Florence machine
Relentless Scots make it 5 wins in a row
Scotland were given a fright in Florence but battled through their Autumn Nations Cup opener to make it five straight wins.
Gregor Townsend’s team reached that landmark for only the second time in the professional era but for an hour that run looked under serious threat and the coach knows they’ll have to step a level next week against France.
He said: “We’re all aware we’ll have to up our game next week. France are very, very good.
“They’re full of confidence. That’s a great test for us, to take on one of the best teams in the world right now.
“We definitely stepped up a couple of levels today. That’s what you want to see as a coaching team, that the team has found a way to win and has confidence of winning.
“There’s a lot to improve on the training field but it’s good to see the players sticking together, being even more determined to find a way.”
Italy have lost 27 straight Six Nations games but it appeared they might be about to start this one-off tournament with a shock victory.
Two early Paolo Garbisi penalties emphasised the Azzurri’s dominance in the opening 20 minutes.
Scotland did eventually get a foothold as Stuart Hogg twice turned down the posts to pin Italy in the corner.
The decision paid off after 24 minutes with the opening try as Scotland’s forward surge opened the door for winger Duhan van der Merwe to score with Duncan Weir converting.
Italy hit back with a stunning try. Marco Zanon barged over Weir before Marcello Violi and Mattia Bellini pinballed some rapid offloads and Matteo Minozzi dived over to complete a classic score.
Italy’s lead was stretched to seven points two minutes after the change of ends as Garbisi slotted another penalty.
A forward pass from Sam Johnson denied Weir his comeback try moments later as the TMO intervened to alert referee Luke Pearce.
But the officials could find nothing wrong with Zander Fagerson’s touchdown four minutes later as Italy switched off to allow the prop through. A couple of brave, flat passes from Weir took Scotland into the Italian 22 but Fagerson could barely believe his luck when the hosts stopped dead as Hamish Watson’s offload from the floor deflected off Jake Polledri’s hand into his grasp. Weir’s conversion brought the scores level but Italy came roaring back.
However, they will certainly be frustrated they could only take another Garbisi penalty from a raid that looked so promising at one stage.
The Scots had it all to do in the final quarter but a big Watson turnover was the game changer they needed. George Turner punctured a huge hole in the Italian defence as Scott Cummings timed his charge perfectly to crash over. Turner then secured the bonus-point win with four minutes left.
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