Scotland make it five straight wins for only the second time in the pro era, but only after surviving Italian scare
Scotland were given a fright in Florence before they recovered to claim a 28-17 win over Italy in their Autumn Nations Cup opener. Gregor Townsend’s team made it five straight victories for only the second time in the professional era but for an hour that run looked under serious threat.
The hosts have lost 27 straight Six Nations games but it appeared they might be about to start this one-off tournament with a shock victory after Matteo Minozzi’s stunning try capped off a brilliant first-half display.
Paolo Garbisi contributed twelve points but things dried up after the break and Scotland – who scored the afternoon’s opening try through Duhan van der Merwe – were able to see out victory with further scores from Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings and George Turner.
Duncan Weir, a boyhood Rangers fan, was making his first start in four years for the national team at the scene of the Light Blues’ famous 2008 UEFA Cup win over Fiorentina as he replaced injured stand-offs Finn Russell and Adam Hastings.
The little No10 was just as lethal as his footballing hero Nacho Novo as he contributed eight points with his boot – although he was denied a dream try on his return to Townsend’s line-up by a forward pass.
A lot has changed behind the scenes in Scottish rugby in the last 12 months, and it had to
– writes @JLyall93 ??? #ITAvSCO #AutumnNationsCup https://t.co/RIVEZ1R41o
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 13, 2020
Scotland’s long-awaited Six Nations win in Wales a fortnight ago was built on the brutality and dominance of their front eight but their pack toiled in Tuscany during the opening 40 minutes as Italy’s pragmatic approach left the visitors trapped in their own half.
Two early Garbisi penalties were scant reward for just how authoritative the Azzurri were in the opening 20 minutes. Scotland were forced to concede a free-kick and a penalty from the opening two scrum contests before being put into reverse gear at the third as they were driven back a good ten yards by the rampaging Italian forwards.
That was perhaps explained by the sight of prop Rory Sutherland limping off injured soon after but it was clear Townsend’s team were not going to get the comfortable afternoon they had been expecting. Scotland did eventually get a foothold in opposition territory as Stuart Hogg twice turned down the posts to pin Italy back in the corner.
The decision paid off after 24 minutes with the opening try. Italy were forced to drag down the lineout maul and, with penalty advantage in their pocket, Scotland bundled somewhat haphazardly through a series of scrappy collisions before van der Merwe pulled off the wing to charge through a gap and put them on the board.
Weir’s conversion nudged them ahead but only for two minutes as the hosts hit back with a stunner. Marco Zanon steamrollered over the top of Weir in dismissive fashion before Marcello Violi and Mattia Bellini pin-balled some rapid offloads around Chris Harris and Hogg before Minozzi dived over to complete a classic score. Garbisi’s conversion, however, hit the upright.
Italy’s lead was stretched to seven points two minutes after the change of ends as Garbisi slotted another penalty. A forward pass from Sam Johnson denied Weir his comeback try moments later as the TMO intervened to alert referee Luke Pearce. But the officials could find nothing wrong with Fagerson’s touch down four minutes later as Italy inexplicably switched off to allow the prop to dawdle over the line.
A couple of brave, flat passes from Weir took Scotland into the Italian 22 but Fagerson could barely believe his luck when the hosts stopped dead as Hamish Watson’s offload from the floor deflected off Jake Polledri’s hand into his grasp and had to be told by teammates to flop over before the Azzurri came to their senses.
Weir’s conversion brought the scores level but Italy came roaring back. However, they will certainly be frustrated that they could only take another Garbisi penalty from a raid that looked so promising at one stage. Although the Italians went on to lose Polledri to injury, the Scots still had it all to do in the final quarter but a big Watson turnover was the momentum-changer they needed.
Replacement hooker Turner punctured a huge hole in the Italian defence as Cummings timed his charge perfectly to crash over the line for the decisive try. Turner then secured the bonus-point win with four minutes left as Italy’s resistance crumbled in the face of another Scottish lineout drive.
That game had it all! ?@Federugby Non era la nostra giornata. Ci riproviamo la settimana prossima! ??
??????? ? Congratulations @Scotlandteam, how far can they can go in this tournament? #IREvSCO #AutumnNationsCup pic.twitter.com/oT4fnqw4yj
— Autumn Nations Cup ? (@autumnnations) November 14, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments