Italy v Scotland Saturday 22nd February 2020

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Italy v Scotland
Stadio Olympico
Rome

Saturday 22nd February
KO 15.15


Well a very important game for both sides bearing in mind they are both two from two the wrong way around. The traditional wooden spoon game looks like it might be living up to its billing again.

Both sides have proved they can play a bit, Italy against France and Scotland against Ireland, but both have shown their lack of killer instinct as well. Scotland in particular have given a masterclass in wasted possession in their first two games.

Both teams will feel this is a game that that can and should win and the winner may come from whoever deals with the pressure of that the better. Scotland have started both games so far pretty well, which is one big positive you can take from the new Toonie era. It used to be traditional for us to give everyone a head start and then play catch up. If we get our noises in front a bit in this game, then I feel we will probably win quite comfortably. If it is close though, then it becomes anyone's game. In truth Italy should have won the last time we played in Rome and they easily could do so again.

So what about selection for this game?

We have lost twice now and so, despite playing well, some changes are appropriate. We may get some hints when we get a squad update probably tomorrow.

A few players showed some pretty good form last night in Glasgow. In Llanelli this afternoon, the weather made it more of a lottery again and it was difficult to see any standouts.

Johnny Gray is the only known injury from the first two rounds and he will now sit out the rest of the championship. Some of our other walking wounded will be back though, Skinner came through a game for Exeter on Friday night and Matt Fagerson was in barn storming form for Glasgow as well. Darcy Graham has been spotted training with Scotland again and shown doing so in social media postings.

I am hoping we may see a side out something like this:

1. Sutherland - an impressive couple of games in his international recall
2. McInally - has probably edged the battle of the hookers, but also has had wobbly darts
3. Fagerson Z - I think it is his shirt now
4. Skinner - good enough to come straight back in I think and can also cover the back row
5. Cummings - he us a talent and needs persevering with
6. Ritchie - not quite on WC form but been steady enough
7. Watson - Not been on best form yet, but has a lot of credit in the bank
8. Fagerson M - Bradbury did not play well and has been out of from, he deserves his chance
9. Horne G - in scintillating form on Friday night, a close call but he deserves his chance
10. Hastings - easiest call of all
11. Graham - would have played all three games if fit
12. Johnson - Good case for matt scott, but SJ may have been our best back in first two games
13. Jones H - Another very tight call, but may be worthy of one more crack
14. Kinghorn - a greater attacking threat than Maitland these days
15. Hogg - looked back in good form on Friday night

Subs

Dell - still lacking in options at LH
Turner - deserves a chance, had a great game on Friday night
Nel - Berghan was poor against England, so the old boy is not done yet
Craig - this seems like the game to try him out, he looks a talent as well
Gordon - this is a tight call as Haining also played well today and the choice may come down to tactics, another dynamic player or a carrier? would be happy with either
Price - touch and go with Horne
Hutchinson - deserves a decent run out this time around and can over FH and both centres
Maitland - covers the back three

Harris' first mistake Jones would have scored there, Hutchinson would have scored twice

Numbers in a lineout is such a basic error

Sutherland has their Tighthead

Once again cocked up 2m from their line

Similar story - good setup, no result!

Matt Fagerson wouldn’t have mucked that up

Duty281 wrote:

RDW wrote:Nervous!

Don’t be, Italy are woeful!

I wouldn’t underrate Italy. They are not a bad side, clawed back into the game two weeks ago against France really well. They have a few nippy backs and a decent pack.

This game is pretty evenly matched in form but favours Scotland on paper. That said I thought the Scots were unlucky to lose their first two games.

Come on Adam - he rushed that

We might be seeing Hutchinson's fly-half credentials at this rate.

Dreadful start from Hastings. Come on lad!

Hastings' little chips haven't been good.

He's not started well!

Good play Italy. Adam losing the plot right now, needs to chill out

This is really poor.

Might have been a better option to keep scrummaging for he penalty on the line.See if we could extract a fairly dominant early try and/or early yellow.

I like that we've given up on conventional lineouts!!

funnyExiledScot wrote:I like that we've given up on conventional lineouts!!

Has no one told you that Townsend is an innovative coach??

Italy no better. Big overlap wasted after passing to the guy on the wing too early

FFS Scotland 2 in a row the same lineout pen

123456789. wrote:Might have been a better option to keep scrummaging for he penalty on the line.See if we could extract a fairly dominant early try and/or early yellow.

The kick was the right choice. It was a gimme. Hastings just missed.

Penalty count going against us now.

Those two pens aside the pack have defended well.

I see the Scotland coaches have managed to suck the pace and urgency from Ali Price's game.

I'll stay positive. Good defence there from the Edinburgh boys.

Sutherland has his opposite man on toast.

Italy tighthead getting absolutely smashed.

Fairly lucky to get away with that lineout

Come on Price!! So many cheap errors.

What have they done with Price!!?? Rubbish!

This hand is two bald men fighting over a comb.

Neither time can string enough phases together to score!

RDW wrote:Italy tighthead getting absolutely smashed.

Rory Sutherland has been the brightspot in the tournament so far for us.

Not sure the tackle that dislodged the ball had arms or that the feet were on the ground

Hoggy!!!

Great try by Hogg.

Ok. That was good.

That's him at his very best.

Great try well played Hogg what a run

Nice try by Hogg.

Hoggy Hoggy Hoggy, oi oi oi!

Much needed drop of quality. Should settle Scotland down.

Vintage Hoggy, lovely finishing!

Italy flustered and making mistakes now - these are the periods of the game we need to capitalise on.

Lovely! Looked forward though?

Another great try but a forward pass

Clear forward. Shame as it was a great effort.

Pity, good move. We are far better keeping ball in hand. The two Edinburgh flankers having strong games.

Good signs though. Italy starting to get stretched.

Not many things more humiliating for a player than being subbed before halftime!

Who’s the dunce with the EU/Scotland flag hybrid.

That should have been a Scotland scrum penalty. Bit concerning that the ref is starting to let these go. We need to press that advantage.

For the best defender on the world I've not been impressed with Harris' tackling - it's very passive and he lets them get well over the gainline.

Watson has been immense!

Very reluctant to start bashing O’Keefe but what do you guys think? I don’t rate him at all. SH style of officiating is very much at odds with that from the NH.

mikey_dragon wrote:Very reluctant to start bashing O’Keefe but what do you guys think? I don’t rate him at all. SH style of officiating is very much at odds with that from the NH.

The NH style being favouring Wales over Ireland?

RDW wrote:For the best defender on the world I've not been impressed with Harris' tackling - it's very passive and he lets them get well over the gainline.

Watson has been immense!

Harris done nothing so far. Lots of jogging about. He's being used as the dummy runner a lot. I'd like to see more impact from the hardest working player in the world.