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3 weeks ago
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There’s plenty to look forward to in the match, as well as plenty in my preamble for Scotland fans to take issue with. Feel free to let me know about this and anything else on the email.
Pre match reading
Teams
Italy
Leonardo Marin; Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari; Niccolò Cannone, Andrea Zambonin; Michele Lamaro (c), Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Mirco Spagnolo, Muhamed Hasa, Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto, Alessandro Garbisi, Giacomo Da Re, Lorenzo Pani.
Scotland
Tom Jordan; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (c), Jamie Dobie; Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson; Scott Cummings, Grant Gilchrist; Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: George Turner, Nathan McBeth, Elliot Millar Mills, Max Williamson, Gregor Brown, George Horne, Adam Hastings, Darcy Graham
Preamble
A year that looks good for Scotland in terms of form and fitness starts with a match vs Italy in Rome. This could be seen as a decent way to ease into the championship for Townsend’s team, who enter the tournament with optimism for what feels like at least the fifth year on the bounce. Talented, experienced, mostly settled, this side has all the markings of a group that should be challenging for the title but history proves will likely finish fourth. Hey, don’t shoot the messenger.
This inexplicable frailty was demonstrated by this fixture last time out in 2024, when Italy came from behind then survived a late rally by the visitors to win 31-29; delivering their first win in eleven years. How the Azzuri would love the same result today.
Both teams have an open style of playing, reflected in this being only fixture of the opening round that features both sides with a 5:3 split in the subs. Most coaches are favouring as much beef as possible off the bench, but Gregor Townsend and Gonzalo Quesada prefer more craft in their options. This approach has earned some decent results for Italy in the previous two years, but less so consistently for Scotland. One of the many frustrations that bubble up about Townsend is inability – or unwillingness - to change approach in the face of the same performances and outcomes.
The tone setting nature of this fixture for both sides should not be underestimated; especially the visitors whose whistle and drone from the deflation of defeat will be audible in Inverness.
