RUNAWAY TRAIN

White says tough talking in practice has Scots primed to kick on.. starting v Italy

- BY STUART BATHGATE

BEN WHITE is sure this brutally honest Scotland squad is well prepared for this year's Six Nations.

The scrumhalf says the players have trained to an exceptionally high standard - and taken each other to task when things go wrong.

But he knows that, after damaging defeats to New Zealand and Argentina last autumn, the side must prove they have made progress - starting against Italy in Rome on Saturday.

He said: “We need to deliver. We need to show the improvements that we took from the November series.

“The best way to do that is by attacking the game against Italy, starting well.

“Training has been great. We're having more tough conversations with each other, holding each other to a higher standard.