15. Stuart Hogg: 6
His kick offs were far better placed than Russell’s efforts in the first two weeks, and he ran with intent, although faded in the second half. His distribution let him down twice, and is the only barrier to his stepping in more frequently at first receiver.
14. Tommy Seymour: 6
Good break on 15 mins off Horne’s shoulder and otherwise looked dangerous. One of the few Scotland players to display real desire.
13. Mark Bennett: 6
Bennett’s well-read interception was a first try for his country that has been some time coming, and he also produced a good turnover early in the second half while making metres with ball in hand.
12. Alex Dunbar: 6
A cute kick to the corner in the first half showed a side of his play not often seen. He enjoyed a searing outside break inside 2 minutes, and made some significant incisions in the second half, but Favaro’s rise to prominence put paid to any easy yards through the 12 channel.
11. Sean Lamont: 5
A foot in touch off a kick-off gave Italy the field position for their first try, while his unfortunate forward pass meant Hogg’s try was disallowed. Always willing and effective in ball-carrying and in defence, but no longer provides a finisher’s pace or agility.
10. Peter Horne: 7
It all started so well. Horne’s distribution was pin-point, leading to Dunbar’s break on 2 mins, and put Seymour into space later on by fixing the Italian defence. At that stage, Horne was fizzing and the Scots looked rampant. Missing touch on 76 minutes was a mistake, but on this form Scotland might well have conspired to lose even if he had put the ball out of play.
9. Greig Laidlaw: 5
Knocked over all the regulation 1st half pens to put Scotland in a comfortable position, but was terribly hesitant in the second half. Given that he is in the side to manage the game, it is the cause of some concern that Scotland threw it away in such fashion in the second forty.
1. Alasdair Dickinson: 6
Along with Gray, Dickinson provides the work rate in defence for the Scottish forwards. Against a fired up Italian pack, the scrum held up reasonably well.
2. Ross Ford: 6
The Scottish line out ran at about 75%, by no means disastrous, but not as tidy as it has been. For a man of his size and as a former back-rower, he would want more from his carrying.
3. Euan Murray: 5
Completed a diligent job at scrum time, where Scotland held up well, but Murray offers so little else compared to other modern props, with no carries and a mere 3 tackles.
4. Tim Swinson: 6
Swinson carried with enthusiasm as usual, but the Scottish pack lacked the bite and relentlessness of the Italians.
5. Jonny Gray: 6
As usual, he finished top of the tackling chart for Scotland, but he was unable to assert his authority on the game.
6. Rob Harley: 5
Along with Beattie was inconspicuous, but for such an old-school blindside, he did little to put the Italians off their game.
7. Blair Cowan: 7
Came away with a timely first half turnover when Scotland were under pressure, and carried aggressively. He stands out in this Scotland pack for his mix of physicality and ease with ball in hand. It is evident his development into a professional player did not take place in Scotland. He may be wondering what he’s got himself into.
8. Johnnie Beattie: 5
He has significant natural talent, but struggled to get into the game. Substituted after 50 minutes for Hamish Watson.
Replacements: 5
The Scottish bench is not a bad one, but the circumstances in which they were introduced to the game were surprising. Hidalgo-Clyne replaced Laidlaw with eight minutes to go while the Scots were facing a scrum on their own try line. Debutants Ben Toolis and Hamish Watson were both sin-binned. Geoff Cross did well to win the scrum penalty that should have brought the Scots to safety.
ITALY
15. Luke McLean: 7
Italy’s languid full back popped up everywhere, particularly at first receiver, where he was rather more fluid than Haimona. This was an assured if unspectacular performance.
14. Michele Visentin: 6
Quiet but functional game on debut. Had Furno’s pass in the 69th minute found him, he would have had a real opportunity to show his attacking talents.
13. Luca Morisi: 6
Without repeating his Twickenham exploits, he stood up well against Dunbar and Bennett.
12. Enrico Bacchin: 6
Didn’t have too many opportunities in attack, but defended the 12 channel well on debut, making 11 tackles.
11. Giovambattista Venditti: 7
The only alert player on the pitch when Haimona’s penalty struck the upright. It was the kind of dogged endeavour- not to mention shrewdness in grounding the ball- that was the difference between the sides.
10. Kelly Haimona: 4
Threw a horror pass for Bennett’s try, and more questionable goal kicking followed his 25% success rate at Twickenham. Remarkably, another missed penalty, cannoning off the upright, produced an Italy try. He was substituted through injury shortly after half time.
9. Edoardo Gori: 7
Gori delivered another tidy performance and kept Italy’s tempo up when they did have the ball. Outplayed Laidlaw by offering greater direction and zeal.
1. Matias Aguero: 6
The Argentinian-born prop produced a solid if unremarkable performance at loose head. He might have expected more change of a Scottish pack not renowned for size.
2. Leonardo Ghiraldini: 8
His enthusiastic carrying, which at times showcased some nimble footwork, was notable, and he was Italy’s second top tackler with 13.
3. Dario Chistolini: 6
As a replacement for one Italy’s genuine superstars, the former Gloucester prop performed creditably in the set piece.
4. George Biagi: 7
Biagi produced a good hit on Dickinson early on to stop the Scotland loose-head dead. Not as conspicuous as Furno in attack, but he was Italy’s leading tackler.
5. Josh Furno: 8
In his direct running and offloading, he matched his sublime performance last year, and secured Italy’s first try following a 10th minute maul in which the Italians were almost jogging forwards. Threw a ropey second half miss pass straight into touch, but one has to applaud the vision, if not the execution
6. Francesco Minto: 7
Most notable for his work-rate in defence, Minto was a part of a wider forward contest that was a case of men against boys.
7. Simone Favaro: 8
He followed a huge, textbook tackle on Harley with another on Alec Dunbar, shielding Tommy Allan from exposure to the Scottish 12. He will join Glasgow Warriors next season bearing a wry smile.
8. Sergio Parisse: 8
Not his finest game in terms of carrying, but his sheer presence was overwhelming. His influence was clear in the last phases of the game as Italy intelligently kept their rolling maul off the ground.
Replacements: 6
Tommy Allan missed a genuine sitter after coming on, and failed to take the opportunity to take the 10 shirt from Haimona. Replacement hooker Andrea Manici found his man well in testing circumstances in the last ten minutes.
By Charlie King (@CharlescpKing)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
