Scotland against Italy has become the perennial battle to avoid the Six Nations wooden spoon. Too often the whipping boys, only once since 2008 have the two sides not finished fifth and sixth in the table, and in that time Italy have headed Scotland in the final standings on only one occasion. When the sides step out at Murrayfield on Saturday, each looking for their first win of the competition, both know defeat could leave them with the booby prize at the end of the campaign.
Despite Scotland’s recent superiority, Vern Cotter knows Italy are not to be underestimated. “We’re very wary and feel they have improved,” he said. “They are a team that will be targeting this game so we must be prepared to roll up our sleeves and work very hard to get a result.”
Digging deep is exactly what got Scotland over the line a year ago when they faced Italy in Rome. Having fought back from a 13-3 half-time deficit, Scotland had fallen two points behind after a converted Josh Furno try before a Duncan Weir drop-goal with 15 seconds remaining snatched a dramatic 21-20 win.
Cotter’s team can take heart, if no points, from their opening two games where they narrowly missed out to France and Wales but will view a home match with Italy as a great chance to open their account. “It’s a game that I think we have prepared well for and it will come down to getting things right on the day,” the coach said. “They are a big, physical team – bigger than us – so we will have to be technically strong and well connected as a group to withstand what will be a strong assault on our defensive line.”
Italy have edged Scotland on six occasions since they turned the competition from five to six nations in 2000. They have, however, lost seven Six Nations matches in a row but, spearheaded by their inspirational captain Sergio Parisse, have the power in their pack to make themselves a threat.
Cotter is confident Scotland can cope. “If we keep developing our belief and our skill sets, and our attitude to the game and our standards, we’ll get what we’re aiming for which is the win,” he said. “We’re very focused on what we do and what we want to achieve.”
Finn Russell’s appeal against his suspension was overruled by a disciplinary committee on Wednesday and Cotter has handed the No10 shirt to Russell’s Glasgow Warriors team-mate Peter Horne, in one of four changes to the side who fell short against Wales in the last match. Tim Swinson replaces the injured Richie Gray in the second row, while the wing Tommy Seymour and the prop Euan Murray replace Tim Visser and Geoff Cross after missing the Wales match.
“Peter gets the nod through his experience and through his recent games at first five with Glasgow,” Cotter said. “We think he controlled those games well and that gave him the nod just ahead of Greig Tonks. We know what Greig can give us coming off the bench and that is flexibility at 10 and 15.”
Injuries have got their teeth into Italy, quite literally, after the influential prop Martin Castrogiovanni was bitten on the nose by a dog, and Jacques Brunel has made six changes, including naming two debutants.
“Scotland is a team that we have struggled to beat in recent years,” the coach said. “They have also lost their two opening games but not by a big margin. They don’t seem to have major weaknesses. It’s going to be a difficult game, but I expect a lot more from my team.”
Scotland, on home soil, enter as favourites, hoping to build on the positives from their opening performances. The onus falls on Horne to provide the attacking spark while potential debuts from the bench for the young Edinburgh duo Ben Toolis and Hamish Watson could give Cotter’s side added exuberance.