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The Independent UK

World

Tom Kershaw

Blair Kinghorn hat-trick seals dominant Six Nations win for Scotland against lacklustre Italy

Winger Blair Kinghorn scored a hat-trick of tries and pivot Finn Russell provided decisive moments of genius as Scotland got their Six Nations campaign off to a winning start with a 33-20 victory over Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Scotland scored five tries to three for Italy for a deserved win, headlined by Kinghorn's three scores but inspired by Russell's clever touches, both out of the hands and with the boot.

They let a 31-3 lead slip in the final 10 minutes after Simon Berghan was yellow carded and Italy took advantage of the one-man advantage to score through Guglielmo Palazzani, Edoardo Padovani and Angelo Esposito to give some late gloss to the Italy score.

Stuart Hogg got Scotland's third try, although television replays cast doubt on its veracity, and substitute Chris Harris went over for their fifth.

Reuters

Relive all the action below.

2019-02-02T09:21:55.020Z

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of today's Six Nations clash between Scotland and Italy, brought to you from Murrayfield.

With the game due to kick-off at 2:15pm, we'll begin our full coverage just after 1pm to build-up towards the match as well as look back on a frantic opening affair in Paris as Wales defeated France.

2019-02-02T13:39:28.613Z

There are just 45 minutes to go until Scotland open their Six Nations campaign at Murrayfield.

Italy haven't defeated Scotland since 2015, but came just a whisker away when the pair last met in March - Greig Laidlaw's 79th-minute penalty edging the Scots to a 29-27 victory in Rome.

2019-02-02T13:41:41.650Z

2019-02-02T13:43:04.170Z

2019-02-02T13:45:27.060Z

Australian-born Sam Johnson makes his debut for Scotland today, having qualified for the national team through residency last summer.

2019-02-02T13:46:31.346Z

Uncapped Scotland trio named in Scotland team to face Italy

2019-02-02T13:53:55.000Z

Does this year's Six Nations take on less importance with the World Cup in Japan coming later in the year? Quite the opposite.

Why the Six Nations is still bigger than all the rest

2019-02-02T13:58:55.000Z

Scottish talisman Greig Laidlaw is calling on last year's thrilling win in Rome for inspiration ahead of today's game:

I vividly remember being under the posts after they scored and saying, 'This is exactly how we're going to play for the next 20 minutes and this is how we are going to win this game'. Everyone stuck to the plan and, ultimately, that's how it panned out.

2019-02-02T14:06:40.680Z

Here's a reminder of today's line-ups starting with the hosts:

Scotland: 15-Stuart Hogg, 14-Tommy Seymour, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Sam Johnson, 11-Blair Kinghorn; 10-Finn Russell, 9-Greig Laidlaw; 1-Allan Dell, 2-Stuart McInally, 3-Willem Nel, 4-Ben Toolis, 5-Grant Gilchrist, 6-Sam Skinner, 7-Jamie Ritchie, 8-Ryan Wilson.

Replacements: 16-Jake Kerr, 17-Jamie Bhatti, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Gary Graham, 20-Josh Strauss, 21-Ali Price, 22-Adam Hastings, 23-Chris Harris.

2019-02-02T14:07:01.040Z

Italy: 15-Jayden Hayward, 14-Angelo Esposito, 13-Luca Morisi, 12-Tommaso Castello, 11-Michele Campagnaro; 10-Tommaso Allan, 9-Tito Tebaldi; 1-Andrea Lovotti, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Simone Ferrari, 4-David Sisi, 5-Dean Budd, 6-Sebastian Negri, 7-Braam Steyn, 8-Sergio Parisse.

Replacements: 16-Luca Bigi, 17-Cherif Traore, 18-Tiziano Pasquali, 19-Jimmy Tuivaiti, 20-Federico Ruzza, 21-Guglielmo Palazzani, 22-Ian McKinley, 23-Edoardo Padovani.

2019-02-02T14:15:19.573Z

The national anthems are playing. We're just moments away.

2019-02-02T14:17:45.910Z

KICK-OFF: We're underway!

2019-02-02T14:21:07.070Z

2': And Scotland get off to a brilliant start. Italy's fumble frees up a charge from Stuart Hogg and Greig Laidlaw's kick is shinned into touch. A line-out for Scotland on the Italian 5m line.

2019-02-02T14:24:20.266Z

3': Ryan Wilson collects from the lineout and Scotland pile towards the try line. Grant Gilchrist thinks he's scored but the TMO awards a penalty to Italy. Double movement.

2019-02-02T14:29:30.756Z

6': Italy have barely had a touch of the ball so far and this time it's Blair Kinghorn who skips past his opposite number and into space. Tommaso Allan runs across to cover and Stuart Hogg is penalised for not releasing the ball. They've not had a look in so far, but the Italians defence is holding strong.

2019-02-02T14:33:25.883Z

Scotland 0-3 Italy

10': But against the run of play, it's Italy who break their duck first.

Full-back Jayden Hayward's kick forward breaks Scotland's pressure and Jamie Ritchie is penalised for a low tackle on Sergio Parisse.

Tommaso Allan makes no mistake.

2019-02-02T14:37:50.900Z

Scotland 5-3 Italy

13': But Scotland bonce back immediately!

Italy squander the loose ball in their own 22 and Finn Russell spots Blair Kinghorn in acres of space on the left wing, who strolls over the line unchallenged. Sloppy defending from the Italians, but lovely vision from Russell.

It's a tricky conversion though and Laidlaw drags a fraction wide.

2019-02-02T14:39:35.466Z

2019-02-02T14:42:05.023Z

19': The pace settles slightly with a number of scrums, but Scotland clearly have the upper hand.

Moments later and Laidlaw tries to recreate the move which conjured the first try. His diagonal kick is covered by Hayward this time though, but then Tommaso Castello knocks on. It'll be a scrum to Scotland on the five-metre line.

2019-02-02T14:45:44.306Z

TRY! Scotland 12-3 Italy (Kinghorn)

21': Kinghorn adds his second. A series of passes whiz down the line, reaching the gleeful 22-year-old, who dives over the line in almost exactly the same position.

Take two, and Laidlaw makes no mistake this time.