Scotland v Italy - Scottish Rugby

2023 Guinness Six Nations

18 Mar 2023 - 12:30 pm

Scottish Gas Murrayfield

Full-Time

26 - 14

view scoring

Tries

van der Merwe13′

Kinghorn30′

Kinghorn44′

Kinghorn81′

62′Allan

Conversions

Kinghorn31′

Kinghorn46′

Kinghorn82′

Penalties

8′Allan

16′Allan

66′Garbisi

Drop Goals

80'

Scotland 26-14 Italy

Full-time at BT Murrayfield and it’s Scotland who retain the Cuttitta Cup, winning a third match of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations to finish the championship in likely third place – which would be their highest since 2018.

In a match which Italy looked like they were about to snatch at the last, Scotland turned the final score on its head with a length-of-the-pitch score to put gloss on what was a very finely-balanced encounter.

Blair Kinghorn was the star of the Scottish show, his three tries and three conversions giving him a personal 21 points from his team’s 26 – Duhan van der Merwe adding the rest with a brilliantly-taken first half try for his 17th in dark blue (and change kits).

80'

TRY SCOTLAND!

Talk about a turnaround! At the death, and wit Italy out on their feet having botched the chance to snatch victory, Scotland find something from within to break from the scrum and launch what proves to be a devastating counter attack, the pitch-long. Ali Price feeds Blair Kinghorn, who gives Duhan van der Merwe the freedom of BT Murrayfield up the left touchline. With the crowd roaring him on, the winger has the presence of mind to pass inside to an onrushing Kinghorn in support, the stand-off cantering home and scoring beneath the posts to the delight – and relief – of the hime support. He converts his hat-trick try for a personal haul of 21 in a virtuoso performance.

77'

Another Italy penalty in tense finale

Scotland think they’ve fended off a now rampant Italy, but are again called for offside. A penalty five metres out and the Azzurri tap and go. Offside once more. Referee Gardner wants Jamie Ritchie that despite there being two minutes left, a sin bin is still an option. Chaos at BT Murrayfield.

62'

Try Italy

Well, the Italians in BT Murrayfield have certainly perked up! A beautifully-worked try hauls the visitors firmly back into things. A deft Garbisi grubber is served perfectly for Tommaso Allan to scoop up and dot down, the weight of the kick making it look so easy. Allan’s penalty is short but his side will be galvanised by the 19-11 scoreline.

70'

Nel bolsters front row ranks

WP Nel is summoned to see this one out, the prime scrummager replacing Zander Fagerson.

78'

Titanic home defence

Just when it looked like Italy were going to create an opportunity to score a try in front of the posts and win the game, as they did in Cardiff in 2022, they kick on in front of the Scottish posts.

65'

Italy make further inroads

Referee Gardner flags that Jack Dempsey has gone in at the side at ruck time and Paulo Garbisi, on his left foot, fancies a crack from 45m out. He makes it look like kicking practice and duly makes it 19-14. Game was always on but now everyone knows it.

68'

Healy on for Scotland debut

Ben Healy will be brimming with pride at his first Scotland cap, as he takes to the field to replace Ollie Smith, with Blair Kinghorn moving to play full-back. Cam Redpath is also on, for Sione Tuipulotu at centre. Ali Price makes a magnificent 50m run with ball in hand and all of a sudden, the BT Murrayfield crowd make themselves heard again. Last ten minutes, lots on the line.

75'

Italy patiently plotting

Cam Redpath almost intercepts for a clear run to the line 30m out, but knocks on. Italy win a free-kick from the resulting scrum and opt for the same again. They fly up the right wing through Pierre Bruno and then work the ball to Simone Gesi, with play brought back for a Scottish offside. Garbisi kicks to touch for a 5m line-out..

51'

Ashman and Matt Fagerson on for Scotland

Ewan Ashman replaces George Turner in what is a first appearance of the championship for the hooker. Hamish Watson takes his leave with Matt Fagerson coming on in his stead. You’d think Jamie Ritchie will go to openside, with Fagerson the younger at blindside.

56'

Further Scottish scrum joy

Italy decide to replace their props after ceding more ground at scrum time – and another penalty to give Scotland easy field position. With just under 25 minutes left at BT Murrayfield, the crowd is operating at a murmur rather than anything more lively. Italy huffing and puffing but getting very little change out of their possession around halfway.

60'

Triple change for Scotland

On the hour mark, Scotland decide to bring on Rory Sutherland for his first outing of the championship, in place of Pierre Schoeman. Scott Cummings is also on, for Jonny Gray, and Ali Price will take over at scrum-half from Ben White for the final 20 minutes.

13:20

Good start to the second half by Scotland

Unnecessary devilment at the breakdown from an Italian forward means penalty Scotland. Hungry for a third try, they kick to touch and set a platform to blitz the away team’s defences through multiple phase attack..

49'

Broken field ball almost pays dividends for Scots

It’s off-the-cuff but it’s brilliant from Scotland. A crunching Jack Dempsey tackle forces a turnover and with players stationed all over the shop, the ball gets thrown about like you would in a warm-up, but Scotland are calculated in their game plan and eventually grubber through to present Italy with the pressure of a line-out close to home.

40'

Ritchie harshly penalised

Scotland can’t quite muster a way through, Ollie Smith giving it a right good go after taking a flat pass on a beautiful line from Kinghorn. Eventually, Jamie Ritchie knocks on and is penalised for playing the ball on the deck – it looked like one movement, but the referee sees it differently. Half-time imminent, but Italy fancy one late surge from their attacking line-out.

41'

Last 40 of the championship

Blair Kinghorn, try scorer in the first half, gets the half going for the last time in this year’s Guinness Six Nations, Scotland up by six at 12-6 – that’s an old school scoreline isn’t it? 40 minutes to secure a third win of the 2023 competition. Come on Scotland!

40'

Scotland lead by six at the break

A half of entertaining if disjointed fare at BT Murrayfield. Scotland will ultimately be happy to be ahead, and almost scored at the very end there, but Kyle Steyn was a few metres short after a cracking counter, and the support was willing but the defence was more so.

Italy landed two penalties through Tommaso Allan, but Scotland are ahead thanks to well-taken tries from Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn, who converted his own.

Plenty more left in this one you feel and with Italy back to a full complement, the Azzurri will still be highly motivated to earn a first Edinburgh win since 2015.

33'

Italian foray into Scottish 22

Scotland are whistled for collapsing a scrum and Paulo Garbisi, from his own half, lands a telling touch. Now it’s the visitors’ chance to have a go at piercing what today is lilac defence lines.

44'

TRY SCOTLAND!

Again, Scotland convert when it looks on! Ben White fizzes the ball out to his right from a ruck about five metres out, and Blair Kinghorn bullies his way past the attentions of two Italian defenders to make it a brace on the day. He converts with aplomb, too, and Scotland are now 19-6 up.

13:20

Duhan the dainty

A 17th international try for Scotland’s prolific winger in what is only a 28th Test match. Some finish, too.

36'

14-men fall at the last

Italy look like they’re about to break through, five metres out, but in comic fashion knock on, even though it looks like the ball may have come off a head. Scotland’s scrum near their own line and Kinghorn clears very well. The Italian return is poor and as we approach half-time, the home team have a chance to make their way into an attacking position.

27'

Italian scrum creaking

Pierre Schoeman is dominating at scrum time. Marco Riccioni is somewhat at the mercy of the Scottish loosehead and coughs up consecutive penalties. Scotland opt again for a scrum, Angus Gardner having warned the visitors that any further issues may warrant a yellow card.

29'

Yellow for Fischetti

Danilo Fischetti is the recipient, the tighthead testing the referee’s patience to the point of a sin-binning. Scotland are, of course, going to scrum again, this time with a man advantage on the pitch. A split left-right back division looks very promising from here..

30'

TRY SCOTLAND!

And so it plays out! From the scrum, Ben White picks and goes, finds his stand-off and the rest is a question of outnumbering the defence. Blair Kinghorn plots his route and eases over for an 11th international try, which he converts, to give Scotland a 12-6 advantage after half an hour at BT Murrayfield.

20'

Super Italian defence thwarts Scotland

Scotland rumble and roll and career about the Italian 22 but can’t get purchase. They go wide but Blair Kinghorn is well bundled into touch but not before he tries to pass the ball back in and an blue shirt is the last touch so it’s a lilac line-out..

24'

Line-out goes awry; Italy sloppy though

The Scottish line-out isn’t on the money, however, and Italy get awarded the put-in after Jamie Ritchie just knocks the ball on in the throes of line-out combat. It’s Italy’s turn to be scrappy now though, an early engagement affording Scotland a free-kick. It’s a bit messy from both sides but certainly not without incident.

15'

Allan nicks Italy ahead in reply

A great response from the Azzurri, as Tommaso Allan slots his second penalty goal after Scotland are called for not releasing. Confident from the away side, who are ticking things along.

10'

Scotland showing their hand

Some nice possession enjoyed by Scotland, who are starting to settle. Italy called for playing the man without the ball about 30m out, and the home side don’t fancy the three, so kick to touch.

13'

TRY SCOTLAND!

Italy offside as Scotland threaten, and it’s another penalty. Turner taps and goes in that old fashioned, yet thrilling, option. From the quick ruck, Huw Jones rifles a beauty of a flat pass to Duhan van der Merwe, who balletically finishes in the corner! A 17th Scotland try for the big winger and few will have been better taken. The touchline conversion from Blair Kinghorn is struck well but just misses left. Scotland lead 5-3

Allan makes no mistake this time; Italy lead

George Turner adjudged to be offside as Italy probed for a way through, so the play is brought back and Tommaso Allan makes amends for his early miss by clipping this one over. Visitors lead 3-0 in Edinburgh.

22'

Azzurri buoyed by escape

Referee Gardner signals for a penalty to Italy but the TMO, Brett Cronan, flags that a no-arms tackle has been delivered by a blue shirt on Pierre Schoeman. The penalty is reversed and Scotland have a prime attacking spot just five metres out.

Final round of 2023 Guinness Six Nations is live!

Paulo Garbisi puts his left boot through the ball and it soars into the Edinburgh sky, conditions pretty much ideal. Jack Dempsey catches and immediately feeds Duhan van der Merwe, who makes a few years in the opening seconds. Italy get a good rumble on but Scotland cover well and Blair Kinghorn finds a delight of an opening touch.

12:20

Blair looking to revel in 10 shirt

Today’s is Scotland stand-off Blair Kinghorn’s fourth cap against Italy, the highlight so far surely being his scintillating hat-trick in the 33-20 victory in 2019 at BT Murrayfield. He was wearing the number 11 shirt that day, but has plenty of experience in the time since at 10.

12:10

Huw-biquitous Jones

Huw Jones is leading the 2023 Guinness Six Nations try-scoring race, with four to his name already. The Scotland centre, who now has 16 for his country, has bagged scores against England, France (2) and Ireland during this year’s championship.

Italy in the ascendancy

Pierre Schoeman whistled by referee Angus Gardner for not rolling away at tackle time. Garbisi finds a great touch and Italy rumble a maul from the resulting line-out..

11:40

Italy have arrived

Italy have arrived at BT Murrayfield.

Coin toss is underway and we’re not far from kick off!

12:25

Choral delight in Edinburgh

Anthems upon us and Italians inside BT Murrayfield proudly belt out ‘Il Canto degli Italiani’, which is quite possibly the finest of theall six competing countries in the championship. Not to be outdone, the stadium sings Flower of Scotland with all it has. What a set-up to the game. Kick-off approaching.

11:45

Hear from Gregor Townsend

Hear from Head Coach, Gregor Townsend, on his four changes ahead of today’s final encounter of the Guinness Six Nations with Kinghorn and Smith to start for the Injured Hogg and Russell.

Sam Skinner makes his first start of the Tournament with Watson also returning to the starting line-up. Five changes to the bench also means a potential debut for Ben Healy.

Allan misses an early chance

An early sighter for Tommaso Allan, whose attempt drifts wide of the uprights from 40m, middle of the pitch. The penalty was given for not releasing on account of Duhan van der Merwe, who will be mightily relieved.

12:00

30 minutes to go!

Your 30 minute reminder ⌛

With only half an hour until Scotland kick off their final 2023 Guinness Six Nations match against Italy, it’s amazing to see so many supporters already here!

11:16

Team Bus Arrival

Your Scotland team are in the building with Ben Healy leading the way…

11:30

Ready for the first Cuttitta Cup Contest at BT Murrayfield

We are one hour from kick off and it’s all to play for!

11:15

Access Scotland Camp | Episode 4

Catch the latest episode of Access Scotland Camp, where we connect you to your team!

Welcome back to Access Scotland Camp, connecting you to your team! Host, Ali Price, along with Hamish Watson and Rory Sutherland chat about how they recover after a physical game as we enter the final week of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations.

After a special edition of “Community Clips” and answering some fan questions, Ali is joined by Scotland Women players Emma Wassell and Christine Belisle to discuss their upcoming tournament. Access Scotland Camp will continue throughout the TikTok Women’s Six Nations with our women’s players taking over the reigns.

WATCH HERE

11:00

Your Scotland Team

A reminder of your Scotland team for today’s final 2023 Guinness Six Nations.

10:45

Scottish Rugby Merchandise

Show your support during the Guinness Six Nations with the Officially Licensed Scottish Rugby cases for your phones & tablets.

Buy now: bit.ly/3JbHmSK

10:08

Match centre

Stick with us here throughout the day for all the build-up to the game and then live updates and stats during the 80 minutes at BT Murrayfield.