Key occasions
Yellow! Italy (Riccioni 29)
The scrum goes down once more and Riccioni is proven a yellow. Gardner makes good on his phrase however I feel he’s despatched off the fallacious man because the scrum collapsed on the opposite aspect. Both means, the Scottish pack is nicely on prime. The winger Gesi, on debut, is the sacrificial lamb as Italy ship on one other prop.
28 min: One other penalty in opposition to the Italian scrum. It’s for collapsing and never controlling their weight. Angus Gardner offers them a telling to. “Both maintain your weight up or guys will likely be sitting down.” Scotland with choices both aspect.
27 min: This time a scrum penalty for Scotland. To be sincere, I don’t know why. Scotland select to pack down once more, so, as we have been.
25 min: Italy take a an age to place the ball in so Scotland have a free kick. What was occurring? Tuipulotu at first receiver smashes on the line. Ritchie tries to discover a hole within the line however can’t. Schoeman makes a yard. White goes proper to Grey. The counter ruck is sweet and Italy nearly snatch it again however there’s a knock on so Scotland could have the scrum proper beneath the Italian poles. They MUST depart right here with seven factors. Italy although holding robust.
24 min: Scotland make a multitude of that line-out. Ricthie lifted however the ball doesn’t come and Italy don’t hoist anybody. As Ricthie comes down Italy nail the Scottish pack and the ball is fumbled. First scrum of the match with Italy feeding 5 metres from their very own line.
23 min: Scratch that. It’s a Scotland penalty after the TMO has overruled the preliminary name as an Italian dedicated a no-arms deal with which led to the Scottish knock on. So Scotland have the ball once more on the Italian attempt line. Iachizzi goes off for a HIA for Cannone. Scotland go to the nook once more.
22 min: Scotland win the line-out however the maul doesn’t make yards. The ball strikes infield. Schoeman offers it to Grey. White darts for the road however is brief. They’re so shut after eight phases. Italy holding. Scotland lose and Italy can clear. A Scot is off aspect and Italy could have a penalty on their very own attempt line. Immense defence from the lads in blue.
20 min: The Scottish maul takes it shut and Turner darts for the road. He’s held again. Fagerson goes earlier than it’s unfold left. Kinghorn comes shut as he makes an attempt to squeeze between two tacklers within the nook however is shunted out. Stable defence from Italy. It’s Scotland’s ball although.
18 min: Scotland have a penalty after Italy stray off aspect after that kick. 5 metres out. Scotland go for the nook. Oh, he’s shanked that. Ought to have been within the nook but it surely’s about eight metres out.
17 min: This time Italy kick deep and Kinghorn gathers. Smith fees in the direction of the road, as does Schoeman from quick distance. Scotland kick after three caries don’t go wherever. White’s field kick is nicely held by Garbisi as Scotland chase nicely. Brex straightens. Italy have it inside their 22. Nonetheless they move till Allan kicks proper on his personal line.
Penalty! Scotland 5-6 Italy (Allan, 16)
That’ll annoy Gregor Townsend. Having simply taken the lead by means of a superb attempt, they cough it up as Allan slots his penalty from the appropriate.
15 min: Italy have a penalty straight from the restart. Dempsey enters from the aspect (or was that sealing off?) Both means, Italy have choices about 30 metres out on the appropriate. They level to the posts.
TRY! Scotland 5-3 Italy (Van der Merwe, 13)
Sensational end from the burly Scot. Among the finest I’ve ever seen. He’s airborn and over the touchline as he dots down below agency strain from Garbisi within the nook. How’s he executed that?! One handed as nicely. Simply good. It’s from a fast faucet and go from Scotland from a penalty benefit and he gathered a wild move out vast. That wanted some ending.
Kinghorn misses the powerful conversion.
Has Duhan scored? He acquired the ball on the left touchline and dived into the nook. On subject name is attempt. They’re going upstairs.
13 min: Grey by means of the center and Scotland have the penalty benefit 5 out. Italy preserve hammering the ball carriers and the ball is spilled so Scotland have the possibility for 3. They faucet and go…
11 min: Ritchie wins it on the entrance. The maul kinds however doesn’t go wherever. White will get it to van der Merwe below strain. Watson straightens. Schoeman throws a dummy that fools nobody. Dempsey busts over the gainline. Kinghorn performs an important ball to Jones who shovels it on for van der Merwe chopping again in on the angle. Italy defending nicely although.
10 min: Smith makes a wriggling run from fullback. Zander Fagerson makes a robust carry to get White on the entrance foot. Scotland win a penalty as White is performed earlier than the ball was out on the again. Scotland go to the nook.
That each one began as a result of Italy tried to run the ball, relatively than kick, as they collected the restart. Now they must defend a line-out eight metres out.
Penalty! Scotland 0-3 Italy (Allan, 8)
Scotland gained’t thoughts leaving their very own 22 solely three factors behind. Italy had a attempt to rating after a strong maul from a line-out. As a substitute they accept a penalty.
7 min: Lamaro brings the line-out down on the again. The maul rumbles ahead. They’re 5 metres out earlier than getting a penalty benefit. The maul continues. They’re shut. The unfold it left and Brex mops up a free ball however can’t stick the ultimate move. So they arrive again for the penalty proper in entrance. Seems like they’ll take the three factors.
