We have you covered for all the Scotland player ratings vs Italy from their 2023 Six Nations finale on Super Saturday at Murrayfield.
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A tense finish at Murrayfield saw Italy come within a converted try of victory. Yet a breakaway score in the last play of the match saw Blair Kinghorn secure his hat-trick and victory for Scotland
Italy fullback Tommaso Allan missed an early opportunity to put the Azzurri in front, as he sliced a penalty after just three minutes. Italy maintained early pressure with powerful mauls, with Allan securing the opening points after seven minutes. Scotland responded with an airborne Duhan van der Merwe, as the giant winger dived for the corner, and kept his feet off the ground in the grounding.
A missed conversion kept Italy within two points, with Harlequins star Allan slotting a penalty to re-claim the Italian lead at quarter of an hour. Momentum swung for Scotland, with a well deserved try coming after half an hour.
Ben White found Blair Kinghorn at first receiver, with the fly half taking advantage of the space created by Sione Tuipulotu’s decoy run. Kinghorn made no mistake the second time of asking, and converted his own try for a 12-6 lead.
There was much defending to do for Scotland, as Italy fired back and attempted to wear out the home defence before the break. A penalty at the breakdown saw Kinghorn send the ball into touch, which created an exciting attack from the following line-out. The ball went through Scottish hands, with Kyle Steyn breaking along the right wing, but could not find a teammate wiht the following offload.
Italy then cleared their lines, as the sides departed with just six points between them. A 12-6 score-line is frustrating for Italy, as they fought dangerously, just could not convert their try-scoring chances. Anger grew as the Italians repeatedly threw the ball into touch, lack of communication prominent in the Azzurri attack.
Blair Kinghorn grabbed his brace shortly after half time, more than standing in for the absent Finn Russell. Taking the pop pass from Ben White, Kinghorn wrestled through the double tackle attempt, and outstretched his arm to score. Scotland began to cruise after 45 minutes, with Italy continuing to grow frustrated with errors.
Italy narrowed the gap in the second half, with a Tomasso Allan try after the hour mark. Paolo Garbisi’s neat grubber kick found the Harlequin full back who was quickest to react in Scotland’s back field. Garbisi followed this up with a penalty, narrowing the score to 19-14 for the closing moments.
But Blair Kinghorn secured the Scottish win, his breakaway try on the 80th minute was the decisive blow for a nail biting finish. The fly half grabbed his hattrick and Italy once again finish a Six Nations Championship without a win.
Scroll down for the Scotland player ratings vs Italy.
SCOTLAND: 26
Tries: 4 (Van der Merwe 12′, Kinghorn 29′, 44′ 80′)
Cons: 3 (Kinghorn 29′, 44′ 80′
Pens: 0
ITALY: 14
Tries: 1 (Allan 63)
Cons: 0
Pens: 3 (Allan 7′, 15′, Garbisi 66′)
RUCK’S PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Blair Kinghorn
SCOTLAND KEY STATS:
Carries: Pierre Schoeman – 13
Metres: Ollie Smith – 93
Offloads: Ben White – 2
Defenders beaten: Jack Dempsey – 6
Tackles: Jack Dempsey – 22
Tackles missed: Jamie Ritchie – 2
Turnovers: Zander Dagerson – 1
Turnovers conceded: Ben White – 2
Penalties conceded: Zander Fagerson – 2
SCOTLAND PLAYER RATINGS VS ITALY:
15. Ollie Smith – 7 Exciting young talent, Stepped up for Injured Stuart Hogg.
14. Kyle Steyn – 7 A missed-placed offload in a try-scoring position overshadowed his first half performance, but was a threat along the right wing. Defensively sound, not beaten along his channel.
13. Huw Jones – 6 Without his regular dynamism in the first half, but contributed key passes in attack.
12. Sione Tuipulotu 7 – His ball carrying presence was key in Scotland’s second try, with a decoy run giving Blair Kinghorn space. Running at pace on powerful battering lines.
11. Duhan van der Merwe – 8 Took to the skies for a memorable try, and was a powerhouse threat along the left wing