It’s the battle of the basement at the Stadio Olimpico, as Italy host Scotland in what will surely serve as the Wooden Spoon decider. The Scots are coming off a horrific couple of weeks fraught with off-field disruptions and on-field disaster. Italy, meanwhile, have looked an improved side this year despite their two losses and should be considered clear favorites to win once again at home.
Scott Johnson has not shied away from further controversy, dropping primary ball carrier David Denton, former captain Ross Ford, and workhorse second row Tim Swinson. In their stead come Johnnie Beattie, Scott Lawson, and Richie Gray. What exactly these three players have done in the past two weeks to merit selection that didn’t do so beforehand is a mystery.
Gray had himself been dropped completely a week before, and Lawson wasn’t good enough for the bench in the opening fixture. Claiming that Lawson is a stronger thrower isn’t unreasonable, though Johnson had claimed earlier in the week that Ford was not to blame for their lineouts woes. Why Kelly Brown and now Denton are out and the virtually anonymous Ryan Wilson been retained is a question only Johnson can answer.
The Azzurri have reinforced their side, recalling Alessandro Zanni to the back row and Angelo Esposito to the wing, both of which look better options that Francesco Minto and Tommaso Iannone. The halfback pairing of Edoardo Gori and Tommaso Allan is growing in confidence, and both Leonardo Sarto and Michele Campagnaro have been inundated with offers from big name European clubs following their eye-catching displays.
Meanwhile Martin Castrogiovanni and Sergio Parisse will become joint record cap winners, celebrating their 104th appearances for Italy to overtake former teammate Andrea Lo Cicero. The veteran duo love the big occasions, especially at home, and there won’t be any bigger than this match for at least another few months.
It’s hard to see how Scotland can come away from this with a victory. They’re rattled, distracted, and under immense pressure. They have a terrible record in Italy, winning only twice in eight attempts and losing the last three in Rome. Man-for-man they are matched if not bettered, and on form they are nowhere to be seen. Italy win this by 8.
ITALY vs SCOTLAND
Saturday, February 22, 13:30 GMT, Rome
Referee: Steve Walsh (ARU)
Assistants: Jérôme Garces (FFR) & Luke Pearce (RFU)
TMO: Geoff Warren (RFU)
