Six Nations Italy v Scotland Preview – all you must know

Six Nations Italy v Scotland Preview

It gained’t be misplaced on Scotland that Italy’s final Guinness Six Nations victory got here in opposition to them in 2015. Two years earlier than that noticed Italy’s final dwelling win within the championship, in opposition to Eire.

Each these grim information for the Azzurri could possibly be outmoded on Saturday when the Scots go to Stadio Olimpico (2.15pm) – however don’t guess on it. There stays a transparent gulf at school between the 2 groups and it’ll take one thing distinctive for Italy to finish their notorious 35-match dropping run within the event.

Scotland’s brilliant begin to 2022, with that win in opposition to England, has dissipated. The missed alternative was Wales in spherical two as a result of France in spherical three have been approach too highly effective for a Scottish facet disadvantaged of its (then) first-choice again row.

Conceding a hatful of attacking breakdown penalties was one consequence however you do surprise what may need occurred had Stuart Hogg not dropped a scoring go simply earlier than half-time. “If he catches the ball and so they rating, the place goes berserk and it could possibly be a unique sport,” mentioned TV pundit Martin Johnson.

Stuart Hogg drops the ball and Scottish hopes evaporate in spherical three in opposition to France (Getty Photos)

Head coach Gregor Townsend is dealing in onerous proof, nonetheless, and one concern is the absence of his primary strike weapon Duhan van der Merwe, scorer of ten tries in his 16 Assessments. The Worcester winger is averaging 108 carry metres on this season’s Gallagher Premiership – one of the best within the league – however has paid the value for a free hand-off final weekend in opposition to London Irish that resulted in a contentious purple card and suspension.

Associated: Watch Duhan van der Merwe purple card

On the plus facet, the return of Hamish Watson and Matt Fagerson sees the again row energy restored and loopy whispers that Finn Russell may be dropped proved unfounded. Victory in Rome would ship them to Dublin subsequent week with a shot at matching the three wins they achieved in every of the previous two years.

Again on dwelling soil, Italy should purpose excessive. A meagre haul of 16 factors from three defeats, and no attempt for 227 minutes, fail to inform the story as a result of they fought like fury in Dublin in unimaginable circumstances. Lowered to 13 males for many of the match attributable to damage and a purple card, they conceded solely 36 factors earlier than three late tries swelled the margin to 57-6.

Italy battle to understand the ramifications of dropping two hookers, one to a purple card, in Dublin (Inpho)

Loosehead Danilo Fischetti and skipper Michele Lamaro led a rearguard motion that absolutely impressed all who watched it. “It does really feel like there’s some type of basis starting to be constructed,” mentioned Brian O’Driscoll. “For any success you’re going to have, the place to begin is your defence, its intent and willingness and want. It may have been 80 (factors) however they dug in and they need to take a superb piece of delight from that efficiency.”

Coach Kieran Crowley has rewarded that effort by making no adjustments to the beginning XV apart from these enforced by damage.

Earlier than the match, eight Italian greats will obtain a particular cap to mark reaching 100 caps for his or her nation. Martin Castrogiovanni, Marco Bortolami, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lo Cicero, Alessandro Troncon, Mauro Bergamasco and Alessandro Zanni will all be in attendance, together with Sara Barattin, the one Italy ladies’s participant to realize the feat.

Sergio Parisse, Italy’s most capped participant with 142 caps, might be absent as he performs for his membership facet Toulon this weekend. It stays to be seen whether or not that outing might be sufficient to earn him a farewell Check look in opposition to Wales subsequent weekend. It seems unlikely.

Massimo Cuttitta at Harlequins in 1997 (Getty)

For the primary time, the groups might be enjoying for the Cuttitta Cup, a brand new trophy celebrating the contribution of Massimo Cuttitta to rugby. The previous Italy captain and Scotland scrum coach died of covid 11 months in the past on the age of simply 54.

His twin brother Marcello, a former Italy winger, mentioned: “Massimo beloved Scotland. He beloved the Scottish folks.

“There’s at all times a narrative behind sporting trophies and to assume that in 100 years’ time folks will hear the story of Massimo after they see this trophy is unbelievable.”

The trophy has been crafted by Edinburgh jewellers Hamilton & Inches and their revolutionary design options the loosehead prop as one deal with of the trophy and the tighthead as the opposite. “The cup is implausible. Thanks with all our hearts,” mentioned Marcello.

What’s the large workforce information?

Scotland deliver 5 gamers into the beginning XV following their chastening day in opposition to France. Watson (Covid) and Matt Fagerson (foot) supply much-needed energy within the again row, with Nick Haining dropping out and Magnus Bradbury placed on the bench.

Rory Darge switches to the No 6 shirt two weeks after his excellent debut in opposition to the French, whereas George Turner swaps in for Stuart McInally at hooker.

Within the backs, van der Merwe’s suspension opens the door for Kyle Steyn, who wins his fourth cap and his first away from Murrayfield. The Glasgow wing scored 4 tries on his one earlier Check begin, in opposition to Tonga final autumn.

In midfield, Sam Johnson returns for Sione Tuipulotu, who’s a part of a bench that includes a change of half-backs in Adam Hastings and the uncapped Ben Vellacott.

Other than Darge (for Jamie Ritchie, who has a hamstring damage) and Steyn, it’s the identical Scotland XV that defeated Australia final November.

Scrum-half Ali Worth will win his fiftieth Scotland cap on Saturday simply 5 years after his Check debut (Inpho)

Italy head coach Crowley has stored religion with the facet that gutsed it out in Dublin, with the 2 adjustments each compelled upon him.

Gianmarco Lucchesi dislocated his elbow in opposition to Eire and Epalahame Faiva has been slapped with a four-week ban after his excessive sort out on Dan Sheehan. So there’s a debut for Benetton hooker Giocomo Nicotera. Former captain Luca Bigi will exchange him off the bench.

And Callum Braley is available in at scrum-half for Stephen Varney, who has didn’t get better from an unspecified damage suffered in opposition to Eire.

French-born full-back Ange Capuozzo will hope to make his Check debut as a substitute, the 22-year-old being a part of a five-three cut up on the bench. Again-row Abraham Steyn, carded in Dublin for intentionally knocking the ball into contact, is omitted.

What have the coaches mentioned?

Italy head coach Kieran Crowley: “We face a workforce who’ve proven their price of their earlier matches within the championship. We’ve got the possibility to play in entrance of our followers. We need to flip the web page and react on the pitch with a giant efficiency.”

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: “Hamish had an excellent sport in Cardiff and Matt began the championship very nicely too, so having them again provides to our expertise.

On the half-backs: “Ben’s type within the first half of the season was wonderful. He’s earned his alternative and his tempo could possibly be an actual weapon for us going into the ultimate quarter.

“Adam responded very well to not being within the squad. His final two video games for Gloucester have been at a excessive degree. He’s placing that type collectively on the proper time for us.”

Scotland scrum coach Pieter de Villiers: “As a lot as France have been excellent by way of placing strain on, we most likely weren’t pretty much as good by way of our territorial sport and placing strain on. That’s one thing the boys have mentioned.

“It’s been implausible to see our depth develop over the previous two seasons. It (Rome) is a troublesome place to play, a passionate place by way of vitality and other people behind their workforce. We have to get off to a superb begin in opposition to a workforce who could have a whole lot of physicality and emotion.’’

Any attention-grabbing statistics?

• Italy are on a document 35-match dropping run within the Six Nations
• Their final win within the championship got here in opposition to Scotland in 2015
• Flanker Michele Lamaro, the Italy captain, made 59 tackles within the first three rounds – essentially the most within the championship
• Solely England’s Freddie Steward has coated extra floor ball in hand than Stuart Hogg, who has made 326 metres from 33 carries
• Federico Ruzza’s 19 takes put him high of the event’s lineout stats

What time does it kick off and is it on TV?

Italy v Scotland, Saturday 12 March at Stadio Olimpico

The match kicks off at 2.15pm in Rome (GMT) and might be broadcast stay on ITV. There might be radio commentary on BBC 5 Stay Sports activities Further.

Luke Pearce from the RFU is the referee for this one, with Andrew Brace (IRFU) and Craig Evans (WRU) his trusty assistants and Stuart Terheege (RFU) the Tv Match Official. Brace might be in cost for Italy’s ultimate match subsequent weekend in opposition to Wales.

Luke Pearce watches Duhan van der Merwe throughout a 2020 ANC match between the groups (AFP/Getty)

What are the line-ups?

Italy: Edoardo Padovani; Pierre Bruno, Juan Ignacio Brex, Leonardo Marin, Montanna Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Callum Braley; Danilo Fishetti, Giocomo Nicotera, Pietro Ceccarelli, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Giovanni Pettinelli, Michele Lamaro (capt), Toa Halafihi.

Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 David Sisi, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Marco Zanon, 23 Ange Capuozzo.

Scotland: Stuart Hogg (capt); Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Sam Johnson, Kyle Steyn; Finn Russell, Ali Worth; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist, Rory Darge, Hamish Watson, Matt Fagerson.

Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Allan Dell, 18 WP Nel, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Sione Tuipulotu.

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