Italy v Scotland, 22 February

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Italy  v Scotland 

Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Saturday 22 February 2014
KO 14:30

Referee: Steve Walsh (ARU)
First Assistant: Jérôme Garces (FFR)
Second Assistant: Luke Pearce (RFU)
TMO: Geoff Warren (RFU)

A. Squads

1. Italy

Forwards: Martin Castrogiovanni (Toulon/FRA), Lorenzo Cittadini (Treviso), Alberto De Marchi (Treviso), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso), Davide Giazzon (Zebre), Marco Bortolami (Zebre), Francesco Minto (Treviso), Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebre), Antonio Pavanello (Treviso), Robert Barbieri (Treviso), Mauro Bergamasco (Zebre), Paul Derbyshire (Treviso), Joshua Furno (Biarritz/FRA), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais/FRA), Alessandro Zanni (Treviso)

Backs: Tobias Botes (Treviso), Edoardo Gori (Treviso), Tommaso Allan (Perpignan/FRA), Luciano Orquera (Zebre), Tommaso Benvenuti (Perpignan/FRA), Michele Campagnaro (Treviso), Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre), Alberto Sgarbi (Treviso), Mirco Bergamasco (Rovigo), Angelo Esposito (Treviso), Tommaso Iannone (Zebre), Luke McLean (Treviso), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre), Leonardo Sarto (Zebre)

2. Scotland

Forwards: John Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (all Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Moray Low, Pat MacArthur (both Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors).

Backs: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).
 
B. Previous Form

9 February 2013: Scotland 34-10 Italy

17 March 2012: Italy 13-6 Scotland

19 March 2011: Scotland 21-8 Italy

C. Teams

1. Italy

15 Luke MCLEAN (Benetton Treviso, 54 caps)
14 Angelo ESPOSITO (Benetton Treviso, 1 cap)
13 Michele CAMPAGNARO (Benetton Treviso, 4 caps)
12 Gonzalo GARCIA (Zebre Rugby, 30 caps)
11 Leonardo SARTO (Zebre Rugby, 4 caps)
10 Tommaso ALLAN (Perpignan, 5 caps)
9 Edoardo GORI (Benetton Treviso, 31 caps)

8 Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 103 caps)(c)
7 Robert BARBIERI (Benetton Treviso, 32 caps)
6 Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Treviso, 82 caps)
5 Joshua FURNO (Biarritz Olympique, 15 caps)
4 Quintin GELDENHUYS (Zebre Rugby, 43 caps)
3 Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Toulon RC, 103 caps)
2 Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Benetton Treviso, 61 caps)
1 Alberto DE MARCHI (Benetton Treviso, 14 caps)

Substitutes:

16 Davide GIAZZON (Zebre Rugby, 17 caps)
17 Matias AGUERO (Zebre Rugby, 22 caps)
18 Lorenzo CITTADINI (Benetton Treviso, 29 caps)
19 Marco BORTOLAMI (Zebre Rugby, 101 caps)
20 Paul DERBYSHIRE (Benetton Treviso, 20 caps)
21 Tobias Weitz BOTES (Benetton Treviso, 21 caps)
22 Luciano ORQUERA (Zebre Rugby, 38 caps)
23 Tommaso IANNONE (Zebre, 8 caps)

2. Scotland

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)
14 Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors)
13 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors)
12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby)
11 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors)
10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) capitano

8 Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier)
7 Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors)
6 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors)
5 Jim Hamilton (Montpellier)
4 Richie Gray (Castres)
3 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors)
2 Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons)
1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors)

Substitutes

16 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby)
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby)
18 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby)
19 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors
20 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby)
21 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 

22 Duncan Taylor (Saracens)
23 Max Evans (Castres)

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ford has been named on the bench for Edinburgh.  Suspect is isn't more than Edinburgh struggling for fit hookers than anything else.

So whats scotlands excuse for picking him?

They understood that you'd declared yourself unavailable, biscuit

Maybe we should adopt an American football stance? Ford plays but each time there is a line out or scrum, we send out "the special teams" to throw and hook the ball

Can't see Scotland winning this one. Italy look much improved for 60 minutes at least. If Scotland do win it then it just shows how good England are.

