Stuart Hogg enhanced his burgeoning reputation with another fine breakaway try to hand Scotland a comprehensive 34-10 RBS 6 Nations victory over Italy – a first under Scott Johnson.
Outplayed by England last weekend, Scotland were worthy winners over an Italian side riding high after their victory over France, with Tim Visser, Matt Scott, Hogg and Sean Lamont all going over.
Johnson lamented his side’s poor defence last weekend but the Scots were not founding wanting against Italy and as a result Greig Laidlaw was able to call the shots.
The Italians on the other hand, were subdued in comparison to six days previous, Luciano Orquera in particular having an off day at fly-half, and the Azzurri were outfought and out thought by the Scots.
For Scotland, it was a first win of the campaign, a first in five matches and a first in seven in the RBS 6 Nations, having been whitewashed last season.
Scotland began at a ferocious pace and after half breaks from Ruaridh Jackson and Visser, the Dutch-born flyer almost opened his RBS 6 Nations account after just two minutes.
Laidaw kicked over the top and Visser looked certain to run onto the ball, gather and score, only for the bounce to get the better of him and let Italy off the hook.
Italy, buoyed by last week’s performance, continued to show ambition however and they earned themselves the chance to take the lead on seven minutes when Scotland lock Jim Hamilton was penalised for coming in at the side.
Orquera, the hero against the French, was wayward with his kick however and he struck the upright from 40 metres out.
Scotland began to exert more influence on proceedings as the half wore on – their physicality which was perhaps found wanting against England, giving Laidlaw the platform to orchestrate proceedings.
And it was Laidlaw who opened the scoring on 15 minutes when Italy hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini was pinged for slowing the ball down – the scrum-half making no mistake with the penalty.
Laidlaw then doubled Scotland’s advantage on 24 minutes when Andrea Lo Cicero, winning his 100th cap, was penalised for bringing a maul down.
With the wind in their sails, Scotland almost scored the first try of the match on 28 minutes when Giovanbattista Venditti completely missed a clearance kick but Tobias Botes scampered back to foil Scott just short of the try-line.
A minute later however, Visser made the breakthrough in the left-hand corner after Jackson cut inside and fed the Edinburgh winger who danced over the line for his fifth try in seven internationals.
Laidlaw added the extras but back came Italy to at least open their account just before half-time, this time Orquera hitting the target after Scotland were penalised for not rolling away.
Leading 13-3 at the interval, it didn’t take Scotland long to extend their advantage and this time Scott was not to be denied.
Following a lineout on the right, Sean Maitland, off his right wing, made the initial break and offloaded to centre Scott who burst clear before Laidlaw was again on target with the conversion for a 20-3 lead.
Italy tried to rally and looked certain to get a try of their own soon after with Andrea Masi making the break and finding Orquera inside.
Tommaso Benvenuti was inside and would have had the simplest of touchdowns had Hogg not read the pass, intercepted and sprinted all of 80 metres to add to his fine try against England last weekend, Laidlaw again adding the conversion.
Again Italy responded and earned themselves a scrum just short of the Scotland line in the centre of the pitch but Scotland held firm and won the penalty – summing up the Azzurri’s day.
With 15 minutes remaining, Maitland and Scott combined again with the latter dotting down in the corner, only for referee Jaco Peyper to rule that the Kiwi-born winger’s pass was forward.
But Scotland had their fourth try of the match when Scott’s midfield partner Lamont snaffled a loose ball and streaked through a gaping hole in the Italian defence to score just his second try in his last 43 internationals.
Laidlaw continued his fine match with another conversion before Italy, with six minutes remaining, finally made one of their scrums count – Sergio Parisse with the inside pass to Alessandro Zanni who surged over before replacement fly-half Kris Burton converted.
Geoff Cross was sin-binned in injury time for the Scots but nothing could take the gloss of their success.
