Chris Paterson
Former Scotland international on BBC One

It comes from a brilliant carry initially from Menoncello. You're asking a lot from Kyle Steyn to come from the right all the way over.

It's a brilliant kick, it's a brilliant finish but there's a lot of space in the back field.

Image source, PA Media

There's been an awful lot of handling errors in the opening stages.

Nothing slick about this game so far.

Image source, Getty Images

Peter Wright
Former Scotland prop on BBC Radio Scotland

It has been an interesting start, Scotland have had a lot of ball and a lot of possession but it hasn't gone anywhere.

One thing that's for sure is the Italian defence is up for it.

Ronan O'Gara
Former Ireland fly-half on BBC One

It's all about what you do between the 40s. The ball is like a bar of soap.

Are they overplaying? Do they need to just kick earlier?

Finn Russell kicks a Scotland penalty into the Italy 22.

An excellent platform for the visitors - in theory anyway.

Scotland can't claim their own ball and Italy clear.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland at Stadio Olimpico

We've had a bit of everything on the weather front in Rome today.

The day started in beautiful sunshine until thunder and torrential rain struck intermittently for a couple of hours.

It's eased up now but the clouds are still prominent over the stadium and the conditions might have a part to play in this match.

Scotland have their part to play and that is showing more control than they managed in the autumn and on that day two years ago here in Rome when they fell to a damaging defeat.

If they turn up and play to their potential they can do a job on Italy. With this Scotland team you just never quite know what you're going to get.

Referee Ben O'Keeffe peeps his whistle and away we go.

Scotland are in their pink change strip; Italy in their traditional blue.

Il Canto degli Italiani is belted out with typical gusto after Flower of Scotland.

The Stadio Olimpico is packed to the rafters.

Image source, Getty Images

John Barclay
Former Scotland captain on BBC One

There will be a bit of scar tissue for Scotland.

One of the main challenges is they have a vulnerability in the last 20 minutes.

We say this every year, but get off to a winning start and build some momentum.

The players are out in Rome.

The time for talking is over.

Scotland Under-20s started their Six Nations campaign with a hugely impressive win over their Italian counterparts last night.

Scotland's production line has been much maligned in recent years, but the 10-36 win showed there is talent coming through.

A repeat result for the senior side would do nicely.

Chris Paterson
Former Scotland international on BBC One

The game at the moment is a lot about contestable kicking. That's a kick within about 30m when it gives you a chance of winning the ball back.

At times, the percentage chance of ending up in a better place with more possession is by putting boot to ball.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend tells BBC Sport: "I pinch myself every time I go into the coaching box.

"I love spending time with the players. There's more to come with this group and there's a World Cup horizon. I do want to continue to support this team and achieve something they've never achieved before.

"There's always highs and lows. You feel disappointed when your team doesn't play close to its potential more than if you lose. The important thing for us to make sure those painful memories turn into better performances in the future.

"There's two mindsets here. Of course, we want to win every game and we are disappointed when we don't win and that's what drives us with the players as well. We are here to play our best.

"Outside of that, the context that I suppose I'm most proud of, our supporters are totally behind the team. They have a real love and connection for what this team can go out and perform like. For us, that's not enough and for some of our supporters it's not enough. We do demand more.

"It's a very competitive squad and every position is under pressure and that's the best I've seen it."

Image source, Getty Images

Those injuries Quesada refers to are to star full-back Ange Capuozzo, as well as Tommaso Allan, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Sebastian Negri, Ross Vintcent, and Jacopo Trulla.

Young Northampton back Edoardo Todaro is also out having torn his cruciate ligament in training last week.

That's a lot of key players to be without.

Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada tells BBC Sport: "We have to be at more than 100% to perform, to compete in these five games ahead of us.

"It's the first time we have so many [injuries]. I'm super confident in the guys that are going to go on the pitch.

"We focus on what we have and trying to make our fans proud, Italian rugby proud and hopefully having some good results too."

Image source, Getty Images

Let's hear from both head coaches, shall we?

In case you weren't aware, the tournament got under way on Thursday night as a rampant French side dispatched Ireland in Paris.

The team to beat?

Italy won one - against Wales - and lost four in last year's Six Nations, including a 31-19 defeat at Murrayfield.

Captain Michele Lamaro believes Italy are now taken more seriously by other teams in the Six Nations: "I think what has changed in the last couple of years is the perception of our team.

"Teams are not scared of what we can do, but scared of what we might do if we are put in the position to do that.

"We've shown some really good rugby in the last couple of years and we can see how the teams are starting to prepare for us.

"We have the confidence that if we do everything in the proper way, if we put ourselves in the best situation possible, we know we can put Scotland under massive pressure, even from a scoreboard perspective."