Match Report: Italy 18-15 Scotland
7 Feb 2026Scotland succumbed to their second successive away lost to Italy and made a disappointing start to the 2026 Guinness Six Nations Championship in Rome this afternoon.
Italy, who had had a promising Autumn campaign, adapted so much better to the dreadful weather and pitch conditions and were clinical when chances presented themselves, particularly in the opening quarter.
Scotland’s lineout coughed up ball on at least five occasions, and their scrum was also creaking. Ultimately, despite a frantic finale when Scotland threatened to snatch a win, Italy were deserved winners.
The morning rain and hail in Rome eased off temporarily at the Stadio Olimpico as Michele Lamaro, Paolo Garbisi and Juan Igancio Brex led out the teams, to mark their 50th caps for the Azzurri.
Italy kicked off and from an early lineout, Scotland were awarded a penalty for premature engagement. Finn Russell found touch ten metres out, but Ewan Ashman’s throw was picked off by the hosts, a portent of the toils that were to come at the lineout.
A penalty against Grant Gilchrist at contact saw Italy attack off the subsequent lineout. Tommaso Menoncello set up loose ball, his centre partner Brex, stabbed through a kick and Louis Lynagh gathered to aquaplane in for the opening try. Garbisi missed the conversion (5-0, 7 mins).
A scrum penalty saw Russell thump Scotland into the Italian 22 in response but, again, Italy pirated at the lineout.
Scotland went through phases but a penalty at breakdown saw Italy clear to the touchline. From lineout ball, Alessandro Fusco hoisted, Louis Lynagh superbly pouched from Jamie Dobie’s fingertips and, from quick ball, Lorenzo Cannone fired a glorious miss-one pass wide to Menoncello who thundered over for a try. Garbisi added the extras (12-0, 13 mins).
With the rain now hammering down, Italy were penalised for offside and Russell found a juicy touch, five metres out. Scotland pounded away and, on two occasions, Ashman took tap penalties at close quarters.
From the second, Matt Fagerson’s delicate pop pass sent Jack Dempsey in for his third try for Scotland. Russell converted (12-7, 23 mins).
Scotland were on the wrong end of a referee decision as Italy again went aerial. Garbisi hooked a drop-goal, but a lineout penalty saw Garbisi increase Italy’s lead (15-7, 34 mins).
A scrum penalty gave Italy another foothold in Scotland territory, but Garbisi miscued with his second drop-goal effort.
Half-time: Italy 15-7 Scotland
Russell restarted and Scotland forced Italy into touch on the home 22. The lineout, however, went awry for the third time. Menoncello threatened on the break-out, but Italy infringed on the deck.
Scotland saw two more lineouts misfire but thereafter retained ball and Russell cut the deficit with his first penalty, awarded for a home offside. (15-10, 45 mins).
Within three minutes, a high tackle by Ashman was penalised and Garbisi cancelled out Russell’s strike (18-10, 48 mins).
Scotland were edging towards the Italian line and had a penalty advantage in the shadow of the posts, when the TMO alerted the referee to a head contact by substitute hooker George Turner on Manuel Zuliani. Turner was yellow carded and the penalty chance was overturned.
The decision also went to the bunker, and it remained a yellow. Rory Darge had to depart to enable Ashman to return for scrum duty during Turner’s absence.
Into the final quarter and Scotland introduced the cavalry. From a penalty, Russell again opted for the touchline, rather than the kick at goal.
Scotland won the five-metre lineout through Cummings and the driving maul was set with Turner at the strike position. The ball spewed out and substitute scrum-half George Horne had to go the long way round. But he did with aplomb, diving in at the right corner flag. It was Horne’s 12th try for Scotland. Russell could not land the conversion. (18-15, 66 mins).
Italy dominated territory as the clock became their best friend. However, a scrum penalty after 78 minutes enabled Russell to clear.
Scotland went though some 29 phases as they tried to inch their way forward into the Italian 22 but ultimately Max Williamson could not set up ruck ball. Italy secured the turnover and the victory.
Full-time: Italy 18 -15 Scotland
Italy: Leonardo Marin; Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolo Cannone, Andrea Zambonin, Michele Lamaro (captain), Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Tommaso di Bartolomeo for Nicotera (58 mins), Mirco Spagnolo for Fischetii (58 mins), Muhamed Hasa for Niccolo Cannone (58 mins), Federico Ruzza for Lamarno (68 mins) Riccardo Favretto, Alessandro Garbisi for Fusco (61 mins) Giacomo da Re, Lorenzo Pani for Marin (73 mins).
Scotland: Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears); Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu CAPTAIN, Jamie Dobie (all Glasgow Warriors); Finn Russell (Bath Rugby), Ben White (Toulon); Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman (both Edinburgh Rugby), Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings (both Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey (all Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: George Turner (Harlequins) for Ashman (48 mins), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors) for Schoeman (28-36 mins) (and then 64 mins), Elliott Millar Mills (Northampton Saints) for Zander Fagerson (64 mins), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors) for Matt Fagerson (64 mins), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors) for Gilchrist (48 mins), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) for White (64 mins), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors) and Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) for Dobie (48 mins). Ashman on for Darge (60-64 mins).
Referee: Ben O’Keefe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
FPRO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
Guinness Player of the Match: Simone Ferrari (Italy)
