The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Azzurri won’t fear Scots
Seymour convinced Italy are not scared of anyone as Dark Blues look to ‘turn losses into wins’
Italy have gone beyond targeting their annual clash with Scotland as the game they can win in the RBS 6 Nations as the fear factor has diminished, believes Tommy Seymour.
The wing, one of the best performers in the loss in Cardiff two weeks ago, sees the Azzurri as much improved, even from their win at Murrayfield a year ago and reckons they are targeting wins in every game rather than what has become the perennial “wooden spoon decider”.
“We can’t get too caught up in their result against England because I think that overshadowed how they played in that game,” said the wing.
“If they hadn’t conceded that unfortunate intercept try they were looking a lot stronger going into the last phase of the game. It could have been a lot tighter.
“I think Italy showed, especially in the first weekend against France, they don’t really have a fear factor any more–they’ re not scared of anyone.
“We certainly have to be aware that they’re coming off the back of that result, which was unjust in regards to how they played.
“They’ll certainly be hurting, are back home in front of their own supporters, and the way they like to play anyway in regards to the passion they bring, they’re going to be up for this game and will be looking to come out all guns blazing.”
For Scotland, continued Seymour, there was no escaping the “black and white facts” that the team had now gone nine games without a Six Nations win.
“We want to turn losses into wins, but you can’t hide from it, the (results) are there for us all to see,” he said.
“It’s not something we are proud of, it’s not something we can shirk and it’s something we have to take responsibility for. Losing valiantly isn’t good enough. We need to turn the tide.”
The three games they played against the Italians in 2015 – the gut-wrenching Six Nations loss, the narrow first World Cup warm-up win in Turin and the rout at Murrayfield in the second pre-tournament game – have been looked at but more in terms of patterns than results, he said.
“There’s no hangover from a year ago, we let go of that a long time ago,” he said.
“We’re aware that Italy are a good side and they’ve improved since then.
“We’re preparing for this game in terms of the quality of side they are, not really the events of last year, but if you need a reminder in your head that they’ re aside who can turn you over, it’ s certainly there.
“We’ve looked at all three games in terms of the game we want to play and what we don’t want to do.
“The home game was a good example of how we want to play against any team, which was free-flowing rugby and looking to get turnover ball and use that as a weapon.
“They’re more expansive now, they’ve brought in a steady 10 who’s playing well and Campagnaro in the centre is very good. He’s a very good footballer and I think he’s come on well. His move to Exeter has helped.”
But the Scots are mostly concerned with themselves, and acutely aware of the vital nature of this game.
“Everybody has said it, players, pundits and the media,” added Seymour.
“There have been a lot of positives but they don’t mean anything if they’re not changing the outcomes of games.
“We’re not feeling sorry for ourselves, we’re not giving ourselves pats on the back for the things we are doing well.
“Everyone in that changing room is fed up losing, we don’t like it and we’re done with it. We’ve been losing games by four or five point margin sand we’ re looking to turn that around.”