Six Nations, for Italy in Edinburgh the last chance to avoid the wooden spoon

Italy, last appeal. In Edinburgh on Saturday at 13.30 (live TV on Sky Sport Arena, Now and free-to-air on TV 8) Italy has the last chance to cancel the 0 in the box of victories in the Six Nations and avoid the wooden spoon, at least according to the traditional version (the one that assigns it to whoever loses all the games, not simply to the last one in the standings).

What seemed to be the most favorable opportunity last Saturday at the Olimpico with Wales having failed badly, the Blue Fifteen will face Scotland not some time ago, the only opponent we have managed to beat seven times, two of which in away (in 2007 and 2015), but a decidedly more competitive, fierce and above all aggressive team, devoted to attacking as is also the Italy of Crowley management. If Italy have to do without Ange Capuozzo – who will be out for at least two months due to the injury against Ireland – Scottish coach Townsend will not be able to count on his brilliant (and less and less fickle) number 10 Finn Russell this time and on the experience and class of fullback Stuart Hogg, two very good news for us. Russell in particular was the spark for the victories against Wales and England, and for the great performance against France; in its place there will be the much more predictable Kinghorn, but the highlanders have other formidable weapons, starting with the flying ram Van der Merwe, on the other wing Kyle Steyn, to continue with the two centers Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, and the number 8 Jack Dempsey.

Until now, Italy has always scored at least two tries, but has paid for the many wasted opportunities, indiscipline, chronically slow starts and many defensive ‘dolls’. Taking care of the defense – against an expert, solid, heavy melee and mangy Scotland in the meeting points – will be the first task of Lamaro & Co., who will then have to try to win the duel of the midfielders and throw Bruno and Menoncello’s arrows to make quick use of spaces. Crowley confirmed Allan in place of Capuozzo, while Simone Gesi will make his debut as number 11 (debutant like hooker Marco Manfredi who will however start from the bench) and Alessandro Fusco, brilliant in the final against Wales, will have his first opportunity as a starter as number 9 in place of Varney and alongside Paolo Garbisi. «We have to grow in match management – says captain Lamaro – we are not yet able to win without playing our best. The referees’ mistakes in the match against Wales? We can’t control refereeing, but we need to be more focused. With Wales we conceded two yellow cards, against Scotland we can’t play twenty minutes with one man down». For Townsend the goal is «to finish the Six Nations with a sharp note. We feel like after the defeat to the All Blacks in November, we have the feeling that we missed the result we wanted and immediately had to meet Argentina. Italy have been close to beating the best in this tournament, and closed last year by beating Wales in Cardiff. We don’t want that to happen again with us.”

Scotland-Italy, Saturday 18 February, Murrayfield, 1.30pm

The formations

Scotland: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Blair Kinghorn, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Sam Skinner , 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman. Coach: Gregor Townsend.
Subs: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 WP Nel, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 Ali Price, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Cameron Redpath

Italy: 15 Tommy Allan, 14 Pierre Bruno, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Edoardo Iachizzi, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti. Coach: Kieran Crowley.
Subs: 16 Marco Manfredi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Niccolo Cannone, 20 Giovanni Pettinelli, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Luca Morisi

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Six Nations standings: Ireland 19 points, France 15, Scotland and England 10, Wales 5, Italy 1.

This is Sky’s TV schedule for Saturday 18 March, the fifth and final day of the Guinness Six Nations.

12.45, pre-match (Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport Arena, NOW and free-to-air on TV8)

1.30 pm: Scotland-Italy (Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport Arena, NOW and free-to-air on TV8

3.45 pm: France-Wales (Sky Sport Arena and NOW)

6 pm: Ireland-England (Sky Sport Arena and NOW)