| Scotland: (24) 52 |
| Attempts: Cherry 2, Van der Merwe 2, Graham, Jones, Steele, Johnson Con: Hogg 6 |
| Italy: (10) 10 |
| Attempt: Bigi Con: Garbisi Pen: Garbisi |
Scotland ran in 8 attempts as they dispatched a limp Italy at Murrayfield and went back to winning methods the 6 Countries.
Hooker Dave Cherry and wing Duhan van der Merwe both scored two times, with Darcy Graham and Huw Jones running in first-half ratings.
Scott Steele and Sam Johnson likewise scored as Italy’s indiscipline brought 2 yellow cards after the break.
Scotland might still restore 2nd location from their 6 Countries project.
Nevertheless, it would need a benefit point in the reorganized journey to France – a far harder project – and other outcomes to go their method.
Numerous of coach Gregor Townsend’s rejigged line-up seized the day to shine.
Centre Jones – making his very first start in more than a year – looked sharp, while Cherry – chosen to George Turner – was exact at a line-out that misfired in defeat by Ireland.
Whatever positives, nevertheless, featured the caution that they came versus an Italy side who were significantly over-matched for the 5th round in succession.
Hogg offered armchair trip
The most attractive Scotland choice was captain Stuart Hogg handling beginning fly-half responsibilities for the very first time in 84 Tests.
With the hurt Finn Russell working as a waterboy, Hogg pulled the strings in a downplayed method the 54 minutes prior to replacement Jaco van der Walt took control of stand-off responsibilities.
In reality, Hogg did not need to do much to open Italy’s defence. He just delivered on the banquet of quick, front-foot ball and let Jones and Johnson sculpt into area.
Van der Merwe’s outstanding season continued with another dynamic efficiency, while Hamish Watson, another British and Irish Lions competitor, revealed physicality and deft hands in an all-court efficiency.
Hogg’s through-the-legs pass that extremely almost put Van der Merwe into the corner summarized Scotland’s spirit as video game meandered to a surface, long over as a contest, in the 2nd half.
The only thing left by the end was the record books as Scotland overdid to declare their greatest winning margin in 6 Countries history.
Italy’s everlasting wait goes on
It began well for Italy. The pack won a charge at the very first scrum. Fly-half Paolo Garbisi offered a platform with a vibrant touch-finder. Captain Luca Bigi bullocked over for the very first shot after 5 minutes.
7 of Italy’s 12 6 Countries wins because 2000 have actually come versus Scotland, including their latest back in 2015.
Nevertheless, ever since they have actually tape-recorded 31 straight beats in the competition. Any hopes the visitors had of ending that unpleasant run broke down as bad specific defence and duplicated indiscipline weakened periodic appealing passages of play.
Too sluggish to advance in defence. Too incorrect in the take on. Scotland’s backline made backyards quickly even prior to Federico Mori was revealed yellow for a late shoulder shot on Johnson midway through the very first half.
Italy’s Sebastian Negri and Monty Ioane both followed him to the sin bin in the 2nd half and back row Michele Lamaro was lucky that his shoulder to the head of Jamie Ritchie was evaluated to be a charge when others have actually seen red for comparable.
This project has actually been a chastening christening for Italy’s appealing generation. They have actually yielded more attempts (34) and more points (239 ), and signed up the worst points distinction (-184 ), than in 21 previous 6 Countries competitions.
Time, and certainly much more beats, will show whether the similarity Garbisi, Lamaro and scrum-half Stephen Varney can bring back the group to competitiveness at this level.
Line-ups
Scotland: 15-Sean Maitland, 14-Darcy Graham, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Sam Johnson, 11-Duhan van der Merwe, 10-Stuart Hogg (capt), 9-Scott Steele; 1-Rory Sutherland, 2-David Cherry, 3-Zander Fagerson, 4-Sam Skinner, 5-Grant Gilchrist, 6-Jamie Ritchie, 7-Hamish Watson, 8-Matt Fagerson
Replacements: 16-George Turner, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Simon Berghan, 19. Alex Craig, 20. Nick Haining, 21. Ali Rate, 22. Jaco van der Walt, 23. Chris Harris
Italy: 15-Edoardo Padovani, 14-Mattia Bellini, 13-Juan Ignacio Brex, 12-Federico Mori, 11-Montanna Ioane, 10-Paolo Garbisi, 9-Stephen Varney; 1-Danilo Fischetti, 2-Luca Bigi (capt), 3-Marco Riccioni, 4-Niccolo Cannone, 5-Federico Ruzza, 6-Sebastian Negri, 7-Johan Meyer, 8-Michele Lamaro
Replacements: 16-Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17-Andrea Lovotti, 18- Giosue Zilocchi, 19-Riccardo Favretto, 20-Maxime Mbanda, 21-Marcello Violi, 22-Carlo Canna, 23-Marco Zanon
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Touch judges: Karl Dickson (England) & & Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
TMO: Alex Ruiz (France)
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