ROME (Reuters) – Scotland coach Gregor Townsend was happy with his group’s 33-22 Six Nations victory over Italy in Rome on Saturday, although admitted a repeat of their poor finish to the sport would see them punished by higher groups.
Scotland scored 5 tries in a helter-skelter contest on the Stadio Olimpico, but in addition allowed Italy to cross for 3, the house aspect having managed just one strive in all the Six Nations earlier than this recreation.
Two of these Italy scores got here in the ultimate 20 minutes, a interval in which Scotland didn’t handle a single level.
“We’re delighted with the win, it has been a troublesome venue for Scotland over the years,” Townsend advised BBC Radio Scotland. “We performed properly till the 50-minute mark and after that we weren’t pretty much as good. But that is one of the best I’ve seen Italy play over the final couple of seasons.”
Putting in a full 80-minute efficiency is one thing Scotland have spoken about quite a bit in latest occasions and, given the truth that Italy have now misplaced 36 video games in a row in the Six Nations, they could have hoped for one right here.
But Townsend admitted that they had let their depth drop and that affected their defensive form, which was a bit of unfastened all through the sport.
“Maybe we thought they’d crack however you need to hold your depth up in opposition to all opposition,” he stated.
“We pleasure ourselves on how we defend, the hassle and physicality. The final 20 minutes wasn’t good. We’ll take confidence from the win into subsequent week, which will probably be a fair greater problem.”
Scotland finish their marketing campaign in opposition to Ireland subsequent Saturday in Dublin, the place they haven’t received since a 23-20 victory at Croke Park in 2010.
They have one win in their final 11 video games in any respect venues in opposition to the Irish.
(Reporting by Nick Said; enhancing by Clare Fallon)
