Scotland inflicts on winless Italy record 52-10 defeat

Scotland rebounded from tumbling out of the Six Nations title hunt by inflicting on Italy inevitable defeat by a record 52-10 in an empty Murrayfield on Saturday.

Italy scored the opening try against the team it looks forward to most playing in the tournament, and the game was an actual contest — until the 20th minute when Italy center Federico Mori was sin-binned for a late shoulder charge on opposite Sam Johnson.

While Mori was out for 10 minutes, Scotland poured in its third and bonus-point fourth tries to jump from 12-10 to 24-10 and the tension drained away.

A Scotland much changed from losing to Ireland last week finished with eight tries and some team records: Highest score in the Six Nations era, and biggest win over Italy.

This young Italy side completed a sixth consecutive tournament whitewash breaking its own records: Most points conceded in the Six Nations era, 239, the most since its debut in 2000, and 34 tries conceded. Also, Italy's tournament losing streak extended to a record 32 matches.

The Italians undermined their cause by three yellow cards -- they were briefly down to 13 in the second half -- born of frustration without the ball more than nastiness.

By halftime, Scotland's 24-10 lead could still be overcome but Italy was being too passive. There was no pressure on the Scottish lineout -- where Ireland humiliated them last week -- and the inside backs, allowing the home side to move the ball wide and find space. Italy missed 27 tackles in the half, 49 by the end of the match — an amount another team might concede over the whole tournament.

After Italy captain Luca Bigi scored from a lineout drive in the sixth minute, Scotland replicated the same move for its own hooker, firsttime starter David Cherry.

Duhan van der Merwe was next over after a 50-meter break up the middle by center Huw Jones, and Jones gave the last pass for wing Darcy Graham to score after breaks by Cherry from a lineout and Sean Maitland.

Graham had the wind knocked out of him by a great tackle by opposite Montanna Ioane but recovered to start a counterattack that finished with Jones streaking away to the posts.

Scotland secured the result five minutes after the break with Cherry's second try from a drive off an uncontested lineout.

Italy then suffered yellow cards to flanker Sebastian Negri for knocking the ball out of Hamish Watson's hands, and to Ioane for a tip tackle on Scotland captain and part-time flyhalf Stuart Hogg.

Scotland added tries to scrumhalf Scott Steele, Johnson, and Van der Merwe for his second. But no more when the teams returned to 15 on 15.

Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe, right, is tackled by Italy's Stephen Varney