ANDY ROBINSON is confident Scotland can secure victory against Italy today – if they can eradicate the errors that have seen them tumble into a Six Nations wooden spoon decider in Rome.

In the losses to England, Wales, France and Ireland, Scotland were undone, at least in part, as a result of their own failings. The performance in the 32-14 loss to Ireland last Saturday was described as “unacceptable” by captain Ross Ford, but Robinson believes his players are more than capable of ending a six-match winless run by claiming a first victory in Rome since 2006. He said: “The players have got the ability. They’ve shown in parts a lot of good things they’ve done. It’s about delivering on the day.”

He has retained faith in the players who lost to Ireland, with one enforced charge to the starting XV – centre Nick De Luca returning to fitness following a hamstring problem to replace concussed wing Lee Jones, with Max Evans moving from midfield out to wing.

For the third successive year under Robinson – with a record of two victories in 14 Six Nations matches in charge – Scotland must win on the final weekend of the championship to avoid the ignominy of a sixth-placed finish.

Italy were yesterday forced into a change after hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini failed to recover from a foot injury. Ghiraldini’s place in the side is taken by Aironi’s Fabio Ongaro, who will retire after the match, taking the number of changes to seven following the 24-3 loss to Wales last week.

Giovanbattista Venditti replaces Luke McLean on the right wing, while Tommaso Benvenuti will start at centre. Benetton Treviso’s Edoardo Gori replaces Fabio Semenzato at scrumhalf, while Simone Favaro drops to the bench, with flanker Robert Barbieri taking his place in the starting XV. Aironi lock Marco Bortolami replaces Cornelius Van Zyl to earn his 93rd cap. Prop Martin Castrogiovanni has recovered from a fractured rib.