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Welcome to ESPNscrum's coverage of Scotland's trip to face Italy in Rome. Both sides are desperate for their first Six Nations victory of the season, with Scotland still smarting from their thrilling, but heartbreaking, loss to Wales and Italy buoyed by a dogged showing against England.
Remember to send us your thoughts as the game progresses and keep up to date with our editor Graham Jenkins on Twitter throughout the afternoon.
Dan Parks again leads the line for Scotland and he'll need to get the backs moving under some brilliant spring sunshine. Italy will want it slow and tough, so it's up to Parks and that maturing back-row of Kelly Brown, John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie to ensure that they don't have it all their own way.
The teams are out for the anthems, always plenty of energy from both sets of fans, and there seems to be a decent travelling support.
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| 1 |
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Referee Dave Pearson blows his whistle and Italy fly-half Craig Gower gets us underway in Rome with a deep kick into the Scottish 22.
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| 2 |
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Promising start from the Italians, who attempt to move the ball wide with their first piece of possession. They eventually ran out of space on the left-hand side but that was very positive - let's hope it's a sign of what's to come.
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| 3 |
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More encouraginly expansive play from the hosts. Again, though, their willingness to run it comes to nothing, with Mirco Bergamasco knocking on after finding himself in space on the left flank.
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| 4 |
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The Scots earn themselves a penalty after some great work by the pack in the set-piece. A timely boost for the visitors.
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| 6 |
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Masi boots the ball into touch but the Scots quite rightly point out that the ball had been knocked back into the 22 by an Italian hand, resulting in a lineout for Andy Robinson's men in a very promising attacking position. However, after moving the ball inside, McLean rises majestically to claim Parks' booming up-and-under. The Italian fullback did well to hold on to that - particularly after being clattered by Brown long after he had called for the mark.
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| 9 |
3 - 0 |
It's first blood to Italy, with Mirco Bergamasco converting from just to the right of the uprights after Euan Murray had been penalised for an offence in the scrum. The Scottish prop had come under intense pressure from Perugini.
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| 11 |
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The visitors are rattled. The ball squirms out of a Scottish ruck close to the left touch-line and Bergamasco is first to the loose ball, hacking it on down the line. Parks has no option but to kick it into touch just eight metres out from his own line.
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| 13 |
6 - 0 |
From the resulting lineout, Italy move it infield andthen try to take it straight up the middle. Barclary is then pinged for hands in the ruck, leaving Bergamasco with an easy penalty kick right in front of the sticks. The winger wastes little time in doubling the Azzurri's advantage.
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| 15 |
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Another Scottish turnover! On this occasion, Southwell takes the ball into contact but promptly has the ball ripped from his grasp by Garcia, sparking another Italian counter-attack which again takes them deep into Scottish territory. Andy Robinson's men are really rocking at the moment.
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| 18 |
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Parks, to his credit, is trying to settle his side and the No.10 has just placed a superb kick in behind McLean to take his side to within 15 metres of the Italian line.
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| 20 |
6 - 3 |
The Italians make a mess of the lineout, allowing Scotland to counter. Barclay breaks the line but is ultimately held up by Gower, amongst others. The Scottish pressure eventually leads to three points for Parks, though, with the Italians having been pinged for coming in from the side.
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| 23 |
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Scotland are holding their own in the scrum for the most part but they are turning the ball over with alarming regularity every time they try to run it.
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| 25 |
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Garcia, who's having a decent game, burst through a gap in midfield but as he doesn't have the pace to really trouble the Scottish back-line, he finds himself in an ultimately futile search for support. It never arrives and, predictably, he turns the ball over after taking it into contact.
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| 28 |
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Both sides are displaying a dreadful lack of incision behind the scrum and are pretty much taking it in turns to gift possession back to the other.
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Park's pinpoint kicking out of hand has been the one bright spot on an otherwise underwhelming performance from the men in navy. The Glasgow ace has just planted another kick right in the Italian corner.
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6 - 6 |
The Scots earn themselves a penalty wide on the left-hand side after a decent forward drive from the forwards. Parks steps up to take the resulting kick and makes a sweet connection to level matters.
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| 33 |
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Barclay pounces on an Italian overthrown at the line-out, steps inside Gower beautifully but his progress is halted by Tabaldi. Scotland try to keep the move alive but eventually knock it on. A missed opportunity for the visitors.
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| 35 |
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Scrum.com's Huw Baines: "Barclay has been a handful but the Scottish back-row just hasn't functioned. Bergamasco is on top and will take some shifting at this rate."
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| 37 |
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After some slick passing in midfield, Beattie is set free down the left wing. The No.8 charges forward but is eventually wrapped up. Scotland secure quick ball but Sole deliberately comes around from the side to kill it stone dead. It's a penalty for the Scots but no yellow card for Sole. Insult is added to injury when Parks fails to land the resulting strike on goal.
