Just when it looked like the Wooden Spoon was theirs, Scotland pulled off a miracle victory thanks to a last minute drop goal by Duncan Weir. A Tommaso Allan try on the stroke of halftime sparked life into what had been a tepid performance by both sides in the first half. With his team staring into the abyss, Alex Dunbar scored two superb tries in a fifteen minute spell to set up the absorbing finale.
When Greig Laidlaw made a shocking decision to take a quick tap from a very kickable penalty position it seemed as though they had done themselves in, but Dunbar’s searing break through the backline redeemed his captain and brought his side within 2 points. His second, even more impressive, came via a powerful Sean Lamont burst up the middle followed by an offload from replacement Chris Cusiter.
Italy looked to have fallen apart after their commanding 10 point lead at the break, conceding 15 unanswered points and sapped of energy, but somehow managed to work an overlap and put standout second row Joshua Furno over for late try. Luciano Orquera nudged the wide-angled conversion over and it appeared that would be the deciding score. It wasn’t to be, as the Scots regained possession and worked their way into position for Weir to nail a beautifully struck kick from nearly 40 metres.
It was a bitter blow for the Azzurri, who hadn’t played particularly well but were odds on to win before the match, at the half, and in the final moments. Scotland will be overjoyed with the win after so much negative press, and Scott Johnson will be inimitably relieved. Had Weir’s kick not gone over, his next appointment might have been with the chopping block.
Scottish fans will no doubt have taken advantage of Roman hospitality on Saturday night, but would be well advised not to be too excited. There must still be questions over the performance of some players, not least their captain, and as well their coach, who again made some bizarre substitutions. Expect there to be many more in two weeks time.
ITALY 20 vs 21 SCOTLAND
Saturday, February 22, 13:30 GMT, Rome
SCORING
14 mins – T. Allan pen 3-0
23 mins – G. Laidlaw pen 3-3
31 mins – T. Allan pen 6-3
39 mins – T. Allan try 11-3
40 mins – T. Allan con 13-3
46 mins – G. Laidlaw pen 13-6
54 mins – A. Dunbar try 13-11
67 mins – A. Dunbar try 13-16
68 mins – D. Weir con 13-18
70 mins – J. Furno try 18-18
72 mins – L. Orquera con 20-18
80 mins – D. Weir drop 20-21
ITALY
L. McLean; A. Esposito (T. Iannone 73), M. Campagnaro, G. Garcia, L. Sarto; T. Allan (L. Orquera 68), E. Gori (T. Botes 64); A. de Marchi (M. Agüero 58), L. Ghiraldini (D. Giazzon 58), M. Castrogiovanni (L. Cittadini 58); Q. Geldenhuys, J. Furno; A. Zanni (M. Bortolami 73), R. Barbieri (P. Derbyshire 64), S. Parisse (capt.).
SCOTLAND
S. Hogg; T. Seymour (M. Evans 55), A. Dunbar (D. Taylor 72), M. Scott, S. Lamont; D. Weir, G. Laidlaw (capt.) (C. Cusiter 64); R. Grant (A. Dickinson 59), S. Lawson, M. Low (G. Cross 38); R. Gray, J. Hamilton; R. Wilson, C. Fusaro (D. Denton 53), J. Beattie.
Referee: S. Walsh (ARU)
Assistants: J. Garces (FFR) & L. Pearce (RFU)
TMO: G. Warren (RFU)