5 min: One other Italian penalty on the ground. Schoeman not rolling away. Garbisi and Allan chat and the flyhalf decides to kick to the touch from the midway line. It’s a superb kick. They’ll have the line-out 10 metres out.
4 min: Allan misses that penalty from 38 metres out. It wasn’t straight in entrance however the angle ought to have labored together with his proper boot. That’s a foul miss.
3 min: Fusco kicks and Kinghorn gathers nicely and sends it deep. Italy safe the line-out within the center and maul. They make some floor earlier than spinning it within the again line and kick once more. Ollie Smith catches and kicks. Italy kick as nicely. Van der Merwe decides to cost into the mass of our bodies and the prop, Fischetti wins a penalty on the bottom. Italy win that little kick battle and could have a shot at aim.
1 min: A powerful carry instantly from Van der Merwe after Italy kick off. White hoofs a field kick excessive and now Italy construct from their very own half.
However the Scots know how you can belt out a tune of their very own. And there’s a bagpipe participant on the roof! I do know he’s all the time there however nonetheless value a point out. Now the gang goes acapella for the final bits of Flower of Scotland. Like it!
That Italian anthem. Each time. So good!
Circumstances look good. Each groups have tempo to burn so hopefully which means a present.
5 minutes to go. The gamers are submitting by means of the tunnel.
Stuart Hogg is pitch-side chatting about his ankle:
It’s not as dangerous as first feared. These items occur in rugby. I’m hoping it’s round 4 to 6 weeks. That’s what the doc tells me. Hopefully it’ll be lots much less.
It was unbelievable [playing his 100th Test for his country]. I completely beloved it. To see my little man run on the market with the match ball, that was absolute high quality.
Time flies once you’re having enjoyable and [his first game] was 11 years in the past.
Ollie [Smith, his replacement] is a category act. He’s actually challenged me to get the 15 jersey and it’s perked me up a bit. Hopefully he will get a whole lot of ball in hand and exhibits what he can do.
This doesn’t contain our recreation right this moment, but it surely’s value sharing.
ITV is displaying highlights from Italy’s win over Wales final 12 months. I used to be there, reporting on the sport, and it was simply sensational. Probably the most emotional finishes I’d ever seen. Don’t rely on them doing one thing comparable right this moment.
Gregor Townsend is just not taking Italy flippantly:
We’re very weary. They have been near beating Eire and France. They transfer the ball from in all places they usually’ve acquired nothing to lose
I’ve been banging on concerning the absence of Fin Russell but additionally value noting that Stuart Hogg isn’t taking part in both.
“It will be a catastrophe”,” says former Scotland No. 8, John Barclay, on ITV. He’s speaking concerning the the potential of Scotland dropping right this moment and what that may imply for his or her competitors as an entire.
Right here’s proof that Blair can ball.
That is mauve, proper?
Scotland are on an 11 recreation successful streak in opposition to Italy, having final misplaced to the Azzuri again in 2015 when a late penalty attempt snatched it for the lads in blue (Scotland have been in crimson then, they’re in a type of mauve right this moment)
Earlier than that the competition was fairly even with Scotland successful 12 and Italy claiming seven of the earlier Assessments.
Capuozzo absent as Italy chase first Murrayfield win in eight years
I’m sorry to interrupt the information if you happen to didn’t already know however everybody’s favorite participant gained’t be collaborating right this moment. Ange Capuozzo, that hot-stepping wizard suffered a shoulder damage earlier than the Wales recreation however that doesn’t imply Italy can’t harm Scotland right this moment. Paolo Garbisi at 10 is a celebrity and it’s a robust again row.
Italy: Allan; Bruno, Brex, Menoncello, Gesi; P Garbisi, Fusco; Fischetti, Nicotera, Riccioni, Iachizzi, Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro (c), L Cannone
Replacements: Manfredi, Zani, Ceccarelli, N Cannone, Pettinelli, Zuliani, A Garbisi, Morisi.
No Finn however a robust Scotland group named
Blair Kinghorn begins at 10. That’ll entice some consideration. He’s no Bobby Dazzler however he’s acquired a flip of tempo and deft palms.
Scotland: Smith; Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; Kinghorn, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Skinner, Grey, Ritchie (c), Watson, Dempsey
Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Nel, Cummings, M Fagerson, Worth, Healy, Redpath
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Whats up everybody! We made it. The ultimate spherical of what’s been a cracking Six Nations. And, if I can get somewhat private, it’s my two favorite groups within the competitors. I do know France and Eire are the darlings of European rugby proper now, however I simply adore what the Scots and Italians are all about. It must be dashing and daring (regardless of the absence of Finn).
For Scotland, they’ve an opportunity to underline their standing because the third greatest group on the continent. They haven’t had a prime half end since 2018 and a win right this moment will safe third spot.
Italy are out to show that final 12 months’s win over Wales was nobody hit marvel. They’ve been disappointing this marketing campaign regardless of placing in some robust performances. Victory right this moment could be some scalp and as that is their remaining hoorah, they’ll give it all the pieces.
My identify is Daniel, however be happy to name me Dan, we’re all associates in these elements. Drop me a line if you happen to fancy. Trying ahead to being with you over the subsequent few hours.
Kick off is at 12:30. Groups and different bits to return.
