Six Nations: Italy punish lacklustre Scotland in Rome rain – Worldwide Dispatch

Scotland are dealing with a washout of a Six Nations marketing campaign after struggling a dispiriting opening loss to Italy in rain-soaked Rome.

Having come from 12 factors behind to stun the Scots in 2024, this time the Italians raced right into a 12-point lead.

The hole was down to a few by the ultimate whistle however Scotland didn’t do sufficient because the hosts made essentially the most of their speedy begin, superior set-piece and stable self-discipline.

Italy scored from their first assault as Louis Lynagh slid in to complete off a beautiful grubber kick from Juan Ignacio Brex.

The Scottish defence was uncovered once more quickly after, with Jamie Dobie crushed to a excessive ball and Tommaso Menoncello dashing down the left flank to attain with ease.

Amid a torrential downpour, Jack Dempsey powered by means of from shut vary to cut back the deficit.

However Paolo Garbisi popped over a penalty after an astonishing drop-goal miss from proper in entrance of the posts to provide Italy an eight-point benefit on the interval.

With gamers aquaplaning throughout the soggy floor and the error depend sky excessive, Finn Russell and Garbisi exchanged penalties earlier than Scotland’s alternative hooker George Turner was despatched to the bin for a rash clear-out.

The situations had been close to farcical, the ball often squirming by means of fingers and set-pieces a multitude, with Scotland making the lion’s share of blunders.

Then, virtually out of nowhere, alternative scrum-half George Horne slithered throughout the grass and into the nook, though Russell couldn’t add the extras.

A 3-point recreation going into the ultimate 10 minutes, Italy held their nerve and did the easy issues higher to see out a deserved victory.