Scotland run riot against Azzurri
Outscoring the Azzurri by six tries to one, Scotland put down a big marker ahead of the global showpiece that starts next month.
The Scots were in complete control from the outset, racing into a 16-0 lead inside 25 minutes, before Italy scored their only points – a converted try.
However, thereafter it was all Scotland – scoring five unanswered tries to beat Italy by a record margin.
The rout surpassed both the points score and margin of victory Scotland achieved in a 47-15 home win over Italy in a warm-up match prior to the 2003 World Cup.
It was also Scotland's second win over Italy in as many weeks following a 16-12 success in Turin last weekend.
Wings Sean Lamont and Tim Visser each plundered two tries, as Vern Cotter's side coasted victory
Flank John Barclay, starting his first international for two years, and centre Mark Bennett also crossed the Italian try-line for the Scots, who followed up their 16-12 win against a shadow Italian side in Turin last week with a highly impressive step-up in performance.
The 43,831 crowd, a record for a World Cup warm-up match at Murrayfield, saw the home side take control from the start, captain Greig Laidlaw getting the scoreboard ticking with a fifth-minute penalty that followed a series of scrum infringements by the visitors.
Four minutes later, Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell chipped a neat kick into the right corner and Lamont plucked the ball out of the air to score his 13th international try.
Laidlaw's conversion made it 10-0 with 10 minutes gone and Scotland proceeded to dominate the first half.
South African-born Willem Nel, making his first start at tighthead prop after qualifying for Scotland on residential grounds, gave Matias Aguero, Italy's loosehead, a torrid time in the scrums and Russell orchestrated the backs with impressive precision.
The pressure told as Laidlaw landed two further penalties, stretching the lead to 16-0.
Only then did Italy show their attacking teeth, scoring with their first serious offensive assault in the 30th minute.
Newcastle lock Josh Furno launched a line-out drive in the left corner and Tommaso Allan, Italy's former Scotland Under-20 flyhalf, dispatched a garryowen that was fumbled by both Laidlaw and Visser, allowing outside centre Michele Campagnaro to score.
Allan converted, reducing Scotland's lead to 16-7, but in the final minute of the first half, Italy had openside flank Francesco Minto yellow-carded for bringing down a maul.
From the forward drive that followed, Barclay squeezed over the line for a try that Laidlaw converted.
Leading 23-7 at the break, Scotland pressed home their superiority eight minutes into the second half.
Russell looped a long pass into the left corner and Dutch-born Visser bagged his eighth international try.
Laidlaw steered his conversion attempt wide but the Gloucester scrumhalf nailed a fourth penalty in the 56th minute and six minutes after that Scotland were 36-7 ahead, Lamont snaffling a stray pass to score an interception try on the right.
Italy were then reduced to 14 men again, replacement prop Michele Rizzo being sent to the sin-bin after aiming a kick towards the head of Scotland substitute prop Gordon Reid.
It got worse for Jacques Brunel's side in the final eight minutes, Visser and Bennett both running in interception tries from long range.
Scotland complete their warm-up campaign away to France in Paris a week on Saturday, when Italy face Wales in Cardiff.
Man of the match: Greig Laidlaw set the tone with some deadly accurate kicking, while you could look at a number of other Scots for their contribution. However, our award goes to Scotland prop Alasdair Dickinson – who was solid in the set pieces, made all his tackles and had an amazing workrate.
Moment of the match: Six tries by Scotland and one from Italy. However, it goes to the John Barclay try in the 38th minute – when he sniped off the maul – which killed off any hopes of an Italian comeback.
Villain of the match: This goes to Italian replacement prop Michele Rizzo for his brainless decision to kick an opponent. He was lucky it wasn't a red card.
The scorers:
For Scotland:
Tries: Lamont 2, Barclay, Visser 2, Bennett
Cons: Laidlaw 2, Russell
Pens: Laidlaw 4
For Italy:
Try: Campagnaro
Con: Allan
Yellow cards: Francesco Minto (Italy, 37 – repeated infringements, collapsed the maul), Michele Rizzo (Italy, 69 – foul play, kicking an opponent)
Teams:
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8 David Denton, 7 John Barclay, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Robert Harley, 20 Blair Cowan, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Matt Scott.
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Hugo Campagnaro, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Guglielmo Palazzani, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Josh Furno, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain), 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Quintin Geldenhuys, 20 Mauro Bergamasco, 21 Marcello Violi, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Andrea Masi.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
AFP & @rugby365com
