Scotland punished a lacklustre Italian side in the second weekend of the Six Nations in a thrilling 34-10 win at Murray Field.
Greig Laidlow helped his side bounce back from their defeat at Twickenham last weekend by controlling Scotland’s attacking game plan in a game filled with tries.
Scotland started the game the stronger team and nearly grabbed themselves an early try when Tom Visser found himself through chasing a Laidlow kick to the corner, but couldn’t get the luck of the bounce.
Despite such a positive start from the hosts, it seemed like Italy would take the lead in the game when Luciano Orquera stepped up to take his penalty, but the posts denied kicker.
Scotland continued to be the aggressors and took the lead on the 15minute mark when Laidlow kicked his penalty of the game to make it Scotland 3 Italy 0.
Laidlow continued his good form with his kicking boot when he doubled his sides lead with another successful kick with just over 15 minutes left to play in the first half.
Scotland fans thought their side were on their way to the first try of the match when Matt Scott took advantage of a miss kick and broke just metres away from the try line, but Tobias Botes covered well to take him into touch just short of the line.
Minutes later they were ahead as the pressure began to show on Italian faces as Tim Visser ducked infield and beat two tacklers to grab his fifth try in seven international games. Laidlow converted the extras with only ten minutes to play until half time.
The Italians had control of most of the possession in the first half but couldn’t make it count. Just before half time they were given a life line to get back into the game when Orquera kicked his side’s first points of the game, making it 13-3 to Scotland at the break.
The second half didn’t start the way the Italians would have wanted when Scotland’s inside centre Matt Scott capitalized on some poor defending when he capped off a smart Scottish move with a powerful run in the middle of the park, earning his side a try. Laidlow converted once again to make it 20 – 3 to the hosts.
The Italians looked to reply straight away with a try of their own when they were gifted a two on one situation with Scottish full back Stuart Hogg deep in their opponents half, but Hogg intercepted the Orquera pass and ran the length of the field to extend his side’s lead even further.
Laidlow continued Italy’s nightmare start to the second half with another conversion giving his side a 24 point lead.
The fans at Murrayfield were cheering once again when they thought Scott had his second try of the game in the corner, only to be silenced when the pass from Maitland to Scott was ruled as being forward.
The fans did have another chance to celebrate minutes later thanks to some poor defending at the ruck by the Italians and Sean Lamont ran over the players on the floor and made a dash for the try line.
Laidlow made no mistake and dispatched his fourth conversion of the game giving Scotland an impressive 34-3 lead.
The Italians did finally get their try minutes from the end when Alessandro Zanni went over the line and Kris Burton converted to get their side into double figures, but Scotland proved to be too strong and clinical, earning their first points of this year’s Six Nations.
By Jordan Brown
@MediaJB