HOW THE SCOTS PLAYED

▪ STUART HOGG (7 out of 10) – Showed both sides of his game with a great try-saving tackle early on and then a terrific individual try.

▪ SEAN MAITLAND (6) – Kept his direct opponent out of the game. But the Scots gameplan isn’t getting the most out of the wingers.

▪ CHRIS HARRIS (6) – Pretty anonymous until he scored the second try. Not convinced he justified his selection ahead of Huw Jones.

▪ SAM JOHNSON (7) – An absolute Duracell bunny of a centre. If everyone had his work ethic we’d be more entertained.

▪ BLAIR KINGHORN (6) –

Showed some nice footballing skills on the left flank but never likely to repeat last year’s hat-trick against the same opponents.

▪ ADAM HASTINGS (5) – Poor kicking from hand and tee. Made a good break, but ignored support to his right and blew the chance. Just not a good game from the stand-off.

▪ ALI PRICE (6) – Box-kicking radar was a bit off, a couple going out on the full. But his replacement, George Horne, did exactly the same.

▪ RORY SUTHERLAND (8) –

Showing what Scotland have missed over four injury-hit years, looks every inch the answer to the lack of loosehead props.

▪ STUART McINALLY (6) – The lineout went better than last time out and the scrum was solid, as it has been all championship.

▪ ZANDER FAGERSON (7) – Got on the wrong side of the ref early doors, then got on top of his opponent – and stayed there.

▪ BEN TOOLIS (6) – Nowhere near a like-for-like replacement for tackle machine Jonny Gray. Not sure what his point of difference is.

▪ SCOTT CUMMINGS (7) –

Outshone his second-row partner and must have been as mystified as the rest of us when he was hooked and Toolis finished the game on the paddock.

▪ JAMIE RITCHIE (7) – Perpetual motion personified, it’s tiring just watching this fella at work. Even in an inch-perfect clearance kick.

▪ HAMISH WATSON (8) – Man of the Match got through a power of work at the breakdown, not all of which the ref ruled legal.

▪ MAGNUS BRADBURY (6) –

Quietest of the back row but he was up against a very decent Italian unit.

▪ REPLACEMENTS – None of them managed to improve the game.