Italy 17-28 Scotland, Stadio Artemio Franchi
Scorecard
Scotland scored three second half tries as they came from behind to beat Italy 17-28 in their first encounter in the Autumn Nations Cup at Stadio Artemio Franchi on Saturday.
The win has taken Scotland to the top position in Pool B and this is Scotland’s fifth consecutive win under Gregor Townsend while Italy headed into the encounter after 27 consecutive defeats in Six Nations games.
Paolo Garbisi got Italy off the mark with a seventh minute penalty goal while Scotland had two early setbacks with Jamie Ritchie and Rory Sutherland replaced in the 13th and 16th minutes respectively.
Italy doubled their lead in the 19th minute with a second penalty goal from Garbisi but Scotland managed to get a breakthrough when Duhan van der Merwe crossed over in the 24th minute and Duncan Weir on his first start since 2016 kicked the conversion.
A combination of Marcello Violi and Mattia Bellini ensured Matteo Minozzi went over the line as Italy finished the first half with a 11-7 lead.
Garbisi with his third penalty early in the second half extended Italy’s lead to seven points and shortly Weir was denied a try after TMO replays showed Sam Johnson made a forward pass in the build up.
However, the Dark Blues levelled the scores with Zander Fagerson’s touchdown in the 49th minute that Weir improved to make it 14-14. Italy seized the lead once again with another penalty goal from Garbisi but Scotland ensured they did not let the game slip in the final 13 minutes as Scott Cummings (67′) and George Turner (77′) to complete a 17-28 win.
Team line-up:
Italy: Minozzi, Trulla, Zanon, Canna, Bellini, Garbisi, Violi, Polledri, Steyn, Negri, Cannone, Lazzaroni, Zilocchi, Bigi, Fischetti
Reserves: Ghiraldini, Ferrari, Ceccarelli, Meyer, Mbanda, Varney, Allan, Mori
Scotland: Hogg, Graham, Harris, Johnson, van der Merwe, Weir, Price, Thomson, Watson, Ritchie, Gray, Cummings, Fagerson, McInally, Sutherland
Reserves: Turner, Kebble, Nel, Skinner, Haining, Hidalgo-Clyne, Lang, Kinghorn
