That’s more like it from Scotland, who move up to fourth until at least the end of England v Ireland. Their ambition was finally combined with a bit of nous and direction and that was enough to see them past a spirited, decent, but limited Italy side. If they can build on that then another two wins are by no means beyond them in this tournament.
I’m off to England v Ireland now. Come join me for that!
Updated
Full-time: Italy 20-36 Scotland
Russell boots it out and that’s it!
80 min This time Haimona’s restart is too shallow, not going 10 metres and they have a scrum on halfway. Low replaces Barclay for the scrum as Laidlaw, with 26 points to his name, is named man of the match. Italy fail to drive straight and it’s a penalty as the clock goes red.
Conversion (Laidlaw 79) Italy 20-36 Scotland
Easily chipped over from just to the right by the excellent Laidlaw.
Try! (Seymour 78) Italy 20-34 Scotland
Scotland put width on it and Barclay offloads beautifully back inside to Hogg. 10 metres out and they’ve got a penalty coming. They go right, McInally takes it into contact and they recycle quickly. Out it goes again to Hogg, who draws two men then slips it gloriously out the back of his hand for Seymour to finish!
Updated
77 min Italy go off the back of the maul in the 22 but it goes loose and Russell hacks clear. Under pressure from Horne, Bellini gives possession away and Scotland maul up into the Italian 22. Surely this is it?
76 min They go right quickly but Scotland shut it down. The ball comes back right and Nel stretches out a big mit, knocking on deliberately and going to the bin! Garcia is replaced by Pratichetti. Into touch on the left.
75 min Scotland come infield but give away a penalty for holding on in the tackle. Padovani with a good touch-finder puts it up over halfway on the left. Italy need something fast.
74 min And now Russell finds touch 15 metres from the Italian line with a cracker of a kick. Scotland have gained 80 metres in a couple of minutes. Scotland set the driving maul.
73 min Russell finds touch on the left, on the halfway line. Padovani replaces Haimona for Italy, who give away another penalty when Bernabo pulls Barclay down in the air. Lamont is on for Scotland, with Visser, I think, going off.
72 min As Finn Russell returns from the sin-bin, his side have a scrum five metres out under their own sticks. It’s a very solid scrum and tehy get a penalty when Castrogiovanni loses his bind.
71 min Parisse taps and goes again and Italy hammer away, five metres out. It’s loose but Sarto picks up and uses his strength well. We crab left so Gori switches it back inside. Haimona chips and Campagnaro knocks it forward. That’s a terrible decision from the Italian 10.
70 min Penalty Italy. Parisse taps and goes, offloads to Gori and he’s dragged down with the line begging! It’s a great tackle by Seymour but Scotland hadn’t retreated so we go back for another Italian penalty.
69 min Scotland will be happy to run both the clock and the sin bin down here.
Sergio Parisse is one of the finest athletes ever in any sport. Can do anything. And he's got a gorgeous wife! Bastard
— Ed Overend (@edwardoverend) February 27, 2016
Strauss is on for Wilson, Van Schalkwyk for Minto.
68 min The ball gets trapped in the ruck and Italy have a scrum 10 metres out, under the posts.
“If Scotland lose this, I’m inventing a new cocktail,” says Simon McMahon. “It’s made with one part whisky, two parts bleach, and three parts petrol. It’s called a ‘Six Nations’.”
67 min Parisse takes the restart and blasts into the 22. Italy spin it left and Bellini has a look but is stopped 15 out. Back right they come then left again – the passing is over-enthusiastic but these are some great hands from the Italians. Even Castrogiovanni gets in on the act with a lovely get-and-give.
Penalty (Laidlaw 66) Italy 20-29 Scotland
Laidlaw keeps his cool amid the boos and slots it. That was a harsh penalty as the Grays had Zanni pretty well sealed in.
65 min Parisse takes the restart and goes on a rumble. His tail is up now. Gori clears long and Hogg takes. Horne is on for Bennett for Scotland, who win a penalty for Zanni not rolling away. 43 out, 10 to the left.
