Much improved, but Italy can't stop Scots

THE Scotland bandwagon continued to gather pace with a fifth consecutive win but this will count as one of their harder fought triumphs over an Italian side who hinted at better times ahead.

- BRENDAN GALLAGHER

The Scots recovered from a 14-7 deficit early in the second half to produce a much more effective performance in the final half-hour which garnered well-taken tries by Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings and George Turner and leave them in good shape for the visit of France this week.

France had originally intended to send an experimental squad XV to ensure senior players don’t exceed the maximum of two matches per player they agreed with Top 14 clubs for the Autumn Cup but it remains to be seen if they will tweak that given that today’s game against Fiji has been cancelled because of the Covid outbreak in the Fiji squad.

Whatever the case Scotland are flying high.

Italy will also take much from this game although it was worrying to see back-rower Jake Polledri stretchered off near the end when he hyperextended a knee on the tacky surface making a tackle in the build-up to Cummings’ try.