Full-time: Italy 18-15 Scotland

Scotland go through no fewer than 30 phases in a desperate attempt to create an opportunity to either kick a goal or go one better. Herculean defence from Italy to go to the well again and again and when Max Williamson is held up in a maul, the die was cast.

Italy definitely played the conditions better throughout – and those conditions were deplorable at times – but they deserved to get over the line.

For Scotland, a chance goes begging to start the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations with a win. Tries from Jack Dempsey and George Horne were countered by scores from Louis Lynagh and Tommaso Menoncello, with Paulo Garbisi’s boot proving the difference.

There’s little time for wallowing, as Scotland host England in the Calcutta Cup next Saturday 14 February at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

Late penalty Scotland

It’s not over yet! Scotland get a penalty for offside and Finn Russell takes aim and keeps cool to land it. it’s around 35m out, but there’s a chance..

Scrum penalty Italy

Scotland’s scrum can’t compete this time and Italy gladly take the penalty on offer. Instead of kicking for goal, Garbisi goes for touch in a bid to either put it beyond doubt or shave more seconds off. Scotland spoil the line-out maul but Jack Dempsey’s clearance isn’t one for the ages, sliced into touch.

Last knockings in Rome

A scrum reset plays right into Italy’s hands at this stage, as they look to see this one out. Is there some form of twist to come? And will it be in Scotland’s favour?

Anyone's contest

Ignacio Brex breaks through a tackle to get inside Scotland’s 22 but a knock-on at the base of the ruck is sweet relief for Scotland, who get the scrum put-in. You feel that Italy would be happy to play the clock down from here but there’s still plenty time for someone to go and grab a winning score.

Try Scotland!

George Horne, you little cracker. The line-out is well delivered and there are about 12 Scots in the maul as they try to heave their way over. Scotland’s scrum-half is, as usual, the most alert though and when the ball comes, he races down the blind side to glide over in the corner. Three points the game now.

Italy offside again

Yet again, an offside penalty for Scotland and Finn Russell decides to go for touch in a bid to get within touching distance on the scoreboard. Huge line-out coming up for the visitors..

Raft of Scotland subs

Nathan McBeth is on permanently for Pierre Schoeman now, as Elliot Millar Mills, Max Williamson and George Horne take to the field for Zander Fagerson, Matt Fagerson and Ben White.

Scrum penalty to Italy

With a man down, Scotland are in a spot of bother now at scrum time and Italy take full advantage to blitz their way to a penalty. George Turner’s yellow card will remain so, so he’ll be back on in two minutes.

Turner yellow carded

The match officiating team have used the break in play due to Manuel Ziuiani’s injury to have a look at George Turner’s ruck entry, which caused the incident. He’s given 10 minutes in the sin bin, for now, and Scotland are down to 14. The original penalty was overturned.

Italy offside again; Scots have good platform

Another offside penalty against Italy, and play is also stopped for an injury to flanker Ziuliani. The pitch is an absolute bog from this relentless rain and players have very little with which to get any purchase with their feet. It’s the same for both sides, of course, but Scotland are the ones in need of the points.

Graham, Turner and Brown on

Darcy Graham, George Turner and Gregor Brown take to the field to replace Jamie Dibie, who is off for a Head Injury Assessment, Ewan Ashman and Grant Gilchrist.

Garbisi restores 8-point lead

Paulo Garbisi clips over the penalty and it’s 18-10.

Superb defence from Darge; Ashman penalised though

Italy get a head of steam when Cannone breaks from a line-out and it takes a magnificent turnover by Rory Darge to thwart a dangerous situation. However, play is brought back for a potential high tackle by Ewan Ashman on Manuel Ziuliani. Penalty and no more according to referee O’Keeffe.

Scotland within 5

Scotland rattle through 13 phases as the forwards try to punch holes in the Italy defence. It’s slow progress but progress nonetheless and when Italy are whistled for offside, Finn Russell opts to kick and lands it. In these conditions, any points are so valuable. 15-10.

Majestic Menoncello

The line-out isn’t held – conditions are so difficult – and Italy surge through Tommaso Menoncello, who eats up 70m of Roman turf, as Ben White makes a brilliant cover tackle. Back-to-back penalties awarded to Scotland but in this weather, kicking to touch is a poisoned chalice..

Second half gets going as rain relents?

It would appear that the worst of the rain – and reported lightning – has come and gone during the interval, mercifully. Scotland get things restarted through Finn Russell as they seek to overturn this eight-point deficit, and it’s a good start as Lorenzo Cannone is bundled into touch.

Snaps from the opening 40

Half-time: Italy 15-7 Scotland

Despite dominating territory and possession, Scotland trail by eight an Italian side who have adapted more comfortably to conditions that have deteriorated and then some. Good finishes from Louis Lynagh and Tommaso Menoncello, with a counter from Jack Dempsey, tell much of the tale. It’s all to play for, of course, and you feel that which ever team manages the rain will come out on top in this arm wrestle.

Garbisi goes for another drop goal

Italy’s playmaker knows that in conditions like this – and it really is absolutely hammering it down everywhere – points become even more precious. His drop goal effort from distance sails wide again, though, as we head towards half-time and a little warmth.

Tipping it down in Rome

Italy counter straight from kick-off with a great Kyle Steyn cover tackle halting a charging Monty Ioane, who knocks on in the tackle. In the teeming downpour, Scotland cough up a scrum penalty and the home team sense the squeeze on the game as they kick for a line-out.

Garbisi stretches lead

With that penalty advantage, Paulo Garbisi tries a drop goal from in front of the posts but sclaffs it wide. They come back for that advantage and the Italy stand-off makes no mistake from the tee to make it 15-7.

Italy seek third try

Tom Jordan grans another great take under the high ball, but there was some form of obstruction on Louis Lynagh as the winger tried to mount a challenge, so penalty Italy. They do deep in search of a line-out maul and get their wish, and a penalty advantage to boot for jumping across. Well placed, here..

Nathan McBeth on as blood replacement

Jamie Dobie is adjudged to have taken out Tommaso Menoncello in the air – dubious at best but it would appear the Italian centre was forced into opting to go into touch, and so the decision actually looks fair enough.

Pierre Schoeman is off for a blood replacement check with Nathan McBeth coming on in his stead. For how long, we’re not sure.

Try Scotland!

A series of penalty advantages for Scotland, all for offside. They tap and go and earn yet another penalty for the same offence. Must be card territory, but O’Keeffe says no. Still they go again in tight quarters and eventually Jack Dempsey rumbles over after a cute offload from Matt Fagerson. Russell converts and Scotland redress the balance to five points at 12-7.

Another chance for Scotland to mount an attack

Finn Russell lands a belter of a touch-finder after Italy are called for offside. Another great stage from which the visitors can probe. They botch the line-out again but possession is held and now the forwards get to work on their phase play..

Try Italy

This is a real beauty. Fusco’s up-and-under is on the money, Lynagh just gets the better of Jamie Dobie and in an instant, number 8 Lorenzo Cannone floats a delightful ball to the onrushing Tommaso Menoncello with the defence again taken by surprise, and the centre canters home. Great tuchline conversion from Garbisi and it’s 12-0.

Scotland look to bounce back immediately

Italy concede a scrum penalty and Scotland eschew the chance of a relatively straightforward three points, opting to kick to touch, and the line-out is once more spoiled in what’s been a scrappy start by the visitors.

Try Italy

Out of nowhere, Italy are ahead in Rome. Ignacio Brex spots that the Scottish defence have raced up and grubbers an inch-perfect ball through for winger Louis Lynagh to gather and slide over. Garbisi’s conversion misses, but the hosts are 5 to the good.

Penalty Italy

Tom Jordan wins a remarkable contestable ball but Grant Gilchrist is crowded at the ruck immediately and concedes the penalty. Italy gain their first notable territory inside Scotland’s half.

First penalty to Scotland

Scotland pinch Italy’s throw from that line-out but then knock-on form their own set piece. However, referee Ben O’Keeffe brings play back and says that transgression was made by Italian ill discipline. Finn Russell kicks to touch but another line-out is spoiled and Italy’s Aleesandro Fusco clears.

Rome roars as the game goes live

Scotland’s 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations is go! Paulo Garbisi caresses the ball with his left foot and Jack Dempsey pouches it comfortably. Ben White’s routine clearance finds touch on Scotland’s 10m line.

15 minutes to go

Teams are almost out on Rome’s Stadio Olimpico turf as what will be a 70,000 capacity crowd begins to filter into the ground. Almost time for the national anthems before we get into the nitty gritty of why we’re all here – the first Saturday of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations.

30 minutes until kick-off

Here’s a reminder of your Scotland squad to play Italy this afternoon, led by Sione Tuipulotu, who actually takes that mantle on for the first time in the Guinness Six Nations, having been ruled out of last year’s championship.

Dobie earns first Six Nations start

Despite his obvious talents, few would have perhaps thought that Jamie Dobie would make a first Guinness Men’s Six Nations start from the wing, having moonlighted there so many times for Glasgow Warriors in the past couple of seasons.

But the 24-year-old, who is pretty handy at scrum-half as well by the way, wins his 18th cap for Scotland this afternoon in Rome wearing the number 11 shirt as reward for his fine form.

2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations is upon us!

A very good afternoon to you, as Scotland get into the final stages of preparation for their opening 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations fixture, against Italy at Stadio Olimpico in the famous city of Rome.

Will Gregor Townsend’s troops put in a gladatorial display to fell the Azzurri, or will Italy muster an opening win of their own campaign at the first time of asking?

Kick-off is 2:10pm and we’ll have all the major updates here – you can watch it live across the BBC with commentary from the inimitable Andrew Cotter.