Rugby Union: Tough going as Italy play rough
Scotland 30 Italy 1
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A MATCH which began as a highly entertaining, bloodless friendly ended with Scotland counting the stitches and Italy down to 14 men at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Perhaps there is something of the Jekyll and Hyde about Italy as they were initially happy to match their hosts' enterprise, replying swiftly to both Scotland's early tries. But once it became clear they were not going to win, the abrasive edge intensified.
It culminated in the 75th-minute dismissal of Massimo Giovanelli, their captain and blind side flanker, apparently for stamping on Scotland's acting captain, Eric Peters.
Despite needing stitches in a head-wound, Peters played down the incident, saying: "I drove forward from a maul, went down and the next thing I knew there was blood coming from my head. I didn't actually see what happened. Rugby is a contact sport and Italy are a very physical side."
There had already been two yellow cards for Italy, one of them only five minutes before the sending-off when Peters had his face pushed pettily into the turf by Diego Dominguez.
Martin Leslie and Tom Smith also needed stitches, although Leslie's cut resulted from a clash of heads with his own full-back Glenn Metcalfe.
Italy's coach, Georges Coste, brushed off his side's indiscretions by saying: "You have to understand my team are still learning. It took France a long time before they managed not to fall for provocation."
Scotland were not in provocative mood, however. Missed tackles apart, the style of the opening 15 minutes, which produced a score of 17-12, suited them fine as they sought to entertain a crowd of 26,756.
Scotland's coach, Jim Telfer, said: "I think Ireland will give us far more questions to answer in two weeks."
Scotland: Tries Logan, C Murray, Townsend. Conversions Logan 3. Penalties Logan 3. Italy: Tries Martin 2. Conversions Dominguez.
SCOTLAND: G Metcalfe (Glasgow Caledonians); C Murray (Edinburgh Reivers), A Tait (Edinburgh Reivers), J Leslie (Sanix's Japan), K Logan (Wasps); G Townsend (Brieve), I Fairley (Edinburgh Reivers); T Smith (Glasgow Caledonians), J Bulloch (Glasgow Caledonians), P Burnell (London Scottish), S Murray (Bedford), S Grimes (Glasgow Caledonians), P Walton (Newcastle), M Leslie (Edinburgh Reivers), E Peters (Bath, capt). Substitutes: B Pountney (Northampton) for M Leslie, 29 to 38; G Burns (Edinburgh Reivers) for Fairley, 44; Pountney for Peters, 74; S Longstaff (Glasgow Caledonians for Tait, 76; A Reed (Wasps) for Grimes, 78; D Hilton (Bath) for Smith, 80.
ITALY: J Pertile (Roma); F Roselli (Roma), C Stoica (Narbonne), L Martin (Padova), D Dallan (Treviso); D Dominguez (Stade Francais), A Troncon (Treviso); M Cuttitta (Calvisano), A Moscardi (Treviso), F Properzi-Curti (Treviso), V Christofoletto (Treviso), M Giacheri (West Hartlepool), Giovanelli (Narbonne, capt), A Sjorlon (Treviso), C Checchinato (Treviso). Substitutes: C Caione (Roma) for Checchinato, 46; S Stocco (Padova) for Christofoletto, 77.
Referee: R Davies (Wales).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments