A kicking battle for possession told the tale of the opening exchanges, although a collapsed scrum from Scotland saw Italy gain their first chance of attack as they threatened early on. After a series of passes that faded from Italy, Scotland regathered the ball in the breakdown, benefitting from a penalty shortly after to take them up field. The first showcase of a strong lineout from Scotland saw Rory Sutherland charge up the field, looking as if to score only for Scotland to lose possession. Italy wing Leonardo Migliori took it upon himself to drop the ball onto his boot, only to narrowly see the ball go dead to showcase the first signs of a strong Italian attack. 

Scotland responded promptly, taking the ball back up to the halfway line. Three collapsed scrums later and Scotland got started again, taking the penalty. Fergus Burkes boot launched Scotland further up field but a strong Italian defence were able to lock the door on Scotland holding them out from scoring.  

Reed looked to take the ball over the line after Scotland shipped the ball out wide but it was inevitably Gregor Hiddleston that charged over Italy’s tryline to take the first points of the night (0-7, 17 mins). A strong series of passes from Italy saw them nearly retaliate and score some points of their own, looking to benefit from a successful lineout, only for the ball to slip loose soon after. 

Burke’s boot yet again took Scotland up field only for another display of Italy’s strong defence to hold Scotland up from many of their set pieces, Scotland responded with a series of large passing plays making them some well fought metres, the ball soon however returned for another line out. Italy benefitted from a penalty, again kicking the ball up into Scotland’s half, with a Lineout following. By utilizing their forwards to charge into traffic and initiating a strong Maul, Italy went over the line, gaining their first taste of points for the night (7-7, 29 mins).  

Italy promptly added to their points with a quick break from Gasperini after a lineout on Scotland’s 5m line. (14-7, 35 mins)  

A strong Scotland 50:22 saw Scotland initiate an attack that inevitably saw Kyle Rowe dot down in the corner after a strong phase play. (14-12, 38 mins).  

Scotland regained possession on their own 5m line, kicking the ball out to mark the end of the first half.  

Half-time: Italy XV 14-12 Scotland A 

Scotland started their second half firing, attempting to force a mistake from a kick only for Italy to return the ball just shy of the halfway line and then steal the ball in the line out. While Italy looked for a positive attack off the back of this, Scotland were able to regather and stampede up field. Scotland responded with a strong lineout of their own, followed by a maul. Italy attempted to hold Scotland away from scoring, but Cameron Redpath was the one to set the ball down in the end (14-19, 48 mins). 

Italy didn’t take long to respond with a try, a strong attack saw Gallorini go over the line, giving them their first points of the half (21-19 50 mins). 

A penalty against Scotland allowed Italy Fly-Half Montemauri to add an extra three points to increase their lead (24-19, 54). 

Italy’s strong attack began to fade after Scotland stole possession in a line out, with a flowing Scottish attack placing the ball into Kyle Rowe’s hands to see the winger take his second try of the evening (24-24, 61 min).  

Scotland looked for a response following a yellow card, charging onto Italy under a kick, only for the ball to soon return to the halfway line by way of a strong Italian run. A dominant Scottish line out unlocked a reinvigorated attack, with a yellow card against Italy seeming like the perfect opportunity for a Scottish response. Italy’s strong defence inevitably held away the Scots, with Rowe narrowly missing out on a hat-trick after being deemed out of play. 

Regaining possession in the final moments of the match, Scotland were eager to push for a winner but with the ball falling back into Italian possession, the match would end in a well-fought draw. 

Full-time Italy XV 24-24 Scotland A

Italy: Mirko Belloni, Leonardo Antonio Sodo Migliori, Francois Carlo Mey, Giulio Bertaccini, Simone Gesi, Giovanni Montemauri, Lorenzo Citton; Davide Ruggeri, Nelson Casartelli, Giulio Marini, Alessandro Ortombina, Matteo Canali, Marcos Francesco Gallorini, Nicholas Gasperini, Destiny Aminu. 

Replacements: Luc Franceschetto, Paulo Buonfiglio, Fabio Maria Morosi, Alex Mattioli, Giacomo Ferrari, Cristiano Tizzano, Simone Brisighella, Alessandro Forucci. 

 

Scotland: Harry Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks); Fergus Burke (Saracens), Gus Warr (Sale Sharks); Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Gregor Hiddleston (Glasgow Warriors), D’arcy Rae (Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Captain) (Bordeaux Bègles), Alex Craig (Glasgow Warriors), Andy Onyeama-Christie (Saracens), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), Alexander Masibaka (Montpellier). 

Replacements: Harri Morris (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Hiddleston, 48 mins), Alec Hepburn (Scarlets) (for Sutherland, 41 mins), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers) (for Rae, 41 mins), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh) (for Onyeama-Christie, 65 mins), Euan Ferrie (Glasgow Warriors) (For Gray, 48 mins), Josh Bayliss (Bath) (for Masibaka, 47 mins), Ben Afshar (Glasgow Warriors) (for Warr, 61 mins), Dan Lancaster (Glasgow Warriors) (for Burke, 61 mins). 

 

Referee: Daniele Pompa (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Gabriel Chirnoaga (FIR), Edoardo Pelliccioni (FIR) 
Attendance: 2,500
Player of the Match: Marcos GalleriniÂ