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| 38 |
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Scrum.com's Huw Baines: "That's a stone-wall yellow card. Also, if Pearson isn't going to bin Sole, why hasn't he let Scotland take the quick tap? The visitors can feel hard done by there."
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| 40 |
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Italy end the half on the offensive but can consider themselves a tad fortunate to be on level terms in light of Parks' miss just before the interval whistle. Indeed, after a rather poor start, the Scots have recovered well. They're by no means playing good rugby but they have secured a foothold in the game and they look the more likely try-scorers, with Barclay arguably the most menacing attacking player on the pitch. Still, it's beautifully poised at the minute. It might not be pretty - it rarely is when these two are involved - but it is intriguing. Neither side dare lose this one.
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| 40 |
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Scotland will need to put their personality on this match in the second half.
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| 42 |
9 - 6 |
The match against England seem to have given the Azurri much more confidence - and they get a penalty with a chance to take the lead again - and they do.
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| 43 |
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Scotland's back row are a good unit and could be the match winners for the visitors.
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| 45 |
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The Italians are looking stretched and Scotland pile over in the right hand corner - Video ref called.
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| 46 |
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It looks like Mirco Bergamasco has done enough to hold the ball up. No try.
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| 48 |
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The Scots are putting the pressure on at the scrum - five metres from the Italian line. Freekick Scots.
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| 49 |
9 - 9 |
The Italian defence is doing well to stop the Scots, and Dan Parks drops the points to level the match.
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| 50 |
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It was a wasted opportunity for the Scots - they should have done more with it.
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| 52 |
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The Italians are throwing themselves in to the attack - the crowd are really behind them.
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| 53 |
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The Italian coach Nick Mallett seems to be getting the Italians to free up their play and move the ball with more effect and fluently.
The game seems to have really opened up.
The last quarter of the match should be interesting if it is still close - will the home side be able to keep the pace up?
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| 55 |
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The Scots have got no real change out of the Italian defence - stretched but not broken.
Changes being made by Scotland - they have quite a strong bench which again may make the difference.
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| 58 |
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Stupid penalty given away by Scots winger Danielli - a push well off the ball.
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| 59 |
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The Italians are putting the pressure on the Scots lineout by kicking to touch in the Scots 22.
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| 61 |
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The Italians are playing with real pace and ambition. The Scots are defending well but the stadium will erupt if the Italians do score a try.
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| 62 |
9 - 12 |
Parks - penalty goal
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| 63 |
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The Italians defence seems strong near the breakdown, but the Scots seem to have more space and opportunity when they move the ball wide.
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| 64 |
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Dan Parks going for goal to take the lead - kickable - and the fly-half does well.
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| 65 |
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I have never been to Rome for a Six Nations match - can anyone tell what the weekend is like - it must be fantastic!
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| 66 |
14 - 12 |
TRY Canale bursts through down the cenhtre and flicks a ball to replacement Pablo Canavosio on the burst to score under the posts.
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| 67 |
16 - 12 |
M Bergamasco - conversion
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| 68 |
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Scrum.com's Huw Baines on Twitter: ……
Twitter
"That's a really good try from Italy, a good break and unplayable offload. That will give them so much heart for the final 10."
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| 69 |
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Huw's right - it was a cracking try and goes to show what Italy are capable of if given a chance.
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| 71 |
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The Scots will be getting VERY nervous - but they must keep their heads if they are to eventually succeed and win the match.
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| 72 |
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The crowd are roaring for Italy - prop Jaconsen held up - video ref called again - but it looks short of the line.
The Italians aren't short of bravery as they are throwing themselves in to the tackle.
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| 74 |
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The Italians were under pressure in the scrum - but they got the ball - kick charged down but somehow the Italians played themselves out of trouble with calmness and cleared really well to touch.
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| 75 |
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Craig Gower is going for the posts from the half way line. Its a big kick for the former 'league' player.
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| 76 |
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The fly-half misses. The Scots, if they are to win, need to keep their nerve, but they are making silly handlng errors just at the wrong time.
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| 77 |
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I think the Italians are slowing down the last few minutes...an injury here and there - just to keep their breath and possibly take the pace out of the game.
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| 78 |
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The Scots can't get the ball at the moment - but the Italians must be careful not to give away a penalty.
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| 79 |
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The Italians do make greater yardage when they have the ball. They are on the Scots 22.
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| 80 |
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Phase number 14 for the Italians. But they give away a penalty. Scots need to go from their 22. They can't kick the ball to touch. The Italians are looking strong in defence.
Another penalty to Scotland- inside the Italians half.
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| 80+1 |
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Slow ball for the Scots. Italy have the ball - but the kick doesn't reach touch and the Scots get it back inside their 22.
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| 80+2 |
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Italy get a penalty and they have the victory. The ball goes in to touch and the game ends and the Italians celebrate another terrific victory over Scotland.
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| 80+3 |
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Out of all the teams in the Six Nations Italy are the ones who have really improved as the Championship has progressed.
I hope you enjoyed the match with Scrum.com - and see you next time.
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