Scotland have hope of mounting a Six Nations title challenge as they embark on a fresh campaign against Italy.
While optimism has been punctured somewhat by a string of untimely injuries, Gregor Townsend’s settled squad are confident that they can build on their development over the last few years and back up big performances to challenge for a long-awaited title. In the absence of captain Sione Tuipulotu, all-action openside Rory Darge and star fly half Finn Russell lead the hosts into a first battle with a visiting team that enjoyed a tournament to remember in 2024.
Two wins and a draw last year marked Italy’s best performance in 25 years as a constituent part of this championship. Many of the faces remain the same as Gonzalo Quesada seeks yet more progress with belief that his side’s days scrabbling for the wooden spoon may be at an end. An opening weekend win in Edinburgh would be quite the statement of intent…
Relive all the action from Murrayfield in our live blog below:
FULL-TIME! Scotland 31-19 Italy
Scotland win the turnover and that’s it! Far from the perfect performance and they looked wobbly at 19-19 but they were on top for most of the match and deservedly claimed a bonus-point win.
Things to take for Italy as well but in a must-win game for Scotland if they genuinely think they can win the title, the Scots come up trumps.
Luke Baker1 February 2025 16:02
Scotland 31-19 Italy, 80 mins
Can Italy earn a losing bonus point here? Five-metre lineout cleanly taken and Menoncello on the crash ball. Couple of carries for the big men up front.
Luke Baker1 February 2025 16:00
Scotland 31-19 Italy, 79 mins
Scrum holds for Scotland and Russell thumps the ball 40 metres up the pitch. A losing bonus point probably the best Italy can do now.
They get stuck around halfway but do then win a penalty. Around 50 seconds left.
Luke Baker1 February 2025 15:59
Scotland 31-19 Italy, 77 mins
Ruzza claims the lineout and Italy within five metres. Barrelling Negri carry followed by Niccolo Cannone but Scotland holding firm.
Eight phases and eventually Italy knock-on. There goes their chance you’d think.
Luke Baker1 February 2025 15:56
Scotland 31-19 Italy, 75 mins
Good clearance kick by Jordan off the back of a Scotland scrum in their own 22 that just about holds. Italy come again but they’re running out of time.
Scotland stray offside, so the Azzurri kick to the corner. They need to score here if they have any ambition of winning this game still
Luke Baker1 February 2025 15:54
Scotland 31-19 Italy, 73 mins
Kick to the corner and Italy edge towards the line with the maul. It stalls and they go wide right to Gesi but Darge and Van der Merwe scramble across.
Gesi then goes again and gets within inches of the line, Paolo Garbisi scoops and dives over but the ref calls a knock-on. So close!
Luke Baker1 February 2025 15:51
Scotland 31-19 Italy, 71 mins
Scotland will try to see this out with minimal fuss now. They resort to the kicking game to try and stay in control. Italy can build from halfway and debutant Rizzoli makes a good half-break.
Gesi moves them up to the 22 and then Menoncello darts down the right to get within 10 metres.
Zuliani carries tacklers and they’re only inches away! Penalty advantage to the Azzurri but they keep it tight looking to get over the line. Eventually we come back for the penalty
Luke Baker1 February 2025 15:50
TRY! Scotland 31-19 Italy (Huw Jones, 67 mins)
It’s a Huw Jones hat-trick! His first two tries were handed to him on a plate but this was a superb finish by the centre.
He’s out on the right wing, beats Garbisi one on one and then powers between two more tacklers and stretches out for the try. Russell’s conversion misses but Scotland back in control here
Luke Baker1 February 2025 15:45
Scotland 26-19 Italy, 66 mins
Can Italy hit back again in this match? They’ve for some defending to do first as a delayed Russell pass frees Graham to drive deep into the Italian 22.
Luke Baker1 February 2025 15:43
Scotland 26-19 Italy, 65 mins
Nearly more Graham magic as he slips through another gap but great tap tackle by Vintcent and then a follow-up hit forces the knock-on.
That Scotland try secured the bonus point by the way but they’ve still got a game to win here.
Luke Baker1 February 2025 15:41