British and Irish Lions

Williams' team are still looking for their first points of the tournament after losing to Wales and England in their first two games.

The Scots were dealt a blow when Cameron Mather (ankle) and Tom Smith (hip), both injured against England in the 35-13 defeat at Murrayfield, failed to recover in time.

Williams drafted in Edinburgh duo Allan Jacobsen and Allister Hogg as replacements.

Scotland team to play Italy in Rome on Saturday, March 6

B Hinshelwood (Worcester); S Danielli (Bath), T Philip (Edinburgh), B Laney (Edinburgh), S Webster (Edinburgh); 10 C Paterson (Edinburgh, capt), C Cusiter (Borders); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), G Bulloch (Glasgow), B Douglas (Borders), S Murray (Edinburgh), S Grimes (Newcastle), J White (Sale), S Taylor (Edinburgh), A Hogg (Edinburgh).

Replacements: G Kerr (Leeds), R Russell (Saracens), N Hines (Edinburgh), J Petrie (Glasgow), M Blair (Edinburgh), A Henderson (Glasgow), D Lee (Edinburgh).

Qantas Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans says Quade Cooper could still line up against the Lions despite missing out on his 25-man squad this morning.

The Waratahs upset the odds by beating Super Rugby leaders the Brumbies 28-22, but the game came at a huge cost to Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans.

Lions skipper Sam Warburton says the lessons he and his Welsh colleagues learnt in Australia last summer will stand them in good stead for their return visit with Britain and Ireland's elite next month.