Sad Rome truths hit Gregor's gladiators

PRESSURE mounted on coach Gregor Townsend as Scotland suffered a disastrous Six Nations start, losing to Italy in a rain-lashed Rome.

- BY ANTHONY BROWN

The fired-up Azzurri raced into a 12-point lead within 14 minutes.

The Scots - with back-three big-hitters Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe all dropped due to poor form - were unable to get their attack firing while their set-piece continually malfunctioned.

Tries from Louis Lynagh and Tommaso Menoncello, and the boot of Paolo Garbisi, sealed a deserved victory on a sodden Stadio Olimpico surface.