1
Scotland will hope to give Vern Cotter a fond farewell when he takes charge of his last match in their final 2017 Six Nations contest on Saturday.
There was bitter disappointment for the New Zealander last time out as Scotland saw their championship hopes crumble in a 61-21 demolition at the hands of Calcutta Cup rivals England, whose victory saw them retain the title.
But a bonus-point victory against an Italy side already guaranteed to collect the wooden spoon could see them finish as high as second in the table and would provide a fitting ending for Cotter, who has helped re-establish Scotland as a real force once again in the northern hemisphere, before handing over to Gregor Townsend.
The England defeat aside, Scotland can take plenty of positives from a Six Nations campaign that has yielded fine victories over Ireland and Wales as well as a narrow defeat in France, and Italy face an uphill battle to earn a consolation triumph.
However, Conor O’Shea will be keen to ensure he chalks one up in the win column at the end of his maiden campaign as head coach and the Azzurri have taken a bold approach at times, as showcased by refusing to commit men to rucks in the loss against England.
HEAD TO HEAD
Scotland: 18
Italy: 8
Draw: 0
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016?
The relief was plain to see for Scotland in Rome 12 months ago as a 36-20 victory ended a run of nine straight Six Nations defeats.
After establishing an early 17-3 lead, Scotland were on the back foot when Leonardo Ghiraldini and Marco Fuser touched down for the hosts, but Greig Laidlaw’s nerveless kicking from the tee and a late Tommy Seymour try secured a much-needed win.
KEY PLAYERS
Alex Dunbar (Scotland)
Every Scotland player had a week to forget against England, but Dunbar in particular was out of sorts in the centre. He will be desperate to impress with time running out to earn a place on the British and Irish Lions tour.
George Biagi (Italy)
It has been a familiar story for Italy this year and not even a bonus-point win can prevent them from finishing bottom. But for Biagi, one of four Italy changes, this is a chance to impress against the country of his birth so expect to see the lock go big at the breakdowns.
THE LINE-UPS
Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Alex Dunbar, Tim Visser, Finn Russell, Ali Price; Gordon Reid, Ross Ford, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray, John Barclay (captain), Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson
WATCH | @johnbarc86 talks to us ahead of tomorrow’s @SixNationsRugby match v Italy at a sold out BT Murrayfield tomorrow! #AsOne pic.twitter.com/z20ujYdnmq
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 17, 2017
Italy: Edoardo Padovani, Angelo Esposito, Tommaso Benvenuti, Luke McLean, Giovanbattista Venditti, Carlo Canna, Edoardo Gori; Andrea Lovotti, Ornel Gega, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Fuser, George Biagi, Maxime Mbanda, Abraham Steyn, Sergio Parisse (captain).
COACH COMMENTS
Vern Cotter (Scotland): “No, they’re not allowed to [discuss one last big performance for me]. They’ve got plenty of other things to think about. First and foremost is playing for themselves and the people that support them. We would like to see them put in a great performance they can be proud of.”
Conor O’Shea (Italy): “Now is the time to invest, not only in the national team but also in…the youth academies. They need technical preparations on specific roles, mental coaches, physiotherapists, nutritionists, physiatrists, psychologists. Staff of the highest professional level.”
OPTA STATS
– Scotland have won six of their last seven games against Italy, although their one defeat in that run came at Murrayfield (2015).
– Italy have beaten Scotland eight times overall, more often than they have beaten any other tier-one nation.
– The Azzurri have won just two of 44 away games in the Six Nations, both of those wins coming at Murrayfield.
– Sergio Parisse will make his 60th Six Nations appearance should he feature in this game, equalling Martin Castrogiovanni as the most capped Italian in the competition; only Brian O’Driscoll (65) and Ronan O’Gara (63) will have played more games in the Five/Six Nations.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets 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?
10 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.
9 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.
10 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.
22 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.
9 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.
14 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 commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments