I’m now heading over to France v Wales, which kicks off in 20 minutes. We will continue to remember Dan Lucas, who would have so enjoyed that hard-fought, whole-hearted game. I will leave the final word here with Dan’s girlfriend, Liz. Thank you all for joining me.
@niallmcveigh thank you, and all of Dan's MBM readers, for your beautiful tributes. It means so much x
— Elizabeth Aubrey (@aubrey_writes) March 18, 2017
Full time: Scotland 29-0 Italy
Italy make a late push for the line, but like all of their other efforts, it falls short. A knock-on brings the final whistle.
The scoreline doesn’t truly reflect the play, but Scotland have got what they set out for – a bonus point win, and a chance at finishing second in the table.
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78 mins: Finn Russell is deservedly named man of the match. The scoreline would be nothing like as one-sided without his contribution.
77 mins: Vern Cotter allows himself a smile, his time as Scotland head coach ending with a bonus-point win, a likely shutout and a full house at Murrayfield.
75 mins: Change for Scotland, with replacement Matt Scott having to go off with an injury. Duncan Weir takes his place, with Russell switching to 12. Federico Ruzza is on for Italy, replacing George Biagi.
TRY: Scotland 29-0 Italy (Seymour)
Scotland have their bonus point, and in fine style. After moving through the phases slowly, deliberately even, Pyrgos flings the ball right to Russell, who finds Hogg. The full back’s pass out to Tommy Seymour leaves Italy with no chance, and he steams down the right flank to score. Russell kicks the conversion.
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69 mins: Italy manage to wrestle the ball back, but Scotland win the resulting line-out. A fourth try, one more than they managed against Ireland (and, indeed, England) feels like an inevitability.
67 mins: Scotland’s refreshed pack are finding it easier to make headway now, as they search for a fourth try...
65 mins: There’s a Mexican wave going around Murrayfield as Scotland make two front-row changes. Ross Ford and Zander Fagerson are off, replaced by Fraser Brown and Simon Berghan.
63 mins: Scotland now have just over 15 minutes to grab a bonus point. Italy look totally deflated after conceding that third try; they must wonder how they are still scoreless.
TRY: Scotland 22-0 Italy (Visser)
From the restart, Scotland work the ball left, and Hogg splits the defence with a cute kick forward. Visser and Russell chase it down, the former getting a crucial hand to it and after a TMO referral, the try is awarded. Russell kicks the conversion.
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60 mins: Russell orchestrates another move upfield, before play stops for George Biagi to receive treatment. John Barclay is back on the field after his yellow card.
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58 mins: Scotland need two more tries to get a bonus-point win, and a chance at finishing second. They’ve offered nothing going forward in this half, their first foray forward ending as Italy turn the ball over.
57 mins: Scotland advance downfield thanks to two delicate kicks from Finn Russell, who has stood out so far in a scrappy game. Two more Scottish replacements, Tim Swinson and Allan Dell on for Gilchrist and Gordon Reid.
@niallmcveigh Gonna miss Dan's great commentary. He even reminded us to grab a cuppa between breathtaking games on days like today. RIP Dan
— Damien (@DJMcKayy) March 18, 2017
55 mins: Italy win the line-out, but they lose possession as Dunbar strips the ball from Parisse. It goes left to Visser, who kicks clear before tangling awkwardly with the touch judge.
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54 mins: Scotland’s scrum is rock-solid close to their own try-line, and Hogg is able to relieve the pressure with a kick to touch. Changes for both teams: Minto and Violi are on for Mbanda and Gori, while for Scotland, Henry Pyrgos replaces scrum-half Ali Price.
52 mins: Italy just cannot score – but you have to give credit to the Scottish forwards, who somehow stop another maul inches from the line. Italy’s backs have to take responsibility as another move to the right goes awry, Esposito tackled by Hogg and the rebound landing in Scottish hands.
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50 mins: Ryan Wilson, who suffered an early injury, is replaced at number eight by Cornell du Preez. Gilchrist concedes another penalty, and Italy remain camped close to the Scottish line.
@niallmcveigh Dan's coverage was my favourite way to follow the rugby - always made me laugh. My condolences to his family and friends.
— Sarah Stephens (@wanderingstar04) March 18, 2017
49 mins: From an Italian scrum, Barclay is warned that the next Scottish transgression will lead to a yellow card. Remarkably, it’s the captain himself who commits it. Barclay is sent to the sin bin, and their tough start to the second half gets worse.
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48 mins: Italy are held up on the Scottish line for an awfully long time, before Gori switches the play with a terrific pass to the right. Italy must score, but Padovani’s pass is behind Esposito, and the winger is held up by Hogg. Italy just cannot get on the board.
46 mins: Gilchrist tackles his man in the air, and needs treatment after an awkward landing. Another kick into the corner as Italy keep the pressure on.
45 mins: From the Italian lineout, Parisse drives his team forward and they win a penalty – but it’s kicked to the corner, with Canna’s confidence in shreds.
43 mins: Hogg spills Padovani’s kick, but Russell darts back to collect. Scotland are pinned close to their own try-line, and Hogg slices it into touch.
41 mins: Italy have made two front-row changes: Dario Chistolini and Leonardo Ghiraldini are on in place of Gega and Lorenzo Cittadini.
Second half
The sun has come out at Murrayfield.
“Dan was one of those who made sport enjoyable and engaging without the need for visual backup. He brought it all to life with words, and made all of us welcome. I take my hat off to him” – Andrew Benton
“The Guardian’s pages became one of my go-to places to ‘watch’ sport, increasingly even when I had access to other media. There is a sense of community here and Dan Lucas will be greatly missed. Terribly sad” – Chris Howell
“Dan will be hugely missed by this reader for sure. His MBM and OBO outputs were always fantastic; to do this sort of written broadcasting well is actually very hard indeed. I like that he was as funny, engaging and pleasant in person as he was on the screen, but he was also very very good at his job. Sad news indeed” – Felix Wood
“For me, Dan was a godsend for both rugby and cricket. These were both sports in which I am a bit of a ‘casual’, as I only regularly watch international games. he intricacies of the respective sports were and will continue to be beyond me. But with Dan, I always felt like I was an expert. While he is certainly irreplaceable, his memory will live on” – Patrick Green
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Here are more of your wonderful tributes to Dan, starting with Guy Hornsby:
“Today’s a day of mixed emotions for many of us: a grandstand finale of this glorious tournament, but coloured with sadness from losing one of our own. It feels desperately unfair that Dan isn’t here on these pages, his irreverent and quick-witted prose inviting us amateurs to the party, for surely this was a Saturday made for him.
“As many have said, the MBM and OBO is a community, and I feel lucky to have met a few of you in the flesh over the years. Dan was top of my list to snare for a pint, so it seems surreal, and hugely saddening that it won’t happen. So for me, today is Dan’s day, and I hope to toast an England victory later in his honour. I’m sure many of us feel the same way. My heart goes out to his nearest and dearest. We’ll miss him dearly.”
Half time: Scotland 15-0 Italy
After a slow start, tries from Finn Russell and Matt Scott have put Scotland in control at Murrayfield, with Italy’s Carlo Canna missing three penalties as his team remain scoreless.
42 mins: The Scottish defence hold on for two minutes of additional time, Italy keeping the ball moving but not making any progress – until Canna and Gega work an opening on the left, and force a penalty.
This is a much tougher kick than the two Canna has missed – 40 metres away, close to the left touchline. He misses this one too, again sending it wide of the left post.
39 mins: Hogg’s clearing kick is scuffed, allowing Parisse to trap it under his boot and start a final Italian attack in this first half. Biagi is stopped in his tracks, but Italy inch into the Scottish 22...
TRY: Scotland 15-0 Italy (Scott)
Italy are penalised, but Scotland make use of the advantage, Russell sending a speculative kick into the corner. Hogg spills it backwards, but Matt Scott is on hand to touch down. Russell misses a tricky conversion.
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36 mins: Italy lineout, but the pressure tells and Price wins possession. Hamish Watson and substitute Scott drive the ball forward...
34 mins: Venditti is again uncertain under a high ball, and Scotland have a lineout. Nobody can gather in the ball, and an exchange of kicks follows – but Hogg wrestles momentum back Scotland’s way with an expert diagonal kick.
32 mins: It’s another dreadful miss from Canna, this time sending the ball across the posts and wide, on a day with hardly any breeze. Conor O’Shea looks rueful. This feels like the first half at Twickenham, when Italy didn’t get the points their play deserved.
31 mins: The referee stops play and consults the TMO, Gray penalised for obstructing Parisse. Penalty for Italy, 30 yards out but central...
30 mins: After a stuttering start, and bearing in mind the heavy defeat at Twickenham, Scotland finally have a spring in their step, and Venditti is forced into a hurried clearance under pressure.
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“I loved reading Dan’s coverage of the rugby, I really enjoyed his live blogs,” says Brownyn Molony. “He will be sorely missed by all his readers.”
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TRY: Scotland 10-0 Italy (Russell)
Scotland win the lineout before Barclay barrels to within inches of the line. Italy’s defence hold firm by their left corner, and again under the posts, but Dunbar shows great hands to move the ball wide to Russell, who slides over in the opposite corner, then kicks his own conversion.
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26 mins: Scotland were awarded a penalty in the melee before Russell’s kick, and the fly-half kicks to the corner. Jones was injured racing for the line, and has to come off. He’s replaced by Gloucester’s Matt Scott.
25 mins: ...Gray and Ford add bulk to this Scottish attack, now rumbling beyond 20 phrases. Jones finds a gap, but slips on the turf in sight of the try-line. Scotland run out of patience, and Russell chips across to Visser, the wing spilling the ball as he tries to collect.
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24 mins: Scotland’s backs finally get involved, Huw Jones sidestepping a challenge. Scotland work through the phases, being careful with the ultra-slippery ball...
22 mins: Pascal Gauzere has a word with both captains and reminds them to keep their discipline. Braam Steyn is the latest to be penalised, for a push.
20 mins: It’s a really poor kick from Canna, out to the left but from a distance that should have made it routine. He skews it wide to the left, and Italy haven’t made the most of their momentum.
19 mins: Gori’s chipped kick causes havoc in the Scottish defence, and after an Italian knock-on is missed by the referee, Italy force a penalty, just inside the 22.
@niallmcveigh Still shocked that I'm not chatting with Dan today. Rest in peace man. We'll not forget you.
— John Rogers (@JohnRogersShow) March 18, 2017
17 mins: ...Italy win it and Lovotti leads the charge deep into Scottish territory – but Scotland and Fagerson stay strong, and win a pressure-relieving penalty.
16 mins: Another ragged lineout from Italy, but they are making headway in mauls, and Canna’s precise kick sets up an opportunity...
14 mins: After a couple of false starts, Zander Fagerson is penalised as the Scottish scrum gives way. Both sides are struggling with their set pieces early on.
13 mins: Nigel Owens, the touch judge, steps in to award a Scottish scrum, close to the Italian 22, for Venditti’s knock-on.
12 mins: Hogg sees a clearing kick charged down, presenting Italy with an attacking opportunity – but Scotland win the lineout and Russell clears. Conditions out there are slippery, and Venditti drops the high ball.
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10 mins: From the lineout, replacement Gilchrist is penalised for collapsing the maul. Italy penalty, which sets up a lineout, which is messy once again. Scotland penalty, which Russell kicks to touch, keeping the pressure on Italy.
8 mins: Another Italian lineout, but it’s ragged, and Scotland are awarded a scrum in midfield. The ball is worked to Russell, who kicks low to touch, forcing Italy into another lineout.
@niallmcveigh lovely words from familiar names I've gotten 2 know through Dan. I'll miss you brother. Cheers 4 everything Dan. RIPDan
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) March 18, 2017
6 mins: There’s a stoppage in play as Ryan Wilson gets treatment for a shoulder problem. Play restarts with an Italian line-out, and a maul makes good ground for the visitors. Gori sends a looping kick forward, but Ali Price collects, and calls a mark.
Scotland 3-0 Italy (Hogg penalty)
The penalty is beyond the range of Finn Russell – but Stuart Hogg steps up and delivers a perfect kick, considering the conditions.
3 mins: The Italian scrum has a slight weight advantage on the Scottish pack, helped by second-rower George Biagi – an Italy international born in Irvine, Ayrshire. Scotland totally dominate the first scrum, and force an early penalty.
The first half is under way
1 min: An early exchange of kicks at a damp Murrayfield, Canna and Padovani failing to find touch before a knock-on leads to a Scotland scrum.
The anthems are ringing around Murrayfield, which is sold out for an Italian visit for the first time. Kick-off is approaching, but please do keep your tributes to Dan coming in.
We’re 10 minutes or so away from kick-off. Italy are guaranteed to finish with the wooden spoon, but Scotland could finish anywhere from second to fifth – and a surprise defeat could be bad news for their world ranking, with the World Cup draw coming up. It is of course also Vern Cotter’s last match in charge of Scotland, with Glasgow’s Gregor Townsend taking over after this Six Nations campaign.
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This is lovely, from Robin Hazlehurst:
“For many of us the MBM is like a pub, where you drop in to watch the match and chat with your mates. It’s unbelievable to think that Dan’s stool at the bar will be empty for today’s matches. It won’t be the same without him. He always interacted with readers like a true gent and a genuine mate, even emailing back about things on occasion, and debating keenly in the commentary.
“Although I am looking forward to today’s matches and expect to enjoy them, that enjoyment will be very much tinged by Dan’s absence. A terrible loss for us readers, but I can only extend my deepest condolences for those of you who actually knew him and were close to him.”
“Like many others who only ever knew Dan through his writing and in particular his work for the Guardian, I’ll miss him” says Simon McMahon. “He felt like a friend. Cheers, Dan.”
Here are today’s teams. Richie Gray was ruled out yesterday with a hamstring problem; he’s replaced by Edinburgh’s Grant Gilchrist.
Scotland: Hogg, Seymour, Jones, Dunbar, Visser, Russell, Price; Reid, Ford, Fagerson, Gilchrist, J Gray, Barclay (c), Watson, Wilson.
Replacements: Brown, Berghan, Du Preez, Weir, Dell, Swinson, Pyrgos, Scott.
Italy: Padovani, Esposito, Benvenuti, McLean, Venditti, Canna, Gori; Lovotti, Gega, Cittadini, Fuser, Biagi, Mbanda, Steyn, Parisse (c).
Replacements: Ghiraldini, Panico, Chistolini, van Schalkwyk, Ruzza, Minto, Violi, Sperandio.
Referee: Pascal Gauzere.
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Preamble
As many of you will already be aware, our colleague Dan Lucas suddenly and shockingly passed away last weekend.
In recent years, Dan helmed the Guardian rugby union MBMs, including the Six Nations and World Cup, and did so with his trademark dry humour, encyclopaedic knowledge of the game and an innate ability to make readers feel part of the story. He covered virtually every game in this year’s tournament. He should be typing this preamble.
Dan’s passing has led to an outpouring of affection from readers, in part because he built a remarkable relationship with them. Many of you will have conversed, joked and debated with Dan through his fantastic live coverage. Those of us who met him will attest that Dan was every bit as warm, honest and intelligent in person as he always seemed in his writing.
Dan and I began on the sport desk at the same time. We shared a mutual excitement for the opportunity we had been given; he became my friend as well as my colleague. He had an incredible enthusiasm for everything he did, and was happy to discuss anything from Manchester City’s best formation to the worst of 90s indie. I’m going to miss him terribly, and I know many of you will too.
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