While i hope Scotland win - i think they need it - i am not sure they will

Italy have looked quite good, and in Campagnaro they have real flair in midfield, I think the Scots have too much riding on one game now and Italy will feel that they have home advantage.

Sorry Scotland but much as i want you to win, think spoon is imminent.

I might be an idiot, but could we play Mcinally at 6 and get him to throw and hook?

Or just scrap Ford and Hamilton.

And check out Parks at his best, when we had a good 10 in form.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/scottish/8747358.stm

So Parks with a great kick,

Then FORD throws a SUCCESSFUL lineout.

And HAMILTON scores.

They can do it. The difference here is SJ...

Kelly Brown having a great game for Sarries against Sale. You have to wonder what that dumpling Johnson was thinking- big fall out after the Irish game maybe but Browns worth a lot more to us than Johnson who should just do the decent thing and leave.

Not sure that future world cup winners such as us need be too troubled by a mere bump in the road such as Italy...  

Brown did have a good game so I would like to see him start but nobody knows what SJ is thinking  

I am going out to Italy for the first time, any 606ers been in the past few years? Never seen scotland or edinburgh win an away trip before though so the omens are not good..

I have been to Rome for an away game. It was incredible. And to be honest, looking around the crowd prompted the two photographic representatives for each nation in the original post.

Sadly, pretty much reflects what I saw.

The dropping of Brown was a complete shock to me. It really screams that SJ does not have control and that the team have no confidence in him. Scotland do have some very good players so there is no place else to look than at SJ in my opinion.

As an Irish fan, I find it really sad to see Scottish rugby in such a way because I have always had the greatest respect for them and their fans.

Back on topic, at this current point in time, I cant see Scotland beating Italy based purely on the afore mentioned points.

Might also have helped that Brown played with a number six on his back last night!

The Kelly Brown situation just shows what a thoroughly incompetent erse Johnson is. Get the banners ready for Italy travellers. Can I suggest something along the sentiment of :- 'Dodson and Johnson are Tossers, Resign Now' This is toned down from my initial suggestion, which was something to do with sex, travel and mortality !

        

Watching Richie Gray having an outstanding game for Castres against Toulon.

Good to hear he had a good game he has fantastic potential.

Anybody else see Roy laidlaws preferred team for Italy in the Scotsman ? Hogg at ten(cuthbert at 15) stroker at 7 and gray in the second row with Denton !!    what do people think of that? Surely you want a bit more grunt in the scrum and we don't want dentons hair to get ruffled do we ?   

Denton at second row is just plain stupid.

CraigS1874 wrote:Good to hear he had a good game he has fantastic potential.

Anybody else see Roy laidlaws preferred team for Italy in the Scotsman ? Hogg at ten(cuthbert at 15) stroker at 7 and gray in the second row with Denton !!    what do people think of that? Surely you want a bit more grunt in the scrum and we don't want dentons hair to get ruffled do we ?   

Think this shows what a bell-end Laidlaw is - drop him and play Cusiter with Henners from the bench .

Ah, Schiz, the dangers of posting after closing time on a Saturday night.  
The Laidlaw in question was Greg's great-great uncle Roy. No chance of him playing on Saturday: why would we want a scrum half who makes mercurial breaks and scores tries?

Jeez missed that. Wee Roy obviously imbibed a few too by the sounds of it.

CraigS1874 wrote:Good to hear he had a good game he has fantastic potential.

Anybody else see Roy laidlaws preferred team for Italy in the Scotsman ? Hogg at ten(cuthbert at 15) stroker at 7 and gray in the second row with Denton !!    what do people think of that? Surely you want a bit more grunt in the scrum and we don't want dentons hair to get ruffled do we ?   

Appalling

CraigS1874 wrote:Good to hear he had a good game he has fantastic potential.

Anybody else see Roy laidlaws preferred team for Italy in the Scotsman ? Hogg at ten(cuthbert at 15) stroker at 7 and gray in the second row with Denton !!    what do people think of that? Surely you want a bit more grunt in the scrum and we don't want dentons hair to get ruffled do we ?   

Is he trolling the Scotsman to see how much rubbish they'll print?

How can he be saying stuff like that!?

Was big Jim Hamilton playing for his club at the weekend? I dunno why, but I have it in my head that he got in a dust up and could be looking at a cheeky wee suspension (which would rule him out for the Italy game)

tigertattie wrote:Was big Jim Hamilton playing for his club at the weekend? I dunno why, but I have it in my head that he got in a dust up and could be looking at a cheeky wee suspension (which would rule him out for the Italy game)

Please God let it be true. With the greatest respect to the victims, I hope the incident involved gouging, biting, spitting at the ref with a chaser of casual rascism towards the fans.

Given his age, a ban of 5 years ought to do the trick.

tigertattie wrote:Was big Jim Hamilton playing for his club at the weekend? I dunno why, but I have it in my head that he got in a dust up and could be looking at a cheeky wee suspension (which would rule him out for the Italy game)

he will be fresh and ready for Italy
wasnt even on the bench. not too happy at Montpelier and probably will go back to England (Saracens) at the end of the season.

From the noises in the press, doesn't sound like Johnson will change much.

Richie Gray coming in for Swinson and still no place for Brown.  

Sounds like Weir is being retained at fly-half which is a relief.

Don't fancy our chances up front if that's all he's changing though; Ford's confidence is gone, Low is soft at scrum time, Hamilton looks lethargic and called a shocking line-out, Wilson isn't a blind-side, Fusaro will buzz around but struggle to turnover ball, Denton will run straight into contact, and to gap it off our most consistent performer for 18 months is playing cr@p.

Hell, if we lose on Saturday we'll most likely lose the next two. Surely the tubby Aussie will be politely asked to fall on his didgeridoo.

Grant
MacArthur
Welsh

Not the biggest front-row but the French aren't either, Welsh is a stubborn TH and has done well for Glasgow this season, wasn't sold originally but definitely our best bet going forward. MacArthur's arrows aren't always 100% but he grafts and gets stuck in, good defender too.  

Gray
Gray

Jnr may be raw but he looks a very accomplished footballer and runs a good line-out, plus he's a big unit and really throws his weight about.  Snr has plateaued but he's still got the ability to be world class, even on an average day he puts in a big shift but need him to carry more.  Plenty of ballast for the scrum and height for line-out, plus they're both mobile and fit.

Brown c
Barclay
Beattie

The Bs are back in town, what's not to love.  A wonderfully well balanced combination, plenty of experience and all in good form for their clubs.  Nuisance of Barclay, Industry of Brown and Explosiveness of Beattie, nice.

That's what I'd like, fresh faces and youth (and a bit of Weegie grit) to snap us out of this malaise.

Yeah the Scotsman said Gray in for Swinson and the same backline but didn't say anything else, which is concerning....

reallybored wrote:From the noises in the press, doesn't sound like Johnson will change much.

Richie Gray coming in for Swinson and still no place for Brown.  

Sounds like Weir is being retained at fly-half which is a relief.

Don't fancy our chances up front if that's all he's changing though; Ford's confidence is gone, Low is soft at scrum time, Hamilton looks lethargic and called a shocking line-out, Wilson isn't a blind-side, Fusaro will buzz around but struggle to turnover ball, Denton will run straight into contact, and to gap it off our most consistent performer for 18 months is playing cr@p.

Hell, if we lose on Saturday we'll most likely lose the next two.  Surely the tubby Aussie will be politely asked to fall on his didgeridoo.

I mean, that is just appalling - in the face of a complete sh1tstorm, the Australian teletubby decides that the best policy is to do virtually nothing - its pathetic, what a dolt.

So putting the Herlies and the Hootsmon together, the team will be:

Grant-FordWTF-Low
Gray snr-HamiltonWTF
WilsonWTF-Beattie-Fusaro
LaidlawWTF-Weir
Lamont-Scott-Dunbar-Seymour
Hogg

with an uncertain bench, but likely LawsonWTF-Dickinson-Cross-Swinson-Denton-Cusiter-Taylor-Evans

I give up

we saying Gray Snr is replacing Swinson and leapfrogging Gray Jnr?

Johnno's selections are odd to say the least

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:

reallybored wrote:From the noises in the press, doesn't sound like Johnson will change much.

Richie Gray coming in for Swinson and still no place for Brown.  

Sounds like Weir is being retained at fly-half which is a relief.

Don't fancy our chances up front if that's all he's changing though; Ford's confidence is gone, Low is soft at scrum time, Hamilton looks lethargic and called a shocking line-out, Wilson isn't a blind-side, Fusaro will buzz around but struggle to turnover ball, Denton will run straight into contact, and to gap it off our most consistent performer for 18 months is playing cr@p.

Hell, if we lose on Saturday we'll most likely lose the next two.  Surely the tubby Aussie will be politely asked to fall on his didgeridoo.

I mean, that is just appalling - in the face of a complete sh1tstorm, the Australian teletubby decides that the best policy is to do virtually nothing - its pathetic, what a dolt.

So putting the Herlies and the Hootsmon together, the team will be:

Grant-FordWTF-Low
Gray snr-HamiltonWTF
WilsonWTF-Beattie-Fusaro
LaidlawWTF-Weir
Lamont-Scott-Dunbar-Seymour
Hogg

with an uncertain bench, but likely LawsonWTF-Dickinson-Cross-Swinson-Denton-Cusiter-Taylor-Evans

I give up

Daily Mail says Lawson in for Ford. Otherwise starting team as above. Brown released to play for Saracens on Sunday. Gray jnr out of squad.

Pleased that Gray snr seems to be playing and that Ford has been benched (although I have been a supporter of his in the past). Still don't fancy our chances though unless the front five really step to their task.

Team for Rome has been announced.
Lawson for Ford
Gray (snr) for Swinson
Beattie for Denton.

Still no Brown...

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) 17 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

14 Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) 6 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
13 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) 18 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
11 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 84 caps, 12 tries, 60 points

10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) 10 caps, 1 try, 2 conversions, 9 points
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) CAPTAIN 26 caps, 3 tries 23 conversions, 56 penalties, 229 points

1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors) 15 caps
2 Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons) 40 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 25 caps
4 Richie Gray (Castres) 34 caps, 1 try, 5 points
5 Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) 52 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) 6 caps
7 Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
8 Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) 28 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Substitutes

16 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 73 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) 32 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
18 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 25 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
20 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 19 caps
21 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 66 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
22 Duncan Taylor (Saracens) 8 caps
23 Max Evans (Castres) 39 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

So, our best player from last week has been benched? Right...

Good to see Gray back, and Lawson, but Hamilton and Wilson don't deserve to be there.

Really quite underwhelmed by that. Like I expected the day to be sunny and it only 'kind of' is. We can safely assume that this will be the team for the rest of the 6N.

I'm boring myself with the comments now:
- Hamilton inexplicably still there - presumably as nobody else can call
- Wilson still played out of position
- meh

Good stuff:
- Swinson not dropping out of the picture entirely
- Beattie starting which I prefer - Dozer is a good impact sub
- Ford dropped - a real mercy for everyone watching
- Am pleased Fozzy is being retained

Oh well. Come on Scotland, etc, etc, snore

Can understand bringing Beattie in, but it is baffling to bring him for Denton...

Hamilton and Wilson is a poor call, and I'm surprised Pat MacArthur still can't get a look in. Do we really want Ford coming on for "impact"?

Feel sorry for Denton. If you're going to play any of the three number 8s selected at 6, Wilson would be my last choice.

On the plus side I'm pleased to welcome back Richie Gray, and I'm also pleased that Fusaro has retained his place as a specialist 7. I also think it's right that Weir continues to get a run. Very hard to judge him properly on the two games so far and, other than Finn Russell obviously, we have no-one better.

The selection still isn't right, and we're not giving ourselves the best chance of beating what's looked like a fairly competitive Italy side. With the players we have available, we should win this game. Anything less and SJ will have no excuse.

Sooooooooo, what had Gray Jnr done to deserve being dropped?

Other than that, I echo all points raised (again) by my fellow posters.

tigertattie wrote:Sooooooooo, what had Gray Jnr done to deserve being dropped?

Other than that, I echo all points raised (again) by my fellow posters.

Think we must have a Gray quota, can only have one in the squad at a time.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Hamilton and Wilson is a poor call, and I'm surprised Pat MacArthur still can't get a look in. Do we really want Ford coming on for "impact"?

Feel sorry for Denton. If you're going to play any of the three number 8s selected at 6, Wilson would be my last choice.

On the plus side I'm pleased to welcome back Richie Gray, and I'm also pleased that Fusaro has retained his place as a specialist 7. I also think it's right that Weir continues to get a run. Very hard to judge him properly on the two games so far and, other than Finn Russell obviously, we have no-one better.

The selection still isn't right, and we're not giving ourselves the best chance of beating what's looked like a fairly competitive Italy side. With the players we have available, we should win this game. Anything less and SJ will have no excuse.

If Italy go with Tommy Allan, we will be facing the player that Finn Russell kept out of the U20 side last year - oh the irony

I'd not be putting Finn Russell into the Scotland sqaud at the moment.

I'm a fan of "if your good enough, your old enough" but I'd not want to drop Russell into this utterly gash set up at the moment.

Its not overwhelming is it? They have really got to sort out this line out nonsense and get some of the better second rows up to speed in calling. I think just about everyone would like to have seen Ford have a complete rest, I can only imagine that SJ thinks that McArthur is underpowered for international rugby and there is not really anyone else ready. I don't think it is doing the player any good either unfortunately. Both him and Hamilton in due to lack of other decent options. I can't beleive they don't know it either.

Denton for all his hard running and endevour chooses the wrong option to many times and needs to realise that sometimes you have to pass. He might make a good impact against a tiring defence though. At the moment though Beattie is the clever player. You might well see Denton coming on the blind side later on in the match, he may be more effective there.

Weir did need another run out and hopefully will get some decent ball this time. I would have liked to see Cusiter play, but presumably they don't feel Weir on song with the boot and we can't affored to leave any points behind in this one. i thought Cuthbert might be on the bench to allow Hoggy to move up later in the game. There is no obvious full back there to take over if he does.

Johny can go back to Glasgow for now. He will get another shot, probably in one of the games to come. I would still rather have seen him in the squad than Haimilton though. They have got to sort out this lineout!

tigertattie wrote:I'd not be putting Finn Russell into the Scotland sqaud at the moment.  

I'm a fan of "if your good enough, your old enough" but I'd not want to drop Russell into this utterly gash set up at the moment.  

But when is it the right time. We have had 15 years of it :-)

Poor decisions again by Rab C. Why bench the best performing player from the England game and keep an out of position player who was near the bottom of the stats performance wise still in the team.
Denton could have played at 6. Wilson has been very poor at 6 and looks out his depth.

Its a disgrace Hamilton is getting picked still just because he can "run" the lineouts. How on earth have they not had Grey snr, Swinson, Gilchrist in the team room working on line out codes etc and getting them used to them so they can call it. Doesn't take a genious to run a line out and its not as if Hamilton has had much joy at it!

I'm quite pleased with that team: Wilson has been ok, but I agree we have better options at 6. Beattie is a class act, so I'm pleased to see him start and I'm glad its not at 6.

Lawson deserves a shot, but it really shows the paucity of our current options at hooker to see him come back in, while MacArthur remains on the outside. Especially when young Pat was being talked up so much by the coaching staff last season.

Denton will come on, but his bench spot mean's we've still got 3 8's in the squad. When Swinson also covers 6 the balance of our bench is questionable.

Its clear the calling issue is the main reason Hamilton starts. That's obviously wearing a bit thin now, so I was also wondering whether the coaching team fear us being steamrollered by the Italians if we lost Hamilton's ballast? Especially if our front row is seen as being a bit weak?

By and large I'm pleased with the backs. They just need the ball, therefore alongside the forwards Laidlaw and Weir need big, big games.

Finally is Cus really fit? Wouldn't it have been worth seeing what Hart has to offer at this level? He looks like he offers something completely different to Laidlaw and Cus to me.

I hate Johnson.

A substantial part of me would like to see us get hammered so he is forced out, he can not be our Director of Rugby.

BigGee wrote:Its not overwhelming is it? They have really got to sort out this line out nonsense and get some of the better second rows up to speed in calling. I think just about everyone would like to have seen Ford have a complete rest, I can only imagine that SJ thinks that McArthur is underpowered for international rugby and there is not really anyone else ready. I don't think it is doing the player any good either unfortunately. Both him and Hamilton in due to lack of other decent options. I can't beleive they don't know it either.

BigGee, true that, and perhaps this might be interesting/relevant too:

(from planetrugby.co.uk)

Scrum guru reflects on changes

By Jamie Lyall

Scotland scrum coach Massimo Cuttitta reviews the IRB scrum directive and tells Planet Rugby about Scotland's scrummaging style.  Massimo Cuttitta is in the middle of a scrummaging demonstration when his phone bleeps. The Scotland Scrum Coach is not subjecting Ross Ford, Moray Low and Ryan Grant to a gruelling machine session, rather using the Murrayfield Hotel's salt and pepper cellars to show me how a scrum-half can offset the position of his put-in, giving his hooker the best chance of a clean strike.

"Ach, that's Gregor," he tells me.  The Gregor in question is Glasgow Warriors boss Townsend, whose pack the ex-Italian international frequently puts through their paces. He's not long back from one of countless trips west; on this occasion dealing with a tweak to the set-piece laws proving especially troublesome for the Warriors eight.  "They're changing so much," said Cuttitta of the IRB's year-long global scrum trial, which began in August.  "We've got to have the right laws for the safety; there's a lot more pressure in the front row now.  I feel the scrums take a little bit longer than what they used to. We're waiting for the scrums to stabilise, for the second-rows to come up to the pushing position, for the binding to be in place - consequently, it takes a bit longer.  Overall, I'm happy with it. I miss that heavy engagement contest; I'm a bit old-fashioned that way. But it's become a lot more technical. As a coach, you have to be technical with your forwards.  In a lot of the first scrums we saw, the ball would just sit in the middle with no strike. There was so much pressure coming through neither team could strike for it. Out in New Zealand they've come up with stats saying there's a lot more neck injuries and toe problems.  Before it was all big hookers who would hit, chase, and walk over the ball - I don't mind that, but now the pressures are very equal, and there's not a hit. Before a bigger pack would have dominance right away on the engagement."

Striking is a touchy subject for Scottish fans. Many have questioned with growing frustration why hooker Ford does not the heel the ball, and often leaves it sitting untouched in the tunnel at the mercy of his opposite number.  Cuttitta latches on to my train of thought long before I finish asking the question:  "You want to know why we're not striking for the ball with Fordy," he states.  "Fordy is a tall hooker, he's a big boy - have you seen the size of his legs?  It's hard for a big, tall guy to strike for the ball. So, by putting the pressure on low, he walks over the ball. Occasionally, he loses the ball because he doesn't strike for it. That's something we have to work on.  As soon as he lifts his leg, he's forced to lift his body up awkwardly. As soon as he lifts his body up, that pressure comes against him. It's important to sink low and strike, and when you've got big legs like that, it's virtually impossible."

In spite of recent poor results, and two opening Six Nations losses that have left head coach Scott Johnson in the firing line, Cuttitta is encouraged by the national side's set-piece. Though some question where the next crop of Test front rows will come from, the Italian reels off a list of youngsters progressing well under his watchful eye.  "In Scotland, we don't have a lot of boys; these are the players we've got. I've got to develop them - I can't just say I'll go and pick someone else, I don't have someone else. I've got to get Moray Low, Geoff Cross, and Ryan Grant and make them better. That is my role, and it takes time.  Even Italy have got a lot more players than we have. People have got to understand that yes, we want to win, but it takes a bit of time because our depth is not there yet. We have to bring on youngsters.  We've got D'Arcy Rae and Lewis Niven who we need to work on. We've got Robin "Bomber" Hislop, we've got George Hunter.  We've got Alex Allan," enthused Cuttita, "he's a boy that will become first choice for the national team very soon.  We need to play these boys."

So while Cian Healy and Nicolas Mas are unlikely to lose sleep over packing down against any of the above, Cuttitta is confident he has the raw materials to produce a dominant Scottish front row for years to come.  
There's also the curious case of Stuart McInally, the Edinburgh back-row who announced a switch to hooker at the start of the season. The 47-year-old has invested hour upon hour in McInally's learning, going into "much more detail than normal hookers do".  "Before he could even start scrummaging, I had to teach him how to fall down," said Cuttitta.  "If the scrum collapses, how do you fall? You lift your neck, fall onto your chest, and your feet just slide.  We went through all that; we went through scenarios where the tighthead was in trouble, scenarios where the loosehead was in trouble, and scenarios where he was in trouble, and how to take it down. He's now a project for the World Cup next year."

In keeping with Johnson's developmental Scottish vision, Cuttitta is keen to ensure the techniques in the tight practiced by the first team are mirrored down through the age groups. Every Scottish prop with a chance of national representation should arrive at the Italian's doorstep already armed with the knowledge to advance as his "type of scrummager".  He trains the U20s side by side with the first team, and makes sure the seniors know all about it when their deputies come out on top. And he places such importance on teammates having a feel for one another that he often directs his pack to scrummage with their eyes shut, or drop their bindings after the engagement.  "We have our way of scrummaging, right through all the age groups," confirmed Cuttitta.  "That's what we want - they're all speaking the same language. We've come together and agreed one way of scrummaging, Scotland will scrummage that way.  When I go round the clubs, they're all bound the same way as the national team, they all go through the same breathing drills as the national team.  Starting down there, in three or four years' time when they come to me, all I've got to do is refine their techniques. My type of scrummager is already there. "

Cuttitta's fierce loyalty to friends and colleagues is legendary at Murrayfield, and in between condiment illustrations, he is at pains to throw his weight behind Johnson and his fellow coaches.  We're shaking hands and packing away when he instructs me to turn the Dictaphone back on.  "I will support my boys, and I will support the coaching staff and Scotland," he began.  It was clear to me his closing words were only half in jest: "'til death".

So, there you have it - the problem is that Ross Ford's thighs are too big!

On a more serious note, if Ford has been selected for his "power", where the feic has this so-called 'power' been?  I haven't seen us nudge an oppo scrum whatsoever, in which case what's been the point of picking Ford? (no power, thighs too big to hook, sh1te darts).  Might as well have invested the time in MacArthur, who can at least manage one of those 3 activities.

When you have Denton and Beattie that can play 6, why play Wilson at 6 and not at 8? Baffling.

And Gray Jnr. was great for Glasgow vs Cardiff.

Anyway, I've left Scotland - for now. I'm #backinggreen.

Majestic83 wrote:Poor decisions again by Rab C. Its a disgrace Hamilton is getting picked still just because he can "run" the lineouts. How on earth have they not had Grey snr, Swinson, Gilchrist in the team room working on line out codes etc and getting them used to them so they can call it. Doesn't take a genious to run a line out and its not as if Hamilton has had much joy at it!

This is a total mystery - they've had two weeks to bring someone up to speed but have singlely failed in this critical task #lackingclue

Nematode wrote:Anyway, I've left Scotland - for now. I'm #backinggreen.

  

Denton worked his backside off against England, but only ever chooses route one and goes to deck. Beattie moves his feet when he meets his opponent, makes ground and gives options for offloading.

I would like to see Gray jnr in the squad, but Hamilton slowed England down and prevented England getting a lot of good ball. At one point he even pushed Fusaro out the way to try and charge a box kick - something Fusaro must react quicker to.

Cusiter gets the game moving much quicker than Laidlaw - but you can't drop two captains in a row............can you?

When is Ross Ford going to switch to tight head?

Captain_Sensible wrote:So, our best player from last week has been benched? Right...

Good to see Gray back, and Lawson, but Hamilton and Wilson don't deserve to be there.

Not just our best player, our two best players (Denton and Swinson) are damn well warming the bench

Wilson was gash at 6, whilst playing really well this season at 8, yet still retained at 6

Apparently Gray has been playing well for Castre and would have been a great start with Swinson, if SJ wants Hamilton to play then bring him on as an impact player.

The good thing is that some players who were dire last week have been given a vote of confidence and its something to be said for a consistent selection.

Interesting there's 11 Glasgow/ex-Glasgow and only 2 Edinburgh players. There's a Glasgow back row (beattie), Gray [swinson], [cusiter]& weir two props, B3 & 13. Hopefully these combinations can work together somehow?

I'll still cheer Scotland on at Murrayfield vs France but I'm not going to bother watching the Italy game unless we win - not going to waste time.

Yes, call me a glory-hunter supporting Ireland [I do have Irish blood] but if we are all forever loyal to Scotland (bought tickets in advance...) then the SRU won't get the message.