achieve success on the rugby field. He took the courageous decision to play in Glasgow's Magners League game against Cardiff Blues last Friday, just six days after the Wales match. | MY SPORT: DEBATE |
"I thought about it for a tiny bit," he said. "It would've been a tough week just kind of doing nothing and thinking about him. "It was great to get a try for him in the end." Indeed, although it was only a consolation in what was a comprehensive defeat, Max's 'T' celebration left no doubt over who was on his mind. "I wanted to at least show some sort of support for him," said Max, who plans the same tribute if he scores against Italy. Max had been dropped to the bench for the defeat by Wales after a poor performance against France. "I'm honoured to be back in the team again and I'm really looking forward to this game against Italy at the weekend," he said ahead of his ninth cap and first in Rome. "I've heard the Stadio Flaminio is quite an arena to enter into. I caught the end of the England-Italy game last weekend and it looked amazing. "The English kind of played into their hands. The Italians looked comfortable handling their attack around the breakdown. "We've got the players to look to attack from anywhere, so I think that's what we're going to do."
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