Scotland came back from a 24-12 deficit to break Italian hearts and win 29-27 in Rome on Saturday.DYLAN JACK reports.
Italy will have been crestfallen at full time, having forced Scotland into making numerous attacking and defensive errors throughout the match.
However, Scotland produced a far more clinical second-half performance, with the boot of scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw ultimately winning the match for them.
Italy came out flying in the first half, taking an early 3-0 lead through a penalty from Tommaso Allan.
The visitors seemed to settle when they piled the pressure on Italy and hooker Fraser Brown scored a try after a break from Finn Russell.
The hosts then stunned Scotland; after taking the ball through a number of phases in the Scotland 22, Allan stepped through a few tackles to score near the posts.
Italy then extended their lead through a well-worked try from fullback Matteo Minozzi, before Scotland responded with John Barclay going over from a maul to make it 17-12 at half-time.
The Italians got off to a dream start in the second half when Allan went over for his second try after flank Jake Polledri broke through the midfield.
Trailing by 12 points, Scotland needed a response and got it when Sean Maitland went over after a number of phases in the Italian 22.
Scotland then took the lead as Stuart Hogg scored after a powerful driving maul carried them near the tryline.
There was to be late drama as Allan kicked a penalty to give Italy the lead with only four minutes left in the match.
However, Scotland won a penalty from another strong maul, which gave Laidlaw the opportunity to snatch victory.
Scotland – Tries: Fraser Brown, John Barclay, Sean Maitland, Stuart Hogg. Conversions: Greig Laidlaw (3). Penalty: Laidlaw
Italy – Tommaso Allan (2), Matteo Minozzi. Conversions: Allan (3). Penalties: Allan (2).
Italy – 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Tommaso Castello, 11 Mattia Bellini, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Jake Polledri, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Dean Budd, 4 Alessandro Zanni, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lovotti.
Subs: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Nicola Quaglio, 18 Tiziani Pasquali, 19 Abraham Steyn, 20 Giovanni Licata, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Jayden Hayward.
Scotland – 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Nick Grigg, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 John Barclay (c), 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Gordon Reid.
Subs: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Richie Gray, 20 David Denton, 21 Ali Price, 22 Pete Horne, 23 Blair Kinghorn
Photo: Steve Paston/Getty Images
