Michael Aylwin’s report from Murrayfield is here:
That’s all from us on this blog - join Lee Calvert for Ireland v England here:
The Italy captain Michele Lamaro speaks to the BBC: “It’s been a tough game. First half we didn’t play the game we wanted to. But we stayed in the moment … [first half] we knew we didn’t play as well as we could … stepping back into the second half, we wanted to show something, and I think we did for a few moments. We weren’t able to perform in attack today, and I think that cost us a lot.
“I think they put us a lot under pressure in the breakdown … they were honestly brilliant there, and we weren’t able to solve that problem … we couldn’t play the game we wanted to play with quick ball.
“Wales is a huge game for us, a huge game for them … we’ve got one day to recover the best we can, then straight into [preparation for] the Wales game … we’ll prepare as this one, but we know we need to be better.”
Now Finn Russell speaks: “That’s this tournament, isn’t it? We were a bit loose throughout the whole game … we need to be a lot better if we are going to do any in this tournament.
“I had a few mistakes that didn’t help the team … we’ll come back Monday and sort a few things out.
“Huw was outstanding today, getting a hat-trick …
“I think the backs worked well together. We created a lot of chances … probably three or four tries we left out there, which is frustrating.”
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Darcy Graham has a chat: “Good to get back out there … it’s such a different atmosphere when the Six Nations is on. The hype starts early. Good to be back.”
Graham’s thoughts on his display? “Mixed bag. Some good, some bad … things to work on for next week. The carries that I got influenced the game so I’m happy about that.
“The improvements Italy have made in the last few years are unbelievable and it was a tough game …
“Credit to Italy. They build the scoreboard. That put pressure on us. Massive win for us, massive start to our campaign, and we’ll pile into Ireland next week.”
“[We said we needed to improve our] discipline. Penalties kept them in the game … it was our mistakes that kept them in the game. We needed someone to bring a bit of spark and a bit of energy.
“This is the start of the campaign. It’ll be rest up, watch the Ireland game tonight, and fire into them.
Thanks Lee, hi everyone.
Hat-trick hero Huw Jones speaks to the BBC: “Pretty happy. It’s not every day you manage to get on the end of three. Thanks to the boys for setting me up. Yeah, happy with the win.
“It was a big turning point [Jones’s second try, set up by Darcy Graham) … There wasn’t anything on for him. But Darcy will find a gap where there isn’t one. Glad he made it through, and I was pleased I could keep up with him.”
Ireland are up next, next Sunday at Murrayfield – will Scotland be confident? “I don’t want to say confidence is sky-high … we’ll take the week as it comes … Ireland will be a massive challenge. They’ve had us for the last few years, so it’s one we want to win, for sure.”
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I’ll leave you in the capable hands of Luke McLaughlin while I head over to Ireland vs England. Why not join me there?
FULL TIME! Scotland 31 - 19 Italy
80 mins. Nothing comes from the late Italian possession and Russell boots the ball out to put the win in the bank.
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79 mins. Italy have a late penalty, but it’s all academic now.
“Just another routine rollercoaster ride for Scotland. It’s rarely dull when they play, I’ll give them that” says Simon McMahon.
There was a flash of worry as Italy drew level, Simon, but other than that it’s looked very comfortable. I wouldn’t be too worried if I was a Scotland fan.
77 mins. The ball is in Italian hands in the Scotland 22, but the home defence is containing all their attacks with ease. Eventually the ball is spilled forward as the phases becoming increasingly less impactful.
The game is over, basically.
75 mins. Italy are not done yet, as they have a five metre lineout to attack from.
73 mins. The ball is won off the top of the lineout and passed to the right through hands. The Scottish defence is up to the task and forces a few phases from the visitors who look busy and inventive. Gesi has a glimpse of the line but is hit hard and the ball is dislodged to award a scrum to the home side.
71 mins. Italy have woken up, with lots of handling and clever offloads working them up the field. Menoncello somehow rides two tackles about 3 millimetres from the right touchline and still gets an offload away. Eventually they are up to the line on the left and Scotland are offside.
The ball is put in the corner by Allan
TRY! Scotland 31 – 19 Italy (Huw Jones)
67 mins. The catalyst of this is that man Graham once more. He loops off his right wing to take the ball off Russell in the left 13 channel and carry into the Italian 22 where the ball is recycled quickly and fired back to the right for Jones to score, one-handed at full stretch. Snappy stuff from Scotland and a great finish by the centre.
No conversion.
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64 mins. As we enter the final quarter there’s a sense that Italy have lost whatever momentum they were building and Scotland have wrested back control. Not just with the try but also in way the game is playing out; the visitors suddenly look passive and uncertain again.
TRY! Scotland 26 – 19 Italy (Huw Jones)
62 mins. Jones may have scored it, but this try is all about Darcy Graham. From the scrum on their own 22, Scotland pass the ball left on first phase to the winger who bumps one tackle, steps inside and spots a gap to rattle through and into the open, racing forty metres.. As Ioane closes in he finds Jones in support to walk it in.
Russell converts.
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58 mins. Page-Relo dabs a kick into touch deep in Scottish territory and the home side win the lineout and clear. On the next Italian possession the home defence hold them up to win a scrum. Seems like a small thing, but Scotland needed that as they were starting to be outmuscled a bit.
55 mins. It’s gone very quiet in Murrayfield, and the volume is only increased by groans as Russell puts a high kick up that is subsequently knocked on by Kinghorn on the chase.
54 mins. Scotland have frankly lost it a bit here. They’ve become florid with their attack, chucking it about frantically in the hope of achieving what, I’m not sure.
Italy have shown that taking the points and letting the game develop can work and the home side should try some of that, maybe?
52 mins. The lineout is won and after the ball is moved away from the maul Scotland start working short carries again, the recipe that resulted in White’s try in the first half. It doens’t work this time, though, as Darge finds himself isolated and the ball is ripped off him allowing Allan to whomp it clear to touch.
50 mins. Scotland decide now is the perfect time to get their act together and there’s a notable increase in tempo and dynamism. A strong carry from Schoeman has Fischetti off his feet at the ruck to concede a penalty.
As has been the case all game, Russell rejects three points and puts it in the corner.
TRY! Scotland 19 - 19 Italy (Juan Ignacio Brex)
47 mins. Can you believe this? Scotland have some possession and as Russell ambles about with the ball he pops a pass toward Jones that Brex reads, intercepts and races over uncontested from 40 metres.
Allan converts and the game is all square!
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PENALTY! Scotland 19 - 12 Italy (Tommaso Allan)
44 mins. An increase in the intensity of the Italian defence has Scotland in trouble’ Firstly Fischetti flys up to force untidy possession before the balls shovelled on to Matt Fagerson, which allows Lamaro to fly up and hammer him backwards. The momentum of the tackle means Menoncello can clamp on and win a holding on penalty.
Allan does the necessary from the tee and it’s very much game on!
42 mins. Possession for Scotland around the halfway line is inching them forward, with plenty of carries sapping the Italian defence. McDowall breaks through and in the excitement of the metres gained the ball is lost, allowing Italy to secure it and clear via the boot of Garbisi.
Second Half!
It’s Finn Russell’s turn to start us off, which he duly does.
Gregor Townsend will be happy enough with that half, can’t complain about three tries. They have also sapped a huge amount from Italy given the huge number of tackles the visitors have been forced to make.
The Azzuri have more in them than the last forty minutes have shown. I expect they will improve in the second half, but it’s unlikely to make a difference to the outcome as Scotland will continue to score with some relative ease even if the Italians grab a touchdown or two of their own.
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Half-Time!
40 mins. PEEEEP! The penalty is the last thing of note as the half comes to an end.
PENALTY! Scotland 19 - 9 Italy (Tommaso Allan)
39 mins. The Azzuri were playing on an advantage, however, and Allan again strikes a beauty from distance to add three to the total
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37 mins. Some neat and tidy attacking phases from Italy look pretty enough, but Scotland have abandoned rucks and are fanned out across the field to contain it all easily.
35 mins. The scrum is won, but the attack lacks pace and the ruck clearout is not good enough to stop Garbisi (of all people) clamping on to win a turnover and diffuse the danger a metre from the line.
Vital intervention from the Azzuri out-half.
33 mins. Italy mangle some simple midfield passing just in their own half, Capuozzo the man spilling the ball, which allows Finn Russell to hack it on and it’s a foot race between Garbisi and MacDowall. Garbisi wins it, but the Scottish centre forces him back over his line to win a five metre scrum from the home side.
TRY! Scotland 19 - 6 Italy (Ben White)
30 mins. Negri is fiddling with the Scotland ruck when he shouldn’t, giving a penalty to the home side that is again despatched to the corner when three points are on offer. The lineout is taken and turned into a maul before Dave Cherry breaks off, drives to the line and throws and OUTRAGEOUS one handed offload out the back of his hand to White to score.
Conversion is missed.
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26 mins. It appears Scotland have worked out that they don’t need all these fancy patterns in attack because the strategy of “fling it to Duhan” is consistently bringing territory as he clatters through tackles and offloads to runners off him. The latest version of this sets Kinghorn running behind but the ball is spilled forward near the Azzuri line.
PENALTY! Scotland 14 - 6 Italy (Tommaso Allan)
23 mins. The attacking patterns that brought Scotland so much joy early doors are not reaping as many rewards due to Brex reading them better and stepping out to shut them down. Another great defensive read from the centre catches Graham behind the tackle line and Scotland are penalised for sealing off the ruck as they scramble to secure possession.
Allan steps up again and slots one from distance.
PENALTY! Scotland 14 - 3 Italy (Tommaso Allan)
20 mins. Slowly, the visitors are getting a fingertip grip on this game and hauling themselves into it with more possession and some territory. The latest attack sees Scotland penalised in kickable range, so Allan calls for the tee and hammers it over from 40 metres out.
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16 mins. Italy are trying to get something going in the Scotland half, but as Menoncello hits the ground Darge is in there like Bill Beaumont at the hospitality buffet to swipe the ball. The back row man is having some game so far.
14 mins. Short break in play while van der Merwe has his ankle strapped a bit – he’s up and seems fine. Some normality has commenced in play as both sides have a few phases in the middle third with not a great deal to report.
Scotland completely on top and this is mostly down to their very well drilled attacking shape and short dummy runners that are pulling the Azzuri defence all over the shop. Difficult to judge this Italian performance fully as they haven’t had any ball as yet.
TRY! Scotland 14 - 0 Italy (Huw Jones)
9 mins. The ball moves again to the left and van der Merwe, who looks like he will romp up the touchline in an attempt to outrun the defence, but he cuts back inside and floats a delicate pass to Huw Jones who has a free run to the line.
Another two points added by Russell.
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7 mins. There’s a sniff of territory for Italy as they have a lineout near the Scotland 22, but the Nicotera throws in with all the composure of a dislodged gyroscope. Dave Cherry is first to the bouncing ball and it’s moved left for Kinghorn to have a run into the opposition half.
TRY! Scotland 7 - 0 Italy (Rory Darge)
4 mins. Italy inevitably drift offside under pressure from the Scottish attack and Russell puts it in the corner. Whenever you spurn points from the tee you’d better score a try and that exactly what happens after the ball is moved wide from the lineout before a short carry from the ruck has Darge forcing over the line.
Russell converts.
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2 mins. A sensible gather and clear from Scotland on receiving the kick off has Italy in possession from a lineout. There’s some ponderous work in midfield that allows the home side to rob the ball and fire it left to van der Merwe who gets his gallop going to take the men in blue up to the Italian 22.
Kick-Off!
Tommaso Allan boots it high into the blue sky and we’re underway!
Win probability going in according to the internet:
Scotland 82%
Italy 17%
Draw 1%
Where the hell they getting that draw probability from? Mind you, Italy did share the spoils with France last year jn their match, lest we forget.
The teams are out, emerging into an absolutely glorious Edinburgh afternoon for a game of rugby. Princess Anne is in attendance for the glad-handing formalities which will take place before we kick off.
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Pre match reading
It’s 25 years since the Six Nations was created, thus rendering Scotland Five Nations champions in perpetuity. Relive the 2000 tournament here with this brilliant collection of images and memories.
Teams
Sione Tuipolotu’s absence brings Stafford McDowall into the inside centre berth and hands the captaincy to both Finn Russell and Rory Darge (no I don’t get it either). Jonny Gray returns to lock after a near two-year absence from the squad.
Italy welcome Tommaso Allan back in the 15 shirt following his self-imposed break for fatigue and family reasons, moving Ange Capuozzo to the wing. In the forwards, Dino Lamb and Lorenzo Cannone return while Lorenao’s brother Niccolo and Exeter’s Ross Vintcent are on the bench.
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Stafford McDowall, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Ben White, Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry, Zander Fagerson, Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Will Hurd, Gregor Brown, Jack Dempsey, George Horne, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe.
Italy: Tommaso Allan; Ange Capuozzo, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari; Dino Lamb, Federico Ruzza; Sebastian Negri (capt), Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Luca Rizzoli, Marco Riccioni, Niccolò Cannone, Manuel Zuliani, Ross Vintcent, Alessandro Garbisi, Simone Gesi.
Give me a shout with all your thoughts via this very email. I welcome all submissions, but be warned I ignore the stroppy ones.
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Preamble
Another Six Nations campaign begins for Scotland and Italy here at Murrayfield, with both teams perched on a higher ledge on the rockface of improvement that at any time in the recent past.
Gregor Townsend’s side are looking to move beyond the team that is pretty much the sporting manifestation of Sex Panther cologne: “60% of the time, it works every time”. Pushing into being in with a real shout of winning the whole thing come Super Saturday has to be the goal, as even with the loss of Sione Tuipulotu and a few others to injury this squad remains good enough to win the whole thing in this year of putatively less formidable opposition.
Italy had their best tournament in years in 2024. While the core of the squad that beat today’s opponents in Rome twelve months ago remains, they have since spluttered through a loss to Samoa, a hammering by Argentina and barely squeaked past Georgia among a litany of meh in the last nine months. Added to this is the wretched form of Benetton Treviso, the club side that makes up the vast majority of the national side. Gonzalo Quesada has worked some wonders with his team and his skills as a coach will be tested once more here. The playing talent is there, however.
You to fancy a broadly confident Scotland at home to get a good handgrip as a base to pull further up that climb to the top.
