Laidlaw to return as Scotland skipper for Italy

Scrum-half Greig Laidlaw will return as Scotland's captain for the World Cup warm-up match against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The Gloucester half-back missed Scotland's first two games -- a loss against Ireland in Dublin and a win over Italy in Turin -- but he was brought back as one of 15 changes to a 25-strong squad enacted by coach Vern Cotter.

He takes over as captain from another scrum-half, Henry Pyrgos, who scored the winning try against the Italians. Grant Gilchrist was skipper against the Irish.

Laidlaw is among six new faces available to the back division, with Glasgow Warriors' quartet Mark Bennett, Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, and Tommy Seymour, and returning Harlequins' wing Tim Visser, all vying for a starting berth.

The nine changes to the pack feature two players yet to appear this summer – lock Jonny Gray and back-row Ryan Wilson – while the remainder return from the squad selected to face Ireland in the opening Test, namely John Barclay, Fraser Brown, Blair Cowan, David Denton, Rob Harley and Jon Welsh.

Scotland squad for a World Cup warmup match against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday:

Forwards: John Barclay (Scarlets), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan (London Irish), David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, Grant Gilchrist (all Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray, Robert Harley (both Glasgow Warriors), Stuart McInally, Willem Nel (both Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Wilson, Gordon Reid (both Glasgow Warriors), Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons).

Backs: Mark Bennett, Stuart Hogg, Peter Horne (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester), Sean Lamont, Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos, Tommy Seymour (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tim Visser (Harlequins).

Source: AFP