Both teams are hungry to attack from deep. The Olympic Stadium was packed for the first time since 2016 for a Six Nations match. Beautiful Roman sunshine bathes the pristine green carpet. The sport is often a slog through the mud, but sometimes, like here, it’s a thing of beauty. Swirling limbs, dancing feet, silky touches and delicate kicks. Italy won a thrilling 31-29 victory, but Scotland also played their part in the game. It may sound cliche, but football really is the winner in the end.
Of course, that was little consolation for Scotland, who were brilliant in parts, particularly in the opening 20 minutes when George Horne let the ball fizz at a furious pace in the scrum-half ring. But instead of proving they were a special Scottish team, one aiming for a treble and a top-two finish in the Championship, they succumbed to an Italian side who were undoubtedly on the rise.
The home side opened the scoring through Paul Garbisi’s penalty, recalling the final moments of the 13-13 draw with France two weeks ago. As Garbisi approached the kick, the ball came off the tee again. Only this time he composed himself enough to put the ball through the post.
Then Scotland started. It was as if they were instructed to pass the ball only when they smelled the Italian defender. First Zander Fagerson dug out after 18 periods and then Kyle Steyn got on the back of Finn Russell after receiving a quick serve stopped.
Italy demanded a response and provided a shocking one. A penalty on the ground was kicked into the corner where the lineout was set up. Forward Martin Page-Relo moved back into the first receiver position and he sucked up two defenders before curling a beautiful kick over the onrushing Scots wall. Juan Ignacio Brex rushed upfield and grabbed the ball just centimeters above the deck to complete the scoring.
It’s like watching two knockout artists throw haymakers at each other. There were interceptions, scrambles, offloads and a 50-22 kick from Russell that set up a lineout deep in Italian territory. The throw was locked in and ended with Pierre Schoeman rumbling off a rolling sledgehammer. Russell missed the goal, his first of 18 attempts in the tournament, but two free throws from Garbisi and Paige Lelo made it 16-16 at the break. twenty two.
Scotland thought they had secured a bonus point shortly after the restart when Huw Jones faked and released Horne on the support line. But Schoeman was rightly penalized for disabling Ross Vincent off the ball. That proved to be the turning point as Garbisi soon put the ball on his front foot and through the Scot’s legs to find Luis Linna in charge of the charge. The Harlequins winger and former England age-group pick came together and ran hard to make a memorable debut.
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Now Italy has its tail raised. Gloucester’s Stephen Varney, who replaced Page-Relo, brought extra energy on the edge and picked up the ball from Vintcent’s burst in the 57th minute Pick up debris and complete a sniper attempt. That put the home side ahead, with Garbisi’s extras six points ahead.
Scotland had their fourth try, substitute Sam Skinner sliding under the stick. Russell rushed to complete the successful conversion but could not find the magical spark to steal the death-defying victory. The Italian team achieved its first home victory in this event in 11 years.
