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'They beat England then they've gone quiet again. Scotland have to beat Italy'
After a promising start to the Guinness Six Nations, Scotland’s campaign has been derailed by two consecutive losses to Wales and France. They travel to Rome this weekend hoping to arrest that slump and lay the platform for a good finish to the Championship.
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Gregor Townsend has been boosted by the return of Jonny Gray this week after the lock missed the 36-17 loss to France. However, they are waiting to find out whether winger Duhan van der Merwe is available or not after he picked up a red card playing for Worcester Warriors on Saturday.
When, where and how to watch the match
The match will kick-off at 14:15 (UK) on Saturday March 12th at the Stadio Olimpico and will be broadcast live on ITV in the UK, Virgin Media in Ireland, Stan Sport in Australia and SuperSport in South Africa.
Head-to-head
Scotland have a record of 25 wins and eight losses against Italy with no draws since their first match in 1996. The Scots have won their last ten matches against Italy in all competitions, with their last loss to them coming in the 2015, which was also Italy’s last win in the Championship having now endured 35 winless matches.
Match odds from bet365
bet365 have the handicap on Scotland at +19, with 4/17 odds that they win both halves. Meanwhile, there are also 9/1 odds that Italy earn their first Six Nations win in seven years.
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Prediction
Ugo Monye, Danny Care and Chris Jones looked ahed to this match on the Rugby Union Daily podcast this week, with Monye expecting nothing but a Scotland win in light of Italy’s showing so far this Championship.
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“This has been the worst showing of an Italian team in the Six Nations,” the former British & Irish Lions winger said. “They’ve scored 16 points in three matches this Six Nations, they’re yet to score a try in the second half of any three games. This is as bad a showing of an Italian side in the Six Nations as we’ve ever seen.”
Care added: “Scotland have to beat Italy. Their fans, you would have noticed, have gone slightly back in their box after they won their one game. They beat England then they’ve gone quiet again.”
*Odds accurate as of 08/03/22.
Comments on RugbyPass
Yep, lost in translation. There are arrogant people in Ireland, yes. There are arrogant people in every country, but as a nation, arrogance is not a general characteristic. I seriously doubt that was said or meant by 12 or 13 players. Whoever said it, would have been paying Etzebeth and the Springboks a compliment for how hard fought the game was.
49 Go to commentsOne of the few Bidwell articles I can agree with. If coaches played their players through niggles and consistently played them 80mins then you could make an argument for resting protocols - they obviously don’t and are incredibly responsible, let’s give up the resting nonsense and let the boys play.
2 Go to commentsDaniel Gallan, please for the love of all that is holy, stop writing about rugby. Or at the very least stop telling people you are South African.
21 Go to commentsThis Dr.Rassie 6-2 filth is spreading. We need to ask World Rugby to ban something
1 Go to commentsPity he couldn’t call him a liar to his face, such a brave man.
49 Go to comments“You ain’t counting to 12 or 13 straight after a game, son!” Just because you don’t doesn’t mean everyone else doesn’t “I reckon if anyone said it they would have said, ‘Hopefully, see you in the final’.” Oh, you “reckon”, do you? You weren’t there, you weren’t part of the conversation but you know what was said… Id10T
49 Go to commentsNZ has such a rich history of quality number nines, and woman beaters.
1 Go to commentsThat’s what happens when you are scared of scrums
2 Go to commentsWhats interesting now is the evolution of rugby. More and more the laws are favouring the team in possession and the ball carrier. Teams can keep the ball for longer periods more than ever before with little risk and wear down defences as long as they don’t knock it on. Set pieces are seen as hindrances and as time wasting annoyances by law makers and they are being depowered as lawmakers strive for higher ball in play time. Perhaps its only natural then that teams will take a more assertive and aggressive approach in defence. An offensive defence as you said Nick. This may force errors and turnovers and help teams to break up attacking plays while providing counterattacking prospects. Perhaps we will see more and more teams adopt the blitz in the next 4 year cycle and beyond much like Gegenpress has met Tiki Taka in football. Instead of Pep and Klopp we will have Farrell and Nienaber.
25 Go to commentsArrogant entitled prick with a huge chip on its shoulder
5 Go to commentsApparently the only ppl Scotland can beat are their spouses…thank you / good night!
6 Go to commentsSo….who is Andy Goode?
49 Go to commentsEngland had to bed in their new defensive system while challenging for the 6N. The schedule allowed them to try and focus on defense for first 3 matches and then target Ireland (the pre tournament target match). A win in France would be a bonus.
1 Go to commentsJust from watching the highlights there was plenty to like and plenty to build on. Some of these boys will be Super players soon and they will benefit from the exposure. Sounds like the coaches have made a good connection with these young men.
3 Go to commentsDont know if the Irish players said it or not, but lets all be honest with ourselves, and hopefully both the Irish and French have healed by now, the Media did jump the gun, be realistic, according to 90% of the media it was a France and Ireland final, and the media had 1 of them winning the world cup, not even mentioning the All blacks? Just remember world cups are different, Australia was not the most in form cricket tean in the last cricket world cup, but they have a nack of winning when it matters. I wont go into whether what Etzabeth is saying is true, all I am saying is that its very easy for a team to get ahead of themselves due to the media. Nothing wrong with it, the media got the springboks over confident against England and we nearly lost that one.
49 Go to commentsHey Finn, Well done to the Junior Wallabies…a win is a win but it was a wet and scrappy game. Would be interesting to hear your opinion on two things from watching the game at the Not So Sunny Coast Stadium. Firstly, what is your opinion on the rule change of being able to call The Mark from a kick off and what is the reason for the change? Secondly, your thoughts on the lack of action for the high tackle on the SA fullback. I understand the TMO ruled that he had fallen into the tackle and the tackler didn’t have time to adjust but it was clearly shoulder on head and the Aussie 11 had not made any attempt to adjust his tackle height leading into the tackle. In my opinion he was never going to get his tackle technique correct to complete a safe tackle. If that tackle was made at a more senior and more scrutinised level would we have seen the same result?
2 Go to commentsI don’t think this has been ventilated enough. Discuss. Perhaps the lessons in all of this is that, in the game of life, one should do all the talking on the field of play. And in the game of rugby, what’s said on the field - stays on the field. Take care of yourselves. And each other.
49 Go to commentsLow skills compared to the Junior ABs. The ball handling and ball retention of the SAns in particular was utterly woeful. The latter will be better on home turf.
2 Go to comments1. Heard this so often over the yrs. One Warriors CEO even claimed future kids wouldnt know which came first, the ABs or the Warriors. Always keen to talk themselves up. 2. That fella Barakat who says he will drop HBHS sponsorship because HBHS quite rightly wants its players to focus on rugby is an odd fit as a sponsor in the first place. As a recruitment official for the Warriors he seems to regard his sponsorship as a paid licence to help to select players from HBHS for the league side. Maybe he should find a league school to fund.
2 Go to commentsNZ U20s are the team to beat this year for sure. And how nice after so long that NZRFU is actually taking this seriously. For far too long they have been sending woefully coached and woefully underprepared teams to the U20 WCs. That Wrampling boy is a star in the making.
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