6 Nations
Scotland get past Italy. Highlights & Interviews
Scotland secured their first win of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations championship with a solid defensive effort, as they kept their Italian counterparts pointless in glorious conditions at Stadio Olimpico in Rome (0-17).
The first-half saw the visitors hold a narrow five-point lead going into the interval, following a terrific solo try from captain and full-back Stuart Hogg, who picked a fine line and held his nerve as he raced through the Italian defence.
The second-half was initially a more turgid affair but a try from centre Chris Harris was enough to spark inspiration for Scotland who carried their momentum to the end of the game.
Scotland captain, Hogg, said: “We were delighted with that. We came here to do a job and we’ve done exactly that. I’m so proud of the boys.
“We had a huge challenge in terms of their back-row. We challenged our boys to stand up and you can see that with Hamish Watson getting man-of-the-match, backed up by Jamie Ritchie and Magnus Bradbury.”
Match Highlights:
Dominance and brute force in the scrum fell in Scotland’s favour early on as the side were awarded a penalty, to which Stuart Hogg booted into touch to set-up a lineout ten metres from the line.
Hooker Stuart McInally threw it long and into the hands of Sam Johnson as the centre picked a superb line to bring the side close to the Italian whitewash, however, an unfortunate knock-on thwarted their progress.
The Scotland pack remained in control in the scrum and lineouts in the opening exchanges, winning penalties and keeping the Azzurri at bay.
Stand-off Adam Hastings was handed his first sight of goal on the 10th minute but his attempt unfortunately failed to hit target.
Scotland lacked the clinical edge required for the next ten minutes, as the side struggled to penetrate through the Italian defence. A series of costly errors continued to mar their progress.
On the 21st minute, however, a series of slick passes created a sliver of an opportunity for Hogg. A neat dummy allowed him the space to accelerate down the right touchline where he evaded three defenders before diving into the corner.
Scotland thought they had their second try of the game nine minutes later when scrum-half Ali Price dotted down, however it was disallowed following a TMO review, which showed a forward pass from Watson to Johnson in the lead-up.
Italy started to test the resolve of the dogged Scotland defence but were struggling to craft the breakthrough.
The side had to settle for a chance at the posts but Scotland breathed a sigh of relief when Tommaso Allan’s kick hit the posts just before the interval.
Scotland came firing out the blocks in the second-half and were agonisingly close to the try line following a good break by Watson, who offloaded to Magnus Bradbury, who carried hard and deep into the Italian 22 before being thwarted at the 5m line.
He got his popped up offload away to supporting back-row compadre Jamie Ritchie who was tackled as the ball met his arms and knocked on.
Buoyed by the growing momentum, Scotland cranked through the gears in a series of pick and goes.
The ball was then moved wide to the on-rushing Chris Harris who crashed over the line.
Hastings’ struggles from the tee continued as the he missed the conversion from out wide.
Scotland lost a bit of momentum as Italy started to make some promising attacks in the visitor’s territory, however, the pendulum swung once again as Federico Zani was shown a yellow card for a tip-tackle on replacement lock Grant Gilchrist.
With a penalty decision reversed as a result, Scotland had a good attacking opportunity knocking at their door again, however, the lineout failed to hit the target, which allowed Italy to get back on the ball.
Scotland’s third and final try came in the last minute as Hastings collected the ball from around 30 metres out to cruise past a passive Italian defence down the blindside before sauntering over the line.
Hastings made no mistake with the conversion to extend the gap on the scoreboard and see out the match,
Post Match Press Conference:
Match Report from Scottish Rugby
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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