Conversion (Haimona 64) Italy 20-26 Scotland
Haimona chips over the extras from just left and we have a game on our hands!
Try! (Fuser 63) Italy 18-26 Scotland
Fuser grounded against Nel’s shin initially but the ball bounced off the hard bone and back down on to the turf over the line!
Updated
Try? (God knows who was at the bottom of that 63)
Castrogiovanni sets the drive and Italy rumble over the line from close range. We’re checking for a grounding...
Updated
62 min Italy have to go to the corner here, surely? Indeed they do and they’ll have a five-metre lineout in the right-hand corner. Garcia takes it on the crash ball, then Parisse and Castro drive it on. Gori has a dart but he’s dragged down two metres short on the left.
Finn Russell is sent to the bin.
Penalty to Italy for an infringement at the ruck. Peyper is checking with the TMO to make sure he yellow cards the right player.
61 min Parisse fends off two tackles and forces his way up over the five metre line! It goes right and Campagnaro is stopped just a metre short! What power that was from Parisse.
60 min Italy regain the restart again as Giazzon and Castrogiovanni replace the struggling Lovotti and Cittadini. This is good stuff from Italy, Sarto adding his weight in midfield to help them drive up to the 22. Giazzon is on for Ghiraldini.
Penalty (Laidlaw 59) Italy 13-26 Scotland
Everything changes but you, sang Take That. They should add Greig Laidlaw to those lyrics as he slots it comfortably yet again.
58 min Nothing doing for Scotland so we go back for a penalty, given against Minto for going off his feet. It’s a metre or so inside the Italian half just to the left of the posts, but they’re going for goal.
57 min Russell kicks to touch down the right, finding it a metre or so inside the Italy half. Very good kick, that. They go quickly off the top and Seymour bursts through coming off his wing, then Laidlaw has a dart over the 10 metre line.
56 min Gori should have been in for the try there, but he took his eyes off it on the 22 and spilled Bellini’s pass. Scrum Scotland back on their own 22. They get yet another penalty from that as Lovotti drives at an angle.
55 min Shallow restart again from Haimona but Barclay takes it well. From midfield, Russell goes high and Seymour gathers, but spills it when landing. Italy break immediately through Campagnaro down the touchline. He gives it inside to Bellini, but his offload goes to ground.
Penalty (Laidlaw 54) Italy 13-23 Scotland
Straight through again thanks to another sweet strike from Laidlaw.
53 min Another early push by Italy but they get away with it and go off the base. But, immediately having taken it into contact, Zanni holds on on the floor and Laidlaw will get another go at goal from 40 metres or so, off to the left of the posts.
51 min Haimona clears and Hogg runs back, sidestepping past two men down the left despite having no space at all. Back inside and Ford carries it on, but he’s held up by a choke tackle and it’s a scrum to the Italians. Scotland will fancy their chances of a penalty, mind.
Penalty (Haimona 51) Italy 13-20 Scotland
From under the posts, Haimona chips it through.
50 min Knocked on and we’re going back for a penalty as Scotland failed to roll away from the tackle. Next one gets a yellow card. Haimona is going to knock over the points here though.
49 min Gori dummies and darts but is stopped. Left now and Haimona tries to offload out the tackle but is wrapped up. Still they go, three metres out but it’s so slow.
48 min Now Italy get into the 22, Gori slipping through a gap and up to within five. There’s a massive overlap on the left but Parisse takes it into contact.
47 min Italy recover it from the restart and drive up towards the 22 through Ghiraldini. The move it right but there’s no space for Campagnaro to slip through, so Parisse tries to crash it through. Scotland remain solid though and Italy are going backwards now.
Penalty (Laidlaw 47) Italy 10-20 Scotland
This one is right in front, 30-odd metres from goal. Laidlaw makes no mistake.
45 min This time Scotland do get the penalty as Cittadini collapses the scrum under pressure while reeling backwards.
44 min Another strong scrum from Scotland but Peyper gives Italy the benefit of the doubt and resets.
43 min Now they go infield but Parisse makes a nuisance of himself, forcing Laidlaw to knock on.
John Ramsay writes: “Switched on the telly to watch this in South Africa and they are showing the Stormers v. the Bulls instead. They showed every excruciating second of the Wales France match last night, including ten minutes at half time showing the assorted Daffodils, Dragons and Garlic Salesmen in the crowd.
“I wouldn’t mind so much but Craig Joubert is refereeing the Super Rugby tie!”
42 min That was excellent from Scotland. They have a lineout on the right, 24 from the Italian line. R Gray takes it.
41 min Finn Russell restarts the match and Italy drive up out of the 22 before Gori kicks clear to Hogg. He’s taken down on the Italian 10 metre line. Scotland go into contact but they’re taking it standing still. Russell kicks, Odiete takes and Seymour chases well, tackling the Italian No15 into touch just outside his 22.
But never mind, here come the players!
Although not as good as this.
“So, I’ve had three coffees, the sun’s going down, and it’s starting to get a bit chilly,” writes Derek Robertson from Amsterdam. “Should I find a nice bar and settle down to enjoy the second half? Still can’t bring myself to check the score.”
Yep, this one is well worth watching. Another 40 like that and Scotland will fancy their chances against France and Ireland.
Want to see the tries? Here they are.
It’s 10-17, not 10-20. I might have typed that early in anticipation of Laidlaw getting his kick. Refresh the page and all will be sorted.
Half-time: Italy 10-17 Scotland
Misses right and Scotland lead by just one score at the break. That wasn’t too bad a half, was it?
Updated
40 min And another penalty to Scotland there as Italy fail to drive straight. It’s just the right side of the 10 metre line for Laidlaw, albeit wide on the right, and he’s going to have a shot at goal to finish the half.
Updated
39 min Italy have it 12 metres inside the Scottish half and go left. Great counterruck from Scotland though and they win it back on the floor. Russell kicks ahead and Parisse can’t gather cleanly. Scrum Scotland.
38 min Italy try to play too quickly and the ball goes loose behind Haimona, who does well to recover possession on the floor. Gori puts it up and Sarto chases brilliantly!
37 min Josh Furno’s day is done, he’s replaced by Bernabo as Haimona finds touch in the Scotland half.
37 min Laidlaw switches direction and J Gray makes ground with his powerful carry. Right to Russell and he dummies before slipping through, but he holds on in the tackle and Italy can clear with the penalty.
36 min Ford finds Barclay and Scotland set the rolling maul from the 22. It’s very well defended though and they make no ground at all so spin it right.
35 min Scotland have absolutely smashed Italy there. Al Dickinson took Cittadini to pieces and Scotland have a penalty on halfway. Russell thinks about kicking for goal but decides against it, kicking to touch near the 22, on the left.
34 min Get rid of scrums now.
Jesus, a good game of rugby has broken out in Rome. Cracking game this. More of the same later. As long as we win. #nerves. #6Nations
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) February 27, 2016
33 min Free-kick to Italy at the scrum and they opt for another one.
“Sorry, but the second half is going to be gash,” warns Robin Hazelhurst. I’m missing this at a kids birthday party but I’ll make it to the pub to watch by half time. So no more tries after that I foresee. Cocktails are not on me.”
32 min Odiete carries out his 22 and Parisse makes a sniping break! Italy are moving forward at speed here and rumble quickly up to halfway through Cittadini, but it’s knock on on the floor.
Conversion (Haimona 31) Italy 10-17 Scotland
Thumped through very well. Haimona is proving me wrong here.
Try! (Ghiraldini 30) Italy 8-17 Scotland
Oh this is lovely rugby. Haimona carries over the gainline and Campagnaro makes further ground with a half-break. They move it back inside and Parisse offloads really nicely in midfield for Haimona to get it out to Garcia. The No12 makes ground, gives it to Odiete and Ghiraldini is up in support to cross on the left.
Updated
28 min Laidlaw kicks long to Odiete, who returns to Hogg and he tries to jink through, but Italy wrap him up. Scotland looking to punch holes through Italy here but Richie Gray gets held up in the tackle and Italy get the turnover and scrum just inside the Scottish half.
Penalty (Laidlaw 27) Italy 3-17 Scotland
From 35 out and a fair way to the left, Laidlaw slots it once again.
25 min Scrum Scotland then, dead centre and nine inside the Italian half. They go left from it: Scotland deserve credit for being one of the only teams to go for quick ball from the scrum rather than using it solely to try and manufacture penalties. They get a penalty at the breakdown, mind, as Gori fails to roll away from the tackle.
Wilson is now being taped up after taking a knock in that tackle. Incidentally Sale and Saracens drew 36-36.
24 min Solid from Italy and Campagnaro has a dart. The gap he’s looking for is closed by Scotland’s drift defence, then Furno knocks on under pressure from Wilson. Great work by the No8, who has looked much better than David Denton so far.
23 min Gray steals it again and Wilson peels off a maul, gaining 14 metres or so down the left. He loses it forward into touch when tackled though and Parisse opts for the scrum.
22 min Haimona finds touch on the Italian right on halfway. It’s stolen by Richie Gray, but his pat down bounces straight into touch. The touch judge signals for a Scottish throw but he’s quickly overruled.
21 min This is a better scrum from Italy. Dickinson is penalised for pulling it down.
20 min Scotland lineout on the left, on the Italian 22. It’s not straight though and Ford’s wobbles with his throw – literally, in this case – continue.
19 min Italy get it back from the restart and look to build through the phases. Russell rips it back for Scotland though and Laidlaw kicks ahead to send Italy backwards. They take it back into the 22 and Odiete kicks out on the full.
Huge first strike from Scotland's all-Edinburgh front row. If Italy get on top there it'll be a long day @DanLucas86. Game's picking up now.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) February 27, 2016
@guardian_sport @DanLucas86 poetic justice for Barclay there, peno should have been the other way the minute before
— Brian Davoren (@BrianPDavoren) February 27, 2016
Conversion (Laidlaw 18) Italy 3-14 Scotland
That’s another beauty.
Try! (Hardie 17) Italy 3-12 Scotland
Good pickup from Russell off his bootlaces and Barclay puts Jonny Gray through a gap. Nel carries on and Scotland are up to the 22. Russell then steps beautifully through a gap and with Italy’s defence scrambling there’s an overlap on the left. Through the hands it goes and Hardie finishes in the corner.
Updated
15 min Quick ball off the top for Scotland and they get it wide to Seymour, but he’s halted by a good upright tackle from Odiete. Russell switches left with a big looping pass to Hardie on the flank, but he takes it standing still and Scotland gain no momentum.
14 min Lovotti knocks on and Scotland look to counter. Russell stabs a kick down the left-hand touchline, into the 22 and into touch. Furno wins the lineout though and Gori gets it away with a very good box kick, which finds touch just inside his own half.
13 min Italy win the lineout despite the attention of Jonny Gray. They go inside to Garcia and he’s hit hard, but Italy creep up towards the 10 metre line, albeit at no great speed.
12 min Russell puts it up high from the restart and finds touch on the left on his own 10 metre line.
David Mason has a decent idea: “A Grand slam bonus point would mean 5 minimum wins get 21 points, beating 4 bonus point wins. The bonus point system could be intoduced encouraging attacking rugby but also ensuring a Grand Slam winner is also the tournament winner”
Conversion (Laidlaw 11) Italy 3-7 Scotland
Laidlaw curls it round from the touchline. It was a mistake by Gori that led to the try, stepping up out the line and giving Hogg space.
Try! (Barclay 10) Italy 3-5 Scotland
Russell’s restart is deep and down the middle. Haimona kicks long to Hogg, who goes on a slippery run down the left, carrying up beyond the 10 metre line and Jonny Gray carries it on. Russell, just outside the 22, tries the show-and-go but can’t get through. Recycled and Hogg makes the break again, stepping outside of Sarto and inside Odiete. The Italian full-back brings his opposite number down but Hogg has the awareness to offload to Barclay, who dots down in the corner!
Updated
Penalty (Haimona 9) Italyh 3-0 Scotland
It’s a good kick, slipping just inside the right-hand upright.
8 min From 43 metres, right in front, Haimona will go for goal.
7 min Taken by Richie Gray and Russell clears to Bellini inside the Italian half. He passes inside to Sarto, who carries almost up to the Scottish 10 metre line and gets a penalty as Hardie plays the ball on the floor while off his feet.
6 min Russell misses touch, somehow with a simple kick and Italy run it back. Haimona chips and Sarto gathers, then the fly-half finds a great touch on the left with his second kick, 10 metres from the Scotland line.
5 min A counter-offer to Simon McMahon: cocktails on me if/when this finishes 0-0. Scotland get the penalty at the scrum as Cittadini, who is up against Dickinson, not Nel, collapses it.
4 min Looked like an early engagement by Italy to me but Peyper lets it go. Scotland drive the scrum back a long way but Italy retain possession and carry it down the left. They get up into the Scotland half but then knock it when trying some neat short passing.
3 min That’s three knock-ons in under two minutes. That doesn’t bode well.
2 min First scrum of the day and we get the rather tasty clash between Cittadini and Nel. It’s a very solid scrum and eventually Scotland get slow ball. They spin it infield and Bennett immediately spills it on halfway.
“Sorry about that,” writes Simon McMahon. “Let’s make it interesting, shall we? Cocktails, yes. But only after a Scotland / Ireland double.”
Peeeeeep! TMO enthusiast and Andres Iniesta lookalike Jaco Peyper blows his whistle and Kelly Haimona, in his white shirt and blue shirts (same as the rest of his team), gets the game under way. He kicks to the 22 where Bellini grabs it but knocks the ball forward. Scotland play through the advantage and go left, looking to run it through Taylor. They’re unable to make any ground so Laidlaw kicks high and Haimona knocks on near halfway.
Updated
And all emotional momentum disappears up the backside of an advert for Autotrader #ITAvSCO
— Carolyn Hitt (@carolyn_hitt) February 27, 2016
Anthems are done. Also Sale have taken the lead against Saracens thanks to three Danny Cipriani penalties.
It does appear that our auto-update thingy isn’t working. Which means there’s every chance you’re not seeing this. In any case, we know and the clever people are working to fix it.
As the players head out on to the pitch, Simon McMahon writes. The two events are unrelated.
“Afternoon Dan. Its been said that we’re currently living in the Silver Age of cocktails, so called because of the resurgence of interest in mixed drinks, and a nod to the Golden Age of the 1920s, which also happens to be the last time Scotland won a match in the Six Nations. Or at least it feels like it. Anyway, cocktails on me if there’s a super over.”
At last a cha- oh god damn it McMahon.
Late change to the Scotland team
Again. Ryan Wilson replaces David Denton at No8 with Josh Strauss taking his place on the bench.
In the Premiership Saracens have recovered from conceding three tries in the opening 15 minutes to lead 22-17 at Sale at the start of the second half. If they can hang on they’ll be the first visitors to win at the AJ Bell Stadium since April last year.
“Typical Scotland, eh?” begins Scotland fan Derek Robertson. “Just a few, short months ago we were one lineout away from defeating the Aussies – the Aussies! – and a place in World Cup semis. Lose today and were staring at yet another wooden spoon (how many in the last ten years?) and demoralising series of defeats characterised by ‘so near, yet so far’. Is there any other sporting nation so adept at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (and progress)? My nerves can’t take it anymore, so I’m wandering the canals of Amsterdam in the sun and drinking coffee in terraces. See you on the other side.”
In terms of snatching defeat from victory, I know Derek didn’t spend the 90s and early 2000s watching the England cricket team. As for the number of wooden spoons, it’s 33 overall, four in the Six Nations era and three in the last decade.
“It’s bound to be better than yesterday,” reckons Robin Hazelhurst, “as at least one team will try, even if unsuccessfully, to do some attacking (Italy picking Haimona does not fill me with hope). France tried driving the lineout a lot and Wales demonstrated all the imagination of a WWI general yesterday. Scotland may panic and eff up whenever they get a hint of white paint but at least they’ll have a go. Maybe. Please God, else it could be a bit dire.”
Yes I reckon we’re relying on Scotland to try and play today. Yesterday’s game was utter, utter dross. Neither team turned up and Wayne Barnes was his usual self.
Scotland’s last win in the Six Nations, and indeed their only win in their last 14 matches, was this very fixture two years ago. They’ve beaten Italy in five of their last six encounters – the exception being the defeat at Murrayfield in 2015 – whereas the hosts haven’t actually won at home since beating Samoa in 2014. All pointing to an away win then.
ITV have done it again. I’m 6’4” and whenever I’ve stood next to Martin Bayfield felt very, very short.
Weather watch
It’s sunny at the moment in Rome, as far as I can tell. That’s not expected to last though.
Preamble
Afternoon, folks. It might be too early to call this a wooden spoon decider – at least certain idiots who said Scotland can win the Six Nations hope so – but it is fair to say that whoever loses is going to amplify their critics even further. Scotland’s Brave New Dawn can surely not take a 10th straight Six Nations defeat, while Italy – who upset the Scots at Murrayfield last year in the midst of an otherwise atrocious tournament – will surely not have a better chance to win a match this year than here in Rome.
To be blunt, I’m getting fed up of writing the same damn preamble for Scotland matches. Played well, attractive rugby, unable to get over the finishing line etc. I’m not saying they should take a scorched-earth approach and sack Vern Cotter and his entire cohort, but you would forgive their fans for wondering why they bother any more.
As for Italy, they should have beaten France. They shouldn’t have been utterly thrashed by a decent-but-no-better England. If they lose at home to a team for whom victory is anathema then, after 16 years, there seems to be little point to having them in the northern hemisphere’s premier competition.
Scotland have made one change from the team that lost in Wales: Tim Visser returns from injury and so takes Sean Lamont’s place, becoming the third wing-partner to Tommy Seymour in as many matches this tournament. Italy take out the dependable Luke McLean and the exciting Gonzalo Canna and replace them with the thoroughly mediocre David Odiete and the even-worse Kelly Haimona. Good god this could be worse than Wales v France.
Kick-off for what is sure to be a thriller is at 2.25pm GMT, or 3.35pm local time in Rome.
The teams
Italy
D Odiete (Mogliano); L Sarto (Zebre), M Campagnaro (Exeter), G García (Zebre), M Bellini (Petrarca); K Haimona (Zebre), E Gori (Treviso); A Lovotti (Zebre), L Ghiraldini (Leicester), L Cittadini (Wasps), M Fuser (Wasps), J Furno (Newcastle), F Minto (Treviso), A Zanni (Treviso), S Parisse (capt, Stade Français).
Replacements D Giazzon, M Zanusso, M Castrogiovanni, V Bernabo, A van Schalkwyk, G Palazzani, E Padovani, A Pratichetti
Scotland
S Hogg (Glasgow); T Seymour (Glasgow), M Bennett (Glasgow), D Taylor (Saracens), T Visser (Harlequins); F Russell (Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Gloucester, capt); A Dickinson (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), W Nel (Edinburgh), R Gray (Toulouse), J Gray (Glasgow), J Barclay (Scarlets), J Hardie (Edinburgh), D Denton (Bath) R Wilson (Glasgow).
Replacements S McInally (Edinburgh), R Sutherland (Edinburgh), M Low (Exeter), T Swinson (Glasgow), R Wilson (Glasgow) J Strauss (Glasgow), S Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh), P Horne (Glasgow), S Lamont (Glasgow).
Referee Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
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