Six Nations: Scotland halt losing streak with win over Italy in Rome
By Keith Moore
Last Updated: 27/02/16 7:57pm
Scotland ended their nine-game Six Nations losing streak with a 36-20 win over Italy in Rome on Saturday.
First-half tries from flankers John Barclay and John Hardie gave Scotland a 17-3 lead, but yellow cards late in the game shown to Finn Russell and WP Nel threatened to derail the Scottish cause as Italy fought back to within six points.
However a penalty from Greig Laidlaw gave Scotland breathing room before Tommy Seymour scored the try that sealed the win for Vern Cotter's men in the 78th minute. The victory brought to an end a nine-game losing streak in the Six Nations for Scotland, somewhat releasing the pressure that was building on Cotter and his side.
The Scots moved to fourth in the table with the win, though if Ireland beat England at Twickenham they will send Scotland into fifth. Italy, winless in this season's campaign, remain at the bottom of the standings.
It was the home side who opened the scoring in Rome through the boot of Kelly Haimona, but Scotland hit back with the first try of the game.
Tim Visser took the ball on the left side of the field and popped it to Stuart Hogg in the tackle. Hogg was brought down short of the line but from the floor he passed to Barclay in support, and the flanker rounded the defence to score.
Fly-half Russell then broke through the midfield to make headway into Italian territory, and once the ball was recycled, Laidlaw sent a long pass to Ryan Wilson down the right touchline. The No 8 drew the last defender to release Hardie in the corner for a dream start for Scotland.
Laidlaw converted both tries, and when Italy failed to roll away at the ruck in the 25th minute, the No 9 slotted a penalty to hand his side a 17-3 lead.
The score sparked a comeback from Italy, who spent the next five minutes with the majority of possession and territory, before scoring arguably the try of the game. The initial pass from Sergio Parisse in midfield sent David Odiete through, and the full-back passed to Gonzalo Garcia who made his way deep into the Scottish 22.
Garcia then gave the ball back to Odiete in the tackle, and the full-back offloaded to Leonardo Ghiraldini for a superb team try. The conversion meant Italy were just seven points down on the half-hour mark.
When Scotland were awarded a scrum penalty inside the Italian side of the field with seconds left in the first half, Laidlaw lined up a shot at goal but he missed the effort to leave his side one score ahead.
He made no such mistake at the beginning of the second half, slotting a 46th-minute goal, but it was matched by one from Haimona shortly after.
Scotland then began to muscle ahead and milked two further kickable penalties to make it 26-13 after an hour.
Disaster then struck for Scotland who had been warned numerous times for infringements near their own line. When Italy were camped on the opposition line Russell slowed the ball down and referee Jaco Peyper showed him a yellow card for cynical play.
The home side used the extra man to their advantage immediately, with Marco Fuser wrestling the ball over from close range. Haimona converted but Laidlaw pulled back another three points from the tee to give his side a nine-point lead.
When Nel was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-down with five minutes remaining it seemed as though Italy could still have an influence on the game, but a brilliant offload from Hogg sent Seymour into the in-goal area to hand Scotland a relieving win in Rome.
