Gregor Townsend dismissed claims that he has been primed to take over at Newcastle Red Bulls as an attempt to “disrupt” Scotland ahead of the Six Nations as he named a much-changed side for their opener against Italy on Saturday.

Gregor Townsend dismissed claims that he has been primed to take over at Newcastle Red Bulls as an attempt to “disrupt” Scotland ahead of the Six Nations as he named a much-changed side for their opener against Italy on Saturday.