Italy vs Scotland LIVE: Six Nations 2022 rugby line-ups, build-up and updates from Rome today

Scotland travel to Rome to take on Italy

Six Nations 2022 live updates from the Stadio Olimpico as Italy host Scotland in round four with both teams desperate to start making amends in a championship that has gone awry for them.

Scotland’s tournament got off to a promising start when they beat England in round 1 to win back-to-back Calcutta Cup matches for the first time since 1984 but a narrow defeat to an average Wales and a heavier one to a rampaging France have squandered any momentum and left them scrapping to salvage anything from this year’s championship.

A game against Italy, whose torturous wait for a first Six Nations victory since 2015 rumbles on, could be exactly what the doctor ordered for Gregor Townsend’s men as they look to add to the Azzurri’s woe after their seemingly inevitable heavy defeats to France and England in the opening two rounds were followed by a tough loss in Dublin, where a niche World Rugby law reduced them to 13 players en route to a 57-6 beating.

Italy have found more success against Scotland than they have against any other country since joining the Six Nations in 2000 – enjoying seven wins – but victory here in Rome would rank as one of their most surprising of all.

Follow below for live updates from Italy vs Scotland in the Six Nations below:

Recommended

Can Italy challenge Scotland’s defensive edges?

Italy persist with a midfield containing two distributors, with Leonardo Marin alongside Paolo Garbisi. Going down to 13 so early meant that we didn’t see the Italians attack quite as planned against Ireland, but there were some really clever touches. Scotland’s defence showed some chinks against France, and while Italy can’t quite move the ball in the way the Six Nations leaders can, Garbisi and Marin can present tricky pictures for Chris Harris and co to decipher.

The problem for Italy remains chance conversion and red zone execution. When they make a line-break, there is a tendency to offload ambitiously or force a pass rather than play through the phases with greater composure. Part of that comes with the territory of a young team, but Kieran Crowley will be hoping for better.

Team News – Scotland

The return to fitness of Hamish Watson and Matt Fagerson is a boon for Scotland, with Gregor Townsend retaining Rory Darge alongside his first-choice 7-8 pairing. Darge and Watson should dovetail if the Stadio Olimpico track is fast. George Turner and Stuart McInally swap hooker roles.

Duhan van der Merwe has been banned for three weeks after his elbow made contact with the head of fellow Scotland squad member Kyle Rowe during fallow week Premiership action, so Townsend gives Kyle Steyn a first start of the tournament. Sam Johnson replaces Sione Tuipulotu, and it’s fifty up for Ali Price.

Continuing the Gloucester theme, livewire ex-Kingsholmer Ben Vellacott awaits a debut at scrum-half on the Scotland bench, while Adam Hastings is back in favour and provides fly-half cover.

Scotland XV: Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson; Skinner, Gilchrist; Darge, Watson, M Fagerson; Price, Russell; Steyn, Johnson, Harris, Graham; Hogg.

Replacements: McInally, Dell, Nel, Hodgson, Bradbury; Vellacott, Hastings, Tuipulotu.

Team News – Italy

In case you, somehow, missed it, Italy lost two hookers against Ireland, with Gianmarco Lucchesi tournament ended by a dislocated elbow and Hame Faiva’s Six Nations also over after his shoulder made contact with Dan Sheehan’s head. That means two new twos for Kieran Crowley: former skipper Luca Bigi is back on the bench but the starting berth at the centre of the front row is given to debutant Giacomo Nicotera.

There’s a single change in the backs, as Callum Braley steps in for his former Gloucester colleague Stephen Varney. Braley returns to English rugby with Northampton from the summer, and will hope to allow the dual playmaker axis of Leonardo Marin and Paolo Garbisi to play a little more than against Italy

On the bench, France-based Ange Capuozzo has plenty of admirers and is primed for a debut in the back three – he’s seriously quick and has been going well for Grenoble in ProD2.

Italy XV: Fischetti, Nicotera, Ceccarelli; Cannone, Ruzza; Pettinelli, Lamaro, Halafihi; Braley, Garbisi; Ioane, Marin, Brex, Bruno; Padovani

Replacements: Bigi, Nemer, Zilocchi, Sisi, Zuliani; Fusco, Zanon, Capuozzo

Scotland vs Italy

It’s the penultimate Six Nations Saturday, and the action begins in Italy as Scotland look to right their slide towards the bottom of the table against Kieran Crowley’s fighting side, who might just have a point to prove after the farcical circumstances in Dublin two weeks ago. It looks a lovely spring day in Rome – let’s take a closer look at the two starting sides…

Scotland vs Italy

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Italy vs Scotland in Rome, as both sides desperately try to salvage something from a Six Nations that has gone badly off track.

Without a Six Nations win since 2015, Italy’s struggles have not been wholly surprising but scoring just one try in the first three rounds has been frustrating as Kieran Crowley’s first championship in charge has offered the odd positive sign but been largely disheartening.

Scotland were dreaming of a first title since 1999 when they beat England in round one to record back-to-back Calcutta Cup victories for the first time since 1984 but a frustrating loss to Wales and a complete outclassing at the hands of France since have stalled any momentum.

A game against the Azzurri could help cure plenty of ills but Gregor Townsend’s men will be wary of an unforgivable slip-up against the Six Nations’ whipping boys before rounding out their tournament against Ireland next weekend.

Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism

By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists

{{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}

By clicking ‘Create my account’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.

Already have an account? sign in

By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.

Source: Read Full Article