Italy v Scotland Saturday 22nd February 2020

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Italy v Scotland
Stadio Olympico
Rome

Saturday 22nd February
KO 15.15


Well a very important game for both sides bearing in mind they are both two from two the wrong way around. The traditional wooden spoon game looks like it might be living up to its billing again.

Both sides have proved they can play a bit, Italy against France and Scotland against Ireland, but both have shown their lack of killer instinct as well. Scotland in particular have given a masterclass in wasted possession in their first two games.

Both teams will feel this is a game that that can and should win and the winner may come from whoever deals with the pressure of that the better. Scotland have started both games so far pretty well, which is one big positive you can take from the new Toonie era. It used to be traditional for us to give everyone a head start and then play catch up. If we get our noises in front a bit in this game, then I feel we will probably win quite comfortably. If it is close though, then it becomes anyone's game. In truth Italy should have won the last time we played in Rome and they easily could do so again.

So what about selection for this game?

We have lost twice now and so, despite playing well, some changes are appropriate. We may get some hints when we get a squad update probably tomorrow.

A few players showed some pretty good form last night in Glasgow. In Llanelli this afternoon, the weather made it more of a lottery again and it was difficult to see any standouts.

Johnny Gray is the only known injury from the first two rounds and he will now sit out the rest of the championship. Some of our other walking wounded will be back though, Skinner came through a game for Exeter on Friday night and Matt Fagerson was in barn storming form for Glasgow as well. Darcy Graham has been spotted training with Scotland again and shown doing so in social media postings.

I am hoping we may see a side out something like this:

1. Sutherland - an impressive couple of games in his international recall
2. McInally - has probably edged the battle of the hookers, but also has had wobbly darts
3. Fagerson Z - I think it is his shirt now
4. Skinner - good enough to come straight back in I think and can also cover the back row
5. Cummings - he us a talent and needs persevering with
6. Ritchie - not quite on WC form but been steady enough
7. Watson - Not been on best form yet, but has a lot of credit in the bank
8. Fagerson M - Bradbury did not play well and has been out of from, he deserves his chance
9. Horne G - in scintillating form on Friday night, a close call but he deserves his chance
10. Hastings - easiest call of all
11. Graham - would have played all three games if fit
12. Johnson - Good case for matt scott, but SJ may have been our best back in first two games
13. Jones H - Another very tight call, but may be worthy of one more crack
14. Kinghorn - a greater attacking threat than Maitland these days
15. Hogg - looked back in good form on Friday night

Subs

Dell - still lacking in options at LH
Turner - deserves a chance, had a great game on Friday night
Nel - Berghan was poor against England, so the old boy is not done yet
Craig - this seems like the game to try him out, he looks a talent as well
Gordon - this is a tight call as Haining also played well today and the choice may come down to tactics, another dynamic player or a carrier? would be happy with either
Price - touch and go with Horne
Hutchinson - deserves a decent run out this time around and can over FH and both centres
Maitland - covers the back three

Like that strip of the ball....

Good rip from Harris to be fair to him.

Bradbury is another I'd like to see more from. A couple of good Carrie's but that's about it.

Hogg and a great piece of finishing aside I feel Italy are unlucky to be behind.

Not the greatest quality from either team

Well there's no doubt about these being the bottom two sides in this tournament. Not a lot of quality on display.

Real damp squib of a game so far. I don't think they've been too threatening but we haven't either. It wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility for us to win 5-0

If ever there was a game crying out for wee George Horne.

Poor again from Price losing the ball there. We are so wasteful.

Well probably na 6/10 half from Scotland. I think we're the better team but still guilty of stupid mistakes and lack of accuracy.

Our defence has been good though and we've got them in the scrums and breakdown. Watson has been immense and Ritchie and Hogg doing well too.

We desperately need to start converting more chances though - all Scottish fans know a 5 point lead in Rome is not enough!

Italy turned over 11 times!

For the first 20 mins we were awful

Hogg’s try, an individual peace of skill/pace is all that sets us apart.

Sutherland is having a great game
McInally showing he’s far better than brown
Fagerson, average game. Couple of silly penalties
Toolis, better than Cummings
Cummings, silly penalty nothing else
Ritchie. Good game
Hamish, great game. Turnovers and out only effective carrier
Bradbury. Woeful

Price, pass marks
Hastings. Duffing his kicks. Needs to get his finger out
Johnson. Working hard but missing the cutting edge
Harris. Well, bang average at best
Kinghorn, average. Not getting much ball.
Maitland. Solid. Defensively saved us a couple of times.
Hogg, needed that try. Needs to boss the game more

All in all rather meh

Game is by far and away not over yet. Italy could get in top if they keep their offloading going.

Gaaaaaaah

So frustrating!!!

Sounds like im not missing out on much, glad I took a bike ride with my missus. May watch the highlights if its a good second half, sounds like things are going as predicted. How can people still back Toonie??

Still, clever start using Price to spark things around the ruck.

Hate hate hate to say it but there's one man joyriding round the Champs Elysees who would be a real hand in this game

Just be glad Hogg actually managed to ground the ball for once

Always knew that Harris had something

Harris!!

Italy back feet offside every ruck there in those pick and goes, particularly when we were close to the posts.

Got there in the end!

Hardest working man in Scottish rugby

Hastings kicking is a big letdown today - that's 7 points missed which is s converted try worth

Italy making poor decisions - blind pass in a good attacking position led to Scotland's first try and trying to play out from their try-line from a 5m scrum when they've been getting turned over all game led to the second.

I think we may see hutch at 10

That is really poor from Hastings. He has cost us at least 5 points in what is a close game.

That Lineout was so squint

That lineout from Italy not even close to being straight!

Nice kick from Ritchie. Having a great game.

Another poor one from Hastings - he didn't have to force that! It wasn't on

Jesus Hastings. Great line. Great run. Headless chicken offload

Poor again from Hastings! Having a shocker.

This is turning into massacre at the breakdown - keeping us ahead just now

Italy have no chance now as they can't keep their own ball ...

I bet that Italy 3 is delighted to be coming back on

Hastings needs to do so much better then. Hate to say it but an attack was on just prior to that, the long pass went out to Harris, he caught it and stayed static allowing the Italian defence to come up and cut the space out for Kinghorn. Kinghorn has to check his run too. If Jones or Hutchinson is there they run at the Italians and ask the question. Kinghorn can choose to stick wide or to run a line off of his wing. He scored a good try but he really doesn't bring much to the table.

All these metres made. All these turnovers. All these penalties and we’ve scored 10 points.

We’re only ahead because Italy are so poor

It’s like watching mini rugby

RDW wrote:I bet that Italy 3 is delighted to be coming back on

I'm sure Toonie will throw him a life line and bring on Dell.

Do we practice mauls in training do you think, or just wing it on the day??

Apart from Horne, these are silly changes.

Yay. Wee George.

No. Fagerson (even though Bradbury has been knickers)

Italy down in the scrum again but ref just happy to let them play

Oh good, ref not bothering penalizing the scrum anymore.

I wonder what other nations a could have done with 20 years of development in the 6N, because it's been completely wasted on Italy

Hogg should have given it!

If only Harris had pace.....

Hogg blew that a bit.

Greedy by Hogg that time

Right come on Scotland time to turn the screw

LeinsterFan4life wrote:I wonder what other nations a could have done with 20 years of development in the 6N, because it's been completely wasted on Italy

Agree. They are not progressing. Then again, neither are we....

We've been so much the better team but I'm still very nervous - one try and the game will completely change

Hutch is on. Excellent.

Italy lucky not to get pinged at that line-out ...