6N Italy v Scotland 17th March 2018

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ITALY v SCOTLAND
17 March 2018
KO: 12h30 GMT
Stadio Olympico, Comune di Roma Capitale

Live on ITV  

Referee: Pascal Gaüzère
Assistant 1: Someone else
Assistant 2: Someone else
TMO: Someone else

A. Head to Head
27 Feb 2016 Italy 20 - 36 Scotland
29 Aug 2015 Scotland 48 - 7 Italy
22 Aug 2015 Italy 12 - 16 Scotland
28 Feb 2015 Scotland 19 - 22 Italy
22 Feb 2014 Italy 20 - 21 Scotland
22 Jun 2013 Scotland 30 - 29 Italy
09 Feb 2013 Scotland 34 - 10 Italy
17 Mar 2012 Italy 13 - 6 Scotland
20 Aug 2011 Scotland 23 - 12
19 Mar 2011 Scotland 21 - 8 Italy

C. Teams

ITALY

TBC

SCOTLAND

TBC

Well, I really think we should be winning this one with our 1st TBP of the tournament. Italy have done nothing to change the perception of them being an unmitigated shambles.

We've had a ridiculous number of knock ons

Russell off?

Are we going for the world record for knock ons in a rugby match?

Not ideal to be chasing the game with Laidlaw at 10!

There's still time to win this but we've really got to step up several levels

Will Italy last at this pace cracking game.

This isn't good to watch.

25 mins for Scotland to pull this back or be labelled as not living up to the hype surrounding them

Price has brought on so much more tempo already

Deliberate Penalty 10m from the line  - surely at least worth a warning!

And another - still no warning?

Were there arms in that challenge from Parisse?

Game on!

Pressure on Italy now and they're not used to these situations - how will they respond?

Huge carry from McInally on the build-up to that try

Horne has made a big impact off the bench

Italy really starting to infringe at the breakdown, surely they will get warned soon?

We've lost a lot of attacking shape with Laidlaw at 10
- he just stands still and ships the ball on

RDW_Scotland wrote:We've lost a lot of attacking shape with Laidlaw at 10
- he just stands still and ships the ball on

At least we've gained a running threat from 9 though, it looks like theres plenty of space for Price to exploit

4 Italians in from the side at that maul and nothing said...

Italy should have kept kicking

Scotland's game now.

But equally the Scot came around the ball holder instead of passing the ball backwards ... pens both ways

That's much more like it - huge maul and patient play to get the try

Heaf wrote:But equally the Scot came around the ball holder instead of passing the ball backwards ... pens both ways

Yep, saw that too. That one evened itself out.

Frustrating that as Italy have been lying all over rucks all game and not penalised

Game management anyone?

Jeez

This is going to be close ... nip and tuck all the way now.

Got to say Ghilardini has had his best game in a long time

This is the game..

All or nothing now for Scotland you would feel.

Jaysus, I thought that was going wide for a second...

Right just get the Scrum right!!!

eirebilly wrote:Jaysus, I thought that was going wide for a second...

You're not the only one!

Well we played like a sack of crap and Italy had their best performance in years but just couldn't maintain it.

We showed great courage to get the win but a whole heap of negatives will come from that

Well done Scotland, not a very good game but still win with a TBP. Not sure how I would feel if I were a Scottish fan but relief must be high on the emotion list.

Hopefully we learn from that. Terrible terrible performance

I've said many a time though, you're not a good team until you can win when you don't play well. So every cloud.

That was torture. Well played Italy, there was a lot of good stuff in there they just didn't have the 80 minutes in them. We were largely horsesh1t, and some of Toonie's selections didn't come off.

We need to address our composure away from home somehow, it is going to be the big question mark over this team going forward.

Well that was a close one ... unlucky for Italy just didn't have the composure at the end.

Exciting finish for the neutral, but Scott’s resurgent...not yet.

Well done Scotland... hard lines Italy.

Our rolling maul and Laidlaw's kicking win us the game. Apparently we do have a plan B...!

No9 wrote:Exciting finish for the neutral, but Scott’s resurgent...not yet.

