Italy 18-15 Scotland: Gregor Townsend's visitors begin Six Nations with shock defeat in heavy Rome rain
Louis Lynagh, Tommaso Menoncello score tries for Italy, while fly-half Paolo Garbisi adds eight points off the kicking tee in rain-sodden conditions; Scotland score tries through Jack Dempsey, George Horne, narrowing to within three points but failed to kick on and avoid defeat in Rome
Saturday 7 February 2026 16:41, UK
Scotland began their 2026 Six Nations campaign in the worst possible manner with a 18-15 defeat to Italy in heavy Rome rain.
Wing Louis Lynagh and centre Tommaso Menoncello scored tries for Italy, while fly-half Paolo Garbisi added a conversion and two penalties.
Scotland, who trailed by two scores for much of the contest, scored two tries through No 8 Jack Dempsey and replacement scrum-half George Horne, with Finn Russell adding a conversion and penalty.
But Gregor Townsend's Scots - who saw replacement hooker George Turner sin-binned in the second half - could not kick on to complete the turnaround, losing by three in the Italian capital.
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A scrappy start to proceedings saw both sides lose respective opening lineouts, with Scotland then losing a second lineout ball when well-placed in the Italy 22.
A Lorenzo Cannone breakdown penalty win took Italy down the field, and in the eighth minute the hosts struck for the first try as Lynagh raced on to reach a sublime Juan Ignacio Brex grubber-kick assist.
Paolo Garbisi's conversion was missed off the post, and Italy were soon under pressure after they spilled the Scotland restart and then shipped a scrum penalty.
Scotland's subsequent lineout in the 22 was stolen again by Italy to end the chance, however.
Instead, Italy scored their second try moments later as Lynagh got up to claim a high Alessandro Fusco box-kick for a stunning catch above his head, with play spread to the left and athletic centre Menoncello sprinting on to score in the corner.
Garbisi converted this time for 12-0, but Scotland were straight onto the attack in response when Italy were caught offside and Finn Russell kicked play right into the corner for a five-metre lineout attack.
Again, Scottish lineout possession was scrappy (ball spilled backwards), but the visitors crucially maintained possession to keep attacking. A terrible refereeing error by Ben O'Keeffe saw Italy flanker Manuel Zuliani go unrewarded for a clear breakdown penalty, with Scotland back-row Dempsey then stepping and diving over.
Russell converted for 12-7, but after visiting captain Sione Tuipulotu was pinged for obstruction, Italy kicked into the corner, where they forced a Garbisi penalty to stretch the lead to 15-7 - after the Italian No 10 had missed a drop-goal on advantage from directly in front.
With the half drawing to a close in biblical rain, Garbisi put another missed drop-goal wide.
Menoncello made a superb long break early into the second half, but Italy missed out on a try when Scotland's scramble defence did enough.
The away side lost their first three lineouts after the break - the third from five metres out - but Scotland did add three points via the boot of Russell.
Scotland wing Jamie Dobie carried the restart into touch, and Italy took advantage to add three more points when hooker Ewan Ashman caught Zuliani high, restoring the two-score lead.
Russell kicked the restart straight out, but Italy's position of promise ended due to a Lynagh neck-roll on George Turner.
Turner was soon sin-binned for a shoulder charge ruck clear-out on Zuliani, but Italy failed to add further points in their 10 minutes against a man less.
When clear obstruction on wing Monty Ioane was missed, it proved significant as Italy were soon penalised for offside.
Scotland kicked into the corner, and Horne slid over within moments to score with most of the rest of the players on the pitch sucked into a maul.
Russell's conversion drifted wide to leave the gap at three points, and despite an extended 29-phase last-gasp attack which saw Scotland edge into the Italy 22, a choke-tackle maul brought Italy a deserved victory.
Tuipulotu: Defeat very frustrating | Lamaro: This win will give us so much confidence going forward
Scotland captain Sione Tuipolotu to BBC Sport:
"It's very frustrating, we let them score too easily early on and then in the conditions points are too hard to come across.
"The errors are on us, we were too loose in the carry, they ultimately adjusted better than we did and that's on us."
Italy captain Michele Lamaro to BBC Sport:
"The team, this jersey and my heart, we are here to do this sort of game, we train so hard for the joy of doing this.
"It's been an honour to get this big achievement, Scotland are such a great team and we know what they can do.
"To get a win against a team like that gives us so much confidence."
What's next?
Scotland next host England at Murrayfield in Edinburgh for their second Six Nations clash on Saturday February 14 (4.40pm kick-off).
Italy travel to play Ireland in Round 2 of the Six Nations on Saturday February 14 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (2.10pm kick-off).
