Italy v Scotland, Six Nations, March 17
Scotland out to avoid Wooden finish
ESPNscrum Staff
March 12, 2012
Scotland winger Nikki Walker celebrates his try, Scotland v Italy, Six Nations, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland, March 19, 2011
Scotland's Nikki Walker celebrates a try against Italy in 2011 © Getty Images
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Teams: Italy | Scotland

Italy host Scotland at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, with the Wooden Spoon again dominating the build-up to what has become a keenly-contested Six Nations rivalry.

The two sides meet for the 18th time, with both enjoying success in recent seasons. The Azzurri picked up victories in 2007, 2008 and 2010, while the Scots prevented a hat-trick of defeats with a 26-6 victory in 2009. In 2011 they returned to Murrayfield and prevailed 21-8 in the Six Nations before a 23-12 win in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match.

Scotland claimed a 29-22 victory in their first official Test clash in 1996 and lead the overall stats with 12 victories to the Italians' six, although that advantage is reduced to just two games in the history of the Championship.

Scotland hold the record for the highest score, the biggest winning margin and highest try-return of the series. They won 47-15 and scored six tries at Murrayfield when the sides met in a World Cup warm-up match in August 2003. Italy's best result is their 37-17 Six Nations win at Murrayfield in 2007, when they scored four tries.

Diego Dominguez, with 29 points for Italy in Rome in 2000, holds the series record for most points scored in a match. Brendan Laney scored 24 for Scotland, also in Rome, in 2002.

Kenny Logan set the record for most tries in a match, scoring two for Scotland when the sides first met, at Murrayfield, in 1996. Luca Martin crossed twice for Italy there in 1999.

Logan also heads the list of try scorers for the overall series, crossing four times in six appearances between 1996 and 2003. Five Italians, including the Bergamasco brothers, have scored two tries in the matches.

The other major records for the fixture include Chris Paterson's overall tally of 118 points from a record 12 appearances, compared with 94 for Italy by Diego Dominguez.

Mirco Bergamasco holds the Italian record with 13 appearances. The only player dismissed during a Scotland-Italy match was Massimo Giovanelli at Murrayfield in 1999.

Scotland-Italy Six Nations results:
2000 Italy 34-20 (Rome)
2001 Scotland 23-19 (Murrayfield)
2002 Scotland 29-12 (Rome)
2003 Scotland 33-25 (Murrayfield)
2004 Italy 20-14 (Rome)
2005 Scotland 18-10 (Murrayfield)
2006 Scotland 13-10 (Rome)
2007 Italy 37-17 (Murrayfield)
2008 Italy 23-20 (Rome)
2009 Scotland 26-6 (Murrayfield)
2010 Italy 16-12 (Rome)
2011 Scotland 21-8 (Murrayfield)

  • Click here for Scotland's complete Test record in Statsguru

  • Click here for Italy's complete Test record in Statsguru

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