Well done Scotland... hard lines Italy.

Back to back 3 wins in the 6N - given our horrific history in this tournament I think we've made huge strides.

But today was awful!

Its been good lads, hope you Scottish lads go out and enjoy but now over to watch Ireland hopefully get the GS.

For me a couple of selection mistakes from Townsend. why on earth is tiny tim playing? He really is not up to it. Grigg and Jones did not work as a centre combo. Still - we got there in the end but Townsend and the team will be better for that.

Tough luck Italy - you have deserved a win this year and could have won that match. fitness the key in the end I think

eirebilly wrote:Its been good lads, hope you Scottish lads go out and enjoy but now over to watch Ireland hopefully get the GS.

Enjoy the match and best of luck to your lads Billy

Well we won.

The Italians showed something though. They have some good young players coming through. The flankers Negri and Polledri both looked like mainstays. They still need a future no 8 but the back row is looking much better balanced. The injuries in the backs are killer and certainly they need to keep building. There are signs though that Italy are finding some good players and the props in the first half will be around a while. They were giving Nel and Reid (experienced campaigners) fits. Certainly fitness is an issue that has still not gone away.

Scotlands defense was much too passive. Against Wales they were far too aggressive. That needs fixing and the ability to adjust when it is not working is a skill. Fitness won out today more than anything. That is not good enough against a team outside the top 10 (or on the edge of it)

- Front row got mullered in the first and the line-out was poor. Don't think it is the hookers after Brown and McInally were both having problems. Something to look for in future. We missed Berghan which sums up his level of play this 6 nations.
- Swinson was too small. Thought he would be fine and he was not. Gilchrist, Toolis, Cummings and R Gray are better internationals. Sad as he gives his all and does not shy away. J Gray did what he always does. The line-out calling has to improve.
- Back row struggled to slow the ball down and to influence the game. Wilson fairly anonymous and should have had the week off after last weekend's head knock. Denton was average. Strauss must be back into the reckoning.
- Laidlaw was awful for 60 and looked much better at 10. Russell was getting rubbish ball and blew hot-and-cold. Price offered impetus and wore the Italians down quickly when he came on.
- Grigg was ok. Jones was awful. Horne played well when he came on. None of those guys played well enough to stop Dunbar, Taylor or Bennett from coming in. Looking forward to Johnson as well who should qualify at the end of the year. Jones in particular needs to work on his defending. It is not good enough.
- Back 3 were average. They all did what they could. Did not create much from the little ball they got.

Jones I thought was terrible today, he needs to show he's not just a fair weather player and can put a decent performance in even when we're not in a dominant position in a match. He seems to go missing too easily for me. Grigg I thought played well but wasn't getting a lot of help from around him until Horne came in and settled things a bit more

Like I said this was the most exciting game.

Well done Scotland ground it out.

For Italy that Russell "knock on"  was tough but right decision, player should still of caught it.

Italy just need fitness and they will be almost there

I don't think it entirely Jones fault Mr Lama I think it more than Grigg and him did not work together

Would like to say a great win for Scotland, but it was not a great win to be honest. I actualy believe that Italy was very hard done by.

Still a win is a win so well done for Scotland for getting the win.

The jones not working with grigg argument doesn't sit with me. Reminds me of Jenson button in the formula 1 having to have the perfect set up while Hamilton got the best out of every one of their cars. He'll need to learn to adapt better to other players. I think Bennett is better at improving the game of those around him and when he returns to full form is worth bringing back in at 13. Id have two centre pairing preferences . Taylor Bennett or Horne Jones. Harsh as it sounds I think Dunbar is pretty much finished, unless he has robotic limb replacements. Add Sam Johnson to the mix and we should have better balance

Matt Scott? He was healthy last year and is playing again now. Dunbar could get back though he may need a bit more care at club level.

Taylor is the one I am worried about. When was he last fit for more than a game?

Yes sorry forgot Scott too. Taylor had a good run at Sarries last season it's just this year he's been unlucky. I can't remember when Dunbar was fit for more than a game!