Scotland U20 10 – 22 Italy U20

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 31: Scotland's Joe Roberts (centre) in action during an Under-20's Six Nations match between Scotland and Italy at the Hive Stadium, on January 31, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ewan Bootman / SNS Group)

Despite two fantastic team tries, the Scots came undone in the second half thanks to two tries and numerous penalties.

Italy U20 kicked off the match towards the Riverside Stand of Hive Stadium. Scotland U20 won two penalties within the first 90 seconds. The first penalty was granted after Jack Brown was taken in the air and the second for the Italian player not rolling away. Scotland had gotten into their opposition’s 22 but the lineout was deemed squint by tonight’s referee Sara Cox.

Scotland had set up some good attacking phases but conceded a penalty for holding onto the ball. Italy had the attack from the home side’s 22 but a huge defensive shift from Scotland saw them win the scrum and in turn, a free kick.

Imminently, Italy were back in Scottish territory but Scotland again had managed to win a penalty due to the young Azzurri sealing off in the ruck. They had conceded another very shortly after.

Scotland won another penalty at the breakdown and managed to get themselves 10 metres from the Italian’s line. Scotland used their strong driving maul to get Billy Allen to open the scoring for the home side just after 15 minutes. The conversion was missed. (5-0).

Italy looked to break away through Jules Ducros, but a forward pass spoiled any chance, and Scotland had the scrum which won them a penalty as the Italians engaged early. Scotland had some strong carries and were so close but conceded a penalty for holding onto the ball. The kick didn’t find touch and the Scots were on the rampage again.

Then, Italy won the penalty and had the lineout on our 22-metre line. Dan Halkon looked like he had managed to get onto the ball, but the ref saw differently, and the Italians won another penalty which took them just 5 metres out. A huge defensive shift from the boys in blue saw the ball get held up over the line.

Italy looked to break away, but another forward pass put the end to that. Scotland passed the ball along their back line but great timing from Italy’s Federico Zanandrea perfectly intercepted the ball and made a 40-metre dash under the sticks to get the Italians on the scoreboard at the half hour mark. The conversion from Roberto Fasti an easy success. (5-7)

After a commotion as to whether the Italian lineout was squint or not from the travelling fans, a knock on saw possession back in favour of the Scots. From the back of the ruck, Matthew Urwin kicked the ball out to close the first half with the Italians just two points ahead.

Half-time: Scotland U20 5 – 7 Italy U20

Scotland put in a huge attacking shift and a knock on from Italy just inside their half gave Scotland a good opportunity. They had won a penalty before the scrum even happened and had the lineout on the Italian 22. However, Alessio Caiolo-Serra stole the ball. A break from Ducros saw the Italians dash up field and Niccolo Beni crossed the whitewash with six minutes of the second half played. The conversion was missed. (5-12).

Scotland went on the counterattack, but Italy managed to turn over the ball in the ruck. The visitors made a run up the far side wing but went into touch and Scotland were back on the ball. The forwards made some strong carries but conceded a penalty for holding onto the ball in the ruck. Fasti looked to add three points from about 50 metres out, but he missed, and the Scots were back in action.

However, the ball was put in touch and the Italians were making in yards – the Italian openside flanker passed the ball to no one and the Scots had the lineout just 5 metres from their own line. The Italians however won back possession and fighting for every inch as the Scots were letting them get nowhere. However, Beni saw the gap for Edoardo Todaro to dot down right between the sticks at the 62^nd minute. The conversion from Fasti again a success (5-19).

Guy Rogers made a great run down his right wing and was just five away from glory when he was taken down. The Italians won the ball in the turnover and kicked to clear but great work from Jack Brown managed to get the ball in the air and land still on the pitch. The Scots set up for a strong attack, but an unfortunate forward pass gave Italy the scrum.

Italy enjoyed some possession but when they kicked to clear, Jack Brown took the ball well and made a great run to get his side gaining metres. The Italians a few phases later turned the ball over, but a knock on from them gave the Scottish boys a scrum and then penalty just out of Italy’s 22.

The subsequent lineout maul also gave the Scots a penalty advantage. When they came back for the penalty advantage, the next maul and forwards phases saw Oliver Duncan reap the joys of his first ever Scotland U20 try at 72 minutes. The conversion was unfortunately missed (10-19).

From the restart, Italy won a scrum and then worked up the pitch but was tackled into touch by Rogers to give Scotland some respite. However, it didn’t matter as the Italians won a free kick from the scrum and then a penalty. Fasti kicked an extra three points to widen the gap with just 90 seconds left to play (10-22).

Scotland from the restart managed to keep possession and get just 5 metres away again. They also won a penalty in that attack, however they were tackled from the tap and go and the Italians managed to turn the ball over and they kicked the ball out to end the game in the Italian’s favour.

Full-time: Scotland U20 10 – 22 Italy U20

Scotland U20: 15. Jack Brown (Edinburgh Rugby), 14. Guy Rogers (University of Surrey/Harlequins),13. Johnny Ventisei CAPTAIN,12. Kerr Yule, 11. Fergus Watson, 10. Matthew Urwin (all Glasgow Warriors), 9. Noah Cowan (Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders); 1. Oliver McKenna, 2. Joe Roberts (both Glasgow Warriors), 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), 4. Charlie Moss (Montpellier), 5. Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors), 6. Christian Lindsay (Loretto School/Edinburgh Rugby), 7. Billy Allen (Dungannon RFC), 8. Reuben Logan (Northampton Saints).

Replacements: 16. Seb Stephen (Edinburgh Academical FC) (for Roberts 62 mins), 17. Jake Shearer (Glasgow Warriors) (for McKenna 58 mins), 18. Ryan Whitefield (Biggar RFC) (for Blyth-Lafferty 78 mins), 19. Bart Godsell (Loughborough University) (for Moss 49 mins), 20. Oliver Duncan (for Lindsay 49 mins), 21. Hector Patterson (for Cowan 49 mins), 22. Ross Wolfenden (for Urwin 76 mins), 23. Nairn Moncrieff (all Edinburgh Rugby) (for Watson 64 mins).

Italy U20: 15. Gianmarco Pietramala 14. Jules Ducros 13. Federico Zanandrea, 12. Edoardo Todaro 11. Malik Faissal 10. Roberto Fasti 9. Niccolo Beni; 1. Sergio Pelliccioli 2. Alessio Caiolo-Serra 3. Bruno Vallesi 4. Tommaso Redondi 5. Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 6. Antony Italo Miranda 7. Nelson Casartelli 8. Giacomo Milano CAPTAIN.

Replacements: 16. Giacomo Casiraghi 17. Christian Brasini 18. Nicola Bolognini 19. Pietro Melegari 20. Carlo Antonio Bianchi 21. Matteo Bellotto 22. Pietro Celi 23. Giacomo Ndoumbe Lobe.

Player of the Match: Edoardo Todaro (Italy)

Referee: Sara Cox
AR1: Anthony Woodthorpe
AR2: Joe James
TMO: Adam Jones