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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gordon Parks

Scotland salvage Six Nations pride as Chris Harris leads five try destruction of Italy

Scotland salvaged some Six Nations respectability with a five try destruction of Italy in Rome.

Gregor Townsend 's side recovered from back-to-back defeats to Wales and France to extend the Azzurri's losing streak in the Championship to a record 36 games.

Two Chris Harris tries combined with Sam Johnson, Darcy Graham and Stuart Hogg scores to get their campaign back to winning ways ahead of the Championship curtain closer against Ireland in Dublin next weekend.

Scotland made five changes to the side beaten by Les Bleus as Ali Price won his 50th cap while Kyle Steyn was handed his first Six Nations start as he replaced the suspended Duhan van der Merwe on the wing.

One of the curses for the dark blues in this campaign has been a lack of discipline which again on show at the Stade Olimpico and an early offside allowed to fire over the first points for Italy courtesy of a Paolo Garbisi penalty in front of the posts.

It was all too sloppy from Townsend's men, basic errors and conceding cheap points encouraged the hosts to seize a foothold in the game. Italy put the squeeze on the Scots in an opening where they carried a far greater ambition and attacking intent but that was to change in the 18th minute as Price ignited the contest with a searing burst which brought the first try.

The playmaker burst through the middle before feeding Darcy Graham who released Sam Johnson who dived over in the corner.

Finn Russell was off-target with the conversion but it was a score of such power, pace and invention that, at a stroke, Scotland were sparked into life.

A second try arrived in the 22nd minute and again Price was at the heart of it with a superb intercept which carried him into the Italian half before playing in Steyn who's kick forward was gobbled up by Harris who finished off a clinical move.

This was a ruthless execution of Italian mistakes and a million miles removed from the opportunity squandering display a fortnight ago in a hammering against France.

Italy replied with a try of their own on the half hour mark which came through Pierre Bruno's bustling run at the Scottish line before offloading to Callum Braley who dived over and Garbisi converted to take the score to 10-12.

Harris helped himself to another try three minutes from the break when he finished off a flowing move after a period of sustained pressure with the Italian defence starting to buckle and Russell converted to cushion their lead to nine points.

(PA)

Scotland extended that lead eight minutes after the restart and it was the dancing feet of Darcy Graham after gathering a Russell pass to twist and turn his way through several Italian tackles and the dark blues were edging out of sight as Russell banged the conversion between the posts.

It was also a moment which took the wind from Italian sails and their record of failing to score any second half points in their campaign remained intact when Garbisi screwed a straightforward penalty wide of the posts.

Hogg added a fourth try on the hour mark as the inspired Price threw wide to his skipper who accelerated over and Scotland were 33-10 ahead after Russell added the extras.

Italy managed to break their second-half hoodoo 14 minutes from time as a period of concerted pressure paid off as Ange Capuozzo touched down and Garbisi's conversion closed Scotland's advantage to 16 points.

That margin was squeezed further as Capuozzo scored an added time try and Garbisi missed the conversion in the last act as Scotland racked up a fifth successive win over the Italians in Rome.

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