Shocker for Scots as Trulla’s late score seals it

JACOPO Trulla’s try sealed a brilliant opening victory for Italy as Scotland mounted a fightback trailing 25-22.

Italy head coach Fabio Roselli said: “The way we started the game gave us confidence and although Scotland came back at us I had always had belief that the team could win. We can build on this now.”

A penalty by Paolo Garbisi, a try by Matteo Nocera and a second Garbis penalty put Italy 11-0 up in fine style before a Ross Thompson put Scotland on the board before the break.

Skipper Connor Boyle and Charlie Jupp both scored to put Scotland 1711 up with just over half an hour to go but Italy rallied and converted tries from Niccolo Taddia and Federico Mori put them in front 25-17.

With less than 10 minutes left on the clock, substitute Rufus McLean gave the hosts hope when he dived over but Jacopo's late score handed the Italians a hardfought first win of the Championship.

Scotland head coach Carl Hogg said: “We came into the game wanting to play at pace, but our high error count made it difficult to maintain the level of intensity we were looking for.

“We showed ourselves the template of how we want to play in that 20 minute period after halftime, when we were nice and composed and put some speed on the ball and we looked a good side. But we didn’t do it consistently over the 80 minutes.”