Preview: Italy v Scotland

11 Mar 2022

Scotland travel to Rome to play Italy in Round 4 of the Guinness Six Nations on Saturday 12 March 2022 (kick-off 2.15pm GMT).

What they said this week

Gregor Townsend, said: “We feel if we get our performance right, we’re a match for any team in the world. We know that going away against a full crowd is going to be another test of who we are and that’s what we aim to show this weekend.

“We need to put our own game in place and be accurate and disciplined with that.

“We also need to not give any easy ways for Italy to get into the game. We know they’ll play with a lot of passion and aggression.

“The last two occasions when we played in Florence and in Rome, they were the better team in the first half hour of the game. We managed to come back and win both games but we can’t let that happen this time. We’ve got to make sure we win moments at the beginning and the end of the game.”

Pierre Schoeman, said: “I’ve learned so much. I’ve just been part of this since the autumn and I’ve learned so much. He’s helped me personally so much – if you create this good habit it will take you far.

“We’ve spoken about how perhaps against France we as a team chased the game too early on.

“If you just stick to your territory battle and the things that you’ve trained and worked for with the coaches and the leaders in the team, that will get you through. And the tries and the points and the conversion will come.

“It’s going to be a fast and hard start. We just need to focus on us as a team and not focus too much on the opposition – I think that’s a key area where we are learning and growing as a team. Stick to that for the whole 80 minutes and eventually that will convert into tries.”

The teams

Key stats

Scotland have won each of their last six matches against Italy in the Guinness Six Nations, with their last defeat against the Azzurri coming in 2015 at BT Murrayfield; before that run Scotland had won nine and lost seven of their initial 16 fixtures in the Championship.
Scotland have won their last four away games against Italy in the Guinness Six Nations, including a 17-0 victory on their last visit to Rome in 2020, the only time they have nilled a side on the road in the Championship (also 29-0 v Italy at BT Murrayfield in2017)
Scotland have won 42 of their 43 lineouts in this year’s Guinness Six Nations, their 98% success rate is the best of any side in the Championship.
Scotland have slotted 91% of their kicks at goal in the Guinness Six Nations this year (10/11), including 7/7 penalty goal attempts, the best rate of any team, while Italy have the sec
Italy’s Michele Lamaro has made 59 tackles in this year’s Six Nations, at least 13 more than any other player; he has also missed the most tackles of any player (13), however only one of those missed tackles led to a break, with the other 12 seeing the opposition player tackled by a teammate.
Scotland’s Rory Darge has had an effective impact at four of the 11 defensive rucks he has hit in the Guinness Six Nations this year, his 36% defensive ruck effectiveness rate is the best of any player (min. 10 rucks attended), while Italy’s Toa Halafihi has the2nd best rate of an
Ali Price is set to win his 50th cap for Scotland; he’s scored just one try in his seven appearances against Italy although he has four try assists across his last two Tests against the Azzurri.