It’s twenty-five years since five became six: in 2000, Italy stunned Scotland, then the reigning Five Nations champions, and beat them in Rome to win their first ever Six Nations game. They repeated the feat last year, but Scotland, still smarting from last year’s late loss in Rome — and further tested by tournament-ending injuries to Sione Tuipulotu, Scott Cummings, and Max Williamson — will be out for revenge. Gregor Townsend’s team had never had a better shot at taking home the championship than this year, but now they’ve been shorn of their captain and the world’s outstanding inside centre, as well as two essential boiler-room operators. Will they still be title contenders?
Well, there is class aplenty in the backline yet, with Finn Russell, Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham and Huw Jones still in situ — and now joined by Glasgow Warriors captain Stafford McDowall. There is a familiar look to the pack, too, with Jonny Gray returning and both Dave Cherry and Jamie Ritchie selected, presumably with half an eye on the lineout. Gonzalo Quesada’s Italy are loaded with powerful players: Ange Capuozzo, Tommaso Menoncello, Paolo Garbisi, Sebastian Negri, Danilo Fischetti, and inspirational captain Michele Lamaro are ones to watch — so too livewire winger Simone Gesi, who will surely make an impact from the bench. Should Scotland weather the Italian challenge — and they ought just to still have enough in the bank to do so — they’ll have a whole eight days to prepare for Round 2’s tantalising clash at home to Ireland. After that, who knows?
Scotland vs Italy kicks off at Murrayfield on Saturday, February 2 at 14:15.
“Italia vs scotland Six Nations 2016” by Gartxoak is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.