ROME – Italy delivered a stunning upset in the opening match of the 2026 Six Nations, defeating Scotland 18-15 in a rain-soaked encounter at the Stadio Olimpico. The victory heaps pressure on Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, whose position is already under scrutiny following a disappointing autumn campaign and a controversial consultancy role with Red Bull.
The Azzurri raced to a 12-point lead within the first 14 minutes, capitalizing on early Scottish errors and a disorganised backfield. Louis Lynagh scored the opening try in the eighth minute after a clever grubber kick from Juan Ignacio Brex, though Paolo Garbisi’s conversion attempt hit the post. Just six minutes later, Lynagh again played a key role, winning a high ball before Michele Lamaro’s looping pass found Tommaso Menoncello, who powered over the line. Garbisi successfully added the extras, extending Italy’s advantage.
Scotland managed to respond in the 24th minute through Jack Dempsey, who forced his way over from close range after a period of sustained pressure. Finn Russell’s conversion narrowed the gap, but Italy quickly reasserted control. Garbisi added a penalty in the 35th minute, extending the lead to eight points at halftime.
The second half saw a brief resurgence from Scotland. Russell slotted a penalty in the 46th minute, bringing the score to within a single score. However, Italy swiftly countered with another penalty from Garbisi, awarded after Ewan Ashman was penalized for a high tackle. The resulting penalty extended Italy’s lead and highlighted Scotland’s struggles with discipline.
The game took a further turn when Scottish replacement George Turner received a yellow card in the 52nd minute for a dangerous clearout. Despite the numerical advantage, Italy were unable to immediately capitalize. Scotland, however, refused to yield, and substitute George Horne provided a late lifeline in the 67th minute, diving over after a lineout. Russell’s subsequent conversion attempt sailed wide, leaving Scotland trailing by three points.
Despite a frantic finish, Scotland were unable to mount a successful comeback. The result marks the first time since 2020 that Scotland have lost their opening match of the Six Nations, and raises serious questions about their championship aspirations. The performance was particularly concerning given that nine of the Scottish starting XV also featured in their previous defeat in Rome in March 2024, a close 31-29 loss.
Townsend’s decision to drop key players – Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, and Duhan van der Merwe – from the starting lineup, ostensibly due to concerns about their performance under the high ball, proved to be a gamble that backfired. Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie, who started in their place, were partially at fault for Italy’s opening scores.
Italy’s victory, achieved despite being without key players Sebastian Negri and Ange Capