OLLIE GRAIL

Townsend gives Smith nod against Italy as Warrior battles Kinghorn for No.15 jersey

-  DAVID BARNES

GREGOR TOWNSEND reckons Ollie Smith has earned the right to fire the first bullet in his shootout with Blair Kinghorn for the Scotland No.15 jersey.

The Glasgow Warriors man will line up at full-back for the World Cup warm-up match against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Edinburgh's Kinghorn is the other leading contender to take over the slot in the side that became available when Stuart Hogg announced his immediate retirement from the game earlier this month.

But he hasn't made the match-day squad for this clash.

Smith has just three Scotland caps to his name, while Kinghorn has played 43 times in various positions across the backline.

But Townsend believes the less-experienced player has shown he's got what it takes.