Burkey filed that as they were closing the doors on his plane to Rome, some man.

Do you agree with his or Tom's thoughts? Do you like the team?

Remember to share your views with us.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

It’s testament to the form of Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie that leaving out Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham - numbers one and two in the list of record try-scorers - is not at all controversial.

Both Glasgow wings have been superb this season, while Graham will be out to make a big impact off the bench.

Blair Kinghorn being left out the 23 is a big call. He’s been Scotland’s nailed-on 15 for a long time.

It’s a huge show of faith in Bristol's Tom Jordan, who has looked at home in the Test Arena. Gregor Townsend looks to be shaking things up with this selection.

Tom English
BBC Scotland chief sports writer on Sportsound

We discussed this on the Scotland rugby podcast yesterday - a Scotland team with three scrum-halves in it. And there it is.

Jamie Dobie is one of them, of course. He's so deserving of his place on the wing (his adopted position at Glasgow). He's such a busy and effective player.

He started at nine for Glasgow in the famous game against Toulouse before Christmas and when George Horne came on just after the break, he moved to the wing.

He was terrific there yet again, And Horne? Well, he just lit it up and helped mastermind a sensational comeback.

Horne adding energy and pace off the bench on Saturday could be vital. Great to see him in the loop. What odds a while back that you've had a Scotland team without Kinghorn, Graham and Van der Merwe in it? Any odds you'd have liked.

There it is, the Scotland team which will open the Six Nations in Rome.

Some big calls - especially in the back three. No Blair Kinghorn or Duhan van der Merwe. You would never have seen a Scotland team without them a few seasons ago, when fit.

Let's get some reaction from our rugby experts Tom English and Andy Burke.

Scotland: Jordan; Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), Dobie; Russell, White; Schoeman, Ashman, Z Fagerson, Cummings, Gilchrist; M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Turner, McBeth, Millar-Mills, Williamson, Brown, Horne, Hastings, Graham.

As ever, Andy Burke and Tom English have you covered this Six Nations with the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.

They will be doing three episodes a week, including reacting to the team announcement later.

Here is the latest episode to get you in the mood.

Rob: Will be interesting to see if Townsend goes for the 6/2 split which he used in the NZ game. The depth in the second and back row is strong this year. Brown and Williamson have been good for Glasgow and Ritchie finding form in 2026 at Perpignan.

Tam: How the whole squad is managed to help player welfare over the forthcoming weeks will determine the potential outcome of every squad. The way Gregor has introduced players to the Test arena over the years and players experiencing high pressured games in England and France will hopefully see us go well.

Send us your views.

Oh, the suspense.

Finishing touches must be getting put on team graphics etc, as we wait for the Scotland team to be announced...

Scotland 'A' are playing against Italy on Friday night and named their team yesterday, which at least tells us who won't be in the first-team squad on Saturday.

Second-row Jonny Gray captains the 'A' side as he re-enters the international fold, while winger Kyle Rowe may have been one in contention for the main side.

That front row of Rory Sutherland, Gregor Hiddleston, and Darcy Rae could easily have been in line for bench spots in the Stadio Olimpico, too.

Scotland 'A' XV to face Italy XV: Paterson, Rowe, Smith, Redpath, Reed, Burke, Warr; Sutherland, Hiddleston, Rae, Gray, Craig, Onyeama-Christie, Douglas, Masibaka.

Replacements: Morris, Hepburn, Hurd, Bradbury, Ferrie, Bayliss, Afshar, Lancaster.

Much of Scotland's line-up picks itself, especially with Huw Jones back fit in the centre and Zander Fagerson available at tighthead prop.

The second row is an interesting area, though. Presumably Glasgow's Scott Cummings will start.

Edinburgh's Grant Gilchrist has been a stalwart for Gregor Townsend, but at 35 will he be moved aside for some of the new generation?

Glasgow pair Gregor Brown, who can also play in the back row, and Max Williamson are primed to come in having been in great form.

Jonny Gray, Alex Craig and Euan Ferrie are on Scotland 'A' duty.

Image source, SNS

Duhan van der Merwe was dropped for the first time in his illustrious Scotland career in the November matches.

He was not picked at all for the New Zealand game and was on the bench for just the second time in 52 Tests against Argentina.

Scotland's record try-scorer's vulnerability under kicks has come under scrutiny since the law change which favours the chasing side.

Image source, SNS

And his lack of versatility makes him an unattractive bench option compared to Glasgow's Jamie Dobie, who can play wing and scrum-half.

However, Van der Merwe's ability to produce X-factor moments for Scotland in the Six Nations has been unrivalled.

It will be intriguing to see if he makes the squad with Kyle Steyn, Darcy Graham, Tom Jordan and Blair Kinghorm all likely to be involved in the matchday 23.

Right, before the news drops lets dive into some talking points.

If we flash back to a year ago, Scotland had just lost their captain Sione Tuipulotu to a tournament-ending injury before a minute of Six Nations action.

Second row Scott Cummings, who went on to be picked for the British and Irish Lions, was also ruled out.

This time around Scotland have a clean bill of health. It never lasts in such an attritional sport.

But right now much of the squad is fit, firing and in form.

Gregor Townsend is going to name his Scotland team to take on Italy in the next hour.

We'll bring you the team as soon as it lands, as well as reaction and analysis.

Remember to share your views as well and we'll get them on here!