Scotland player ratings vs Italy | Six Nations 2022
Scotland avoided any potential banana skin with a bonus point victory in Rome, further extending the hosts’ winless Six Nations run in the process.
A double from Chris Harris plus tries from his centre partner Sam Johnson, wing Darcy Graham and captain Stuart Hogg sealed victory.
As is usually the case for Scotland in Rome, Gregor Townsend’s side didn’t have it all their own way and had to withstand a late fightback from the home side.
In the end, it was a second win of the championship but Scotland will have to be much better to threaten Ireland in Dublin next weekend.
Here’s how the visitors side stacked up.
15. Stuart Hogg – 7.5
Unable to stop Bruno getting offload away for Italy’s first try but little he could do as Capuozzo stepped for his debut score. In attack, the captain showed his counter-attack threat in the build-up to Scotland’s opener and the bonus point score. Deserved his try.
14 Darcy Graham – 7.5
Two excellent touches in the build-up to Johnson’s try and ran a lovely inside line to score his own try, wrapping up the bonus point.
Monty Ioane loves a hit on Darcy Graham ??#ITAvSCO #guinnesssixnations pic.twitter.com/xq7cwI0zKb
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 12, 2022
13. Chris Harris – 8
Made two half breaks before showing great work-rate to collect Steyn’s chip and score his fourth international try. Finished a well-crafted team move for his fifth Scotland try.
12. Sam Johnson – 7
Marked his return with a well-taken try to open Scotland’s account. Otherwise kept quiet with Scotland often opting to kick.
11. Kyle Steyn – 6.5
In for Duhan van der Merwe, made a solid defensive read on Bruno early before finding Harris with a pin-point kick. Will be disappointed to be beaten by Bruno as Italy scored but did well to stop namesake Braam Steyn late on.
10. Finn Russell – 7.5
Some great touches – including a trademark wide pass for Johnson’s try – but will have been relieved to see his intercepted pass go unpunished.
You will never tire of that Italian passion! ??#ITAvSCO #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/Zl1T0XR22t
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 12, 2022
9. Ali Price – 8.5
His best showing of the championship so far, with a well-read interception for Harris to score. His excellent break and pass put Hogg away for the visitors’ fifth try.
1. Pierre Schoeman – 7.5
Put former Edinburgh colleague Ceccarelli under pressure at the scrum. A big shift with nine tackles too.
2. George Turner – 7.5
A barnstorming carry led to the opening try, making amends for a needless penalty for flying off his feet. A good jackal penalty too.
3. Zander Fagerson – 6.5
Put Fischetti under pressure at the scrum, giving Scotland a good platform for Harris’ second try. Five carries and eight tackles in his 60 minutes.
4. Sam Skinner – 6.5
A quiet afternoon for the Exeter man. One lineout steal towards the end the stand-out moment. Also added five tackles and the same number of carries.
5. Grant Gilchrist – 7
Does a lot of the unseen work, often carrying into heavy traffic. Got Scotland front-foot ball and added 12 tackles
6. Rory Darge – 7.5
Scotland’s best player against France showed his breakdown threat again. Won two excellent jackal penalties and also added 13 tackles.
7. Hamish Watson – 7
Back in the team after missing defeat to France, and once more led the defensive effort with 17 tackles. Kept quiet at the breakdown.
8. Matt Fagerson – 8
Back from an ankle injury and maintained his good form. Won two good turnovers as Italy attacked and threw himself into contact in close quarters. Add to that 12 tackles in 60 minutes and the Glasgow man will be pleased with his return.
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Stuart McInally – 6
On for the final 20 minutes to replace Turner, but unable to have the same impact as the man he replaced.
17. Allan Dell – 6
Has slipped down the pecking order since his last cap in 2020, but was given the final 20 minutes on his return. Won a breakdown penalty.
18. WP Nel – 6
Another cap for the veteran tighthead, but doesn’t have the same impact around the field as Fagerson. Solid at the set-piece.
19. Jamie Hodgson – 5
On for the final five minutes for Skinner. Unable to make a real impression on the game.
20. Magnus Bradbury – 6.5
The Bristol-bound number eight given the final quarter of an hour, replacing Fagerson. One big carry got Scotland out of danger in the closing stages.
21. Ben Vellacott – 6.5
Has had a fine season since joining Edinburgh and won his first cap, replacing Price for the final five minutes. It felt an ideal opportunity to give him more game-time at Test level, but he upped the tempo in a lively cameo.
22. Adam Hastings – 5
A poor read as debutant Capuozzo crossed for his second try.
23. Sione Tuipulotu – 5
A starter in the last two games, he came on for Johnson in the closing stages.
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments