Scotland 31-19 Italy
Scotland kicked-off their Men’s Six Nations campaign by weathering a fierce Italian comeback to reclaim the Cuttita Cup at Murrayfield Stadium. A hat-trick of tries from centre Huw Jones, plus scores from Ben White and co-captain Rory Darge, were enough to defeat a defiant Italy side who had pulled level in the second half.
It was a game characteristic of Gregor Townsend’s charges. An early barrage resulted in two Scottish tries within the first ten minutes, with Darge driving over from close range, and then the game’s finest score, as Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn combined to send Duhan van der Merwe free on the left. A lofted offload found Jones, who ran in behind the posts.
The early scores settled Scottish nerves, though Italy struck back with a fine long-range penalty from veteran full-back Tommaso Allan. Their hosts were dominant, with Darge a menace at the breakdown. Each Italian attack fractured swiftly as the visitors failed to secure possession. In contrast, the next meaningful Scottish venture forward resulted in a third score. Hooker Dave Cherry, returning to the side after two years, delivered the goods, getting on the end of a maul before a cat-flap offload to White, who dived over.
But watching Scotland is never a particularly comfortable experience, even with a three-try lead. Italy are a stern team nowadays, far from the pushovers of the past – and their patient game-management paid dividends. They started to push their numbers upward, profiting from Scottish profligacy. Allan’s boot did not err. At half-time, it was 19-9.
Last year, in Rome, Scotland found themselves in a similar position, roaring into an early lead then taking their foot off the break – and they lost that game. As the second half began, fans might have been forgiven for recalling the work of the late David Lynch. It was happening, again.
Repeated visits to the Italian 22 brought no breakthroughs. On one occasion, an isolated Darge was stripped of the ball in a promising position. With the next attack, Russell found Darcy Graham hitting a wicked line only for the winger to spill the ball. The marshalling leadership presence of injured skipper Sione Tuipulotu was, clearly, sorel missed. Scotland’s composure began to err.
Their dire period was summed up when Russell, with no real options, pushed a pass straight into the arms of Juan Ignacio Brex, Italy’s best player on the day, who rampaged upfield to score Italy’s first try. Now it was 19-19. Repeated Scottish assaults were repelled, and the hosts began to find themselves losing the breakdown battle, starved of the ability to sustain attacks. They looked shaky.
To their credit, Scotland found a way out of this impasse, finding the composure that had deserted them. So often with this team, the wings are the difference-makers, and it happened again: having knuckled down to win a penalty, the scrum found its way through the backs, who fanned out like a switchblade. You would never bet against the Scottish backline – even shorn of Tuipulotu – when presented with this kind of position. The ball briskly came wide to Graham, who sliced infield and scampered free, passing to Jones as Monty Ioane closed him down.
The try took the wind out of Italy, and soon Scotland scored another. Graham got the ball from Russell, and carried upfield: a well-weighted pass from replacement Tom Jordan found Jones, who somehow bulldozed through three Italians to slam the ball over the line. It was a marvellous score, and Townsend will have been pleased that Scotland stuck to their game plan despite the circumstances.
From then on, it was rope-a-dope rugby, with Italy constantly advancing but wearing themselves out as Scotland defended tirelessly, weathering a repeated onslaught on their five-metre line. Job done, and with some flair – but other teams will be less forgiving. That 80-minute performance continues to elude Townsend’s men, and the difficult middle period where they coughed up possession and conceded penalty after penalty will have worried him. Scotland have an eight-day break in the action to prepare for a tantalising, tournament-defining clash with Ireland here at Murrayfield. They’ll need it.
Player ratings
Backs
Blair Kinghorn – 7.2/10
Imperious under the high ball. Composed in backline moves but saw less of the ball going forward than he might have liked, with relatively few excursions from deep.
Darcy Graham – 7.7/10
Another handling error with the try-line begging, but made amends with fine work to set up two tries for Jones. A strong return to the Six Nations stage.
Huw Jones – 8.7/10
Scotland’s most composed attacker. Jones was electric and did not need Tuipulotu next to him to shine. Such a classy operator. Was awarded Player of the Match.
Stafford McDowall – 6.4/10
Tough as teak and his quickness is an asset, but he offered less penetration than those around him and his place in the side is not yet assured.
Duhan van der Merwe – 7.5/10
Dominated opposite number Ange Capuozzo, exemplified by a fearsome fend. Lasted the whole 80 with a heavily strapped ankle, his sharpness unabated.
Finn Russell (co-captain) – 6.5/10
Brex’s intercept was a horror-story for Russell, and he also missed two conversions. But he marshalled the backs well, played his role in Jones’s tries, and served up several contestable kicks for Graham. Scotland will depend on him for Ireland.
Ben White – 7.3/10
The undersung component of this Scottish backline. Scored a try and assisted a try on his 25th international appearance.
Forwards
Pierre Schoeman – 6.7/10
Knocked on in the first half but otherwise carried punchily. Was less strong at set-piece.
Dave Cherry – 7.3/10
Can be pleased with his return to the international stage. Faultless darts and managed to set up White with a theatrical offload.
Zander Fagerson – 6.9/10
Scotland’s pack linchpin. Carried a great deal and generally put himself about in the loose. Set-piece could have been stronger, mind.
Jonny Gray – 6.5/10
Lacked sharpness after so long away from the international stage. Showed good hands in the loose but also seemed sluggish, and conceded a penalty after arriving late to a ruck
Grant Gilchrist – 7.3/10
One of Scotland’s stalwarts. Gilchrist can be satisfied with his efforts after presiding over a faultless line-out. Broke the gainline well, too.
Jamie Ritchie – 6.9/10
Always gets stuck in. His abrasiveness was needed with Jack Dempsey only fit enough to start from the bench
Rory Darge (co-captain) – 7.3/10
Was dominant from the outset, almost single-handedly starving Italy of the ball, but fell away slightly as Scotland lost their grip on the breakdown battle. Needs to more consistently impose himself on games, but carried very well indeed, and bagged a try.
Matt Fagerson – 6.9/10
Another who fell away a little, though the younger Fagerson can always be relied on to make inroads with the ball in-hand. A tough tackler. May have done his shoulder a mischief.
Replacements
Ewan Ashman (for Cherry) – 6.5/10
Did not err at the set-piece.
Rory Sutherland (for Schoeman) – 6.5/10
Contributed to ferocious last-gasp defence.
Will Hurd (for Z. Fagerson) – 6.2/10
Was not on for long but conceded a penalty.
Gregor Brown (for Gray) – 6.6/10
Added renewed vigour to the pack in his less-preferred lock position
Jack Dempsey (for Ritchie) – 6.9/10
Was benched after injury, but his presence settled nerves. Needs to start against Ireland.
George Horne (for White) – 6.9/10
Freshened up the attack and kicked well. Can always be relied upon to add pace.
Tom Jordan (for McDowall) – 7.0/10
A fine performance off the bench and Russell looked happier when he was on at 12. Gave Jones an excellent pass for the hat-trick score. Townsend may be tempted to start him against Ireland.
Kyle Rowe (for Graham) N/A
Scotland’s fourth-choice winger. Never lets the side down but did not get a chance to do so.
“Scotland v Italy (1)” by daniel0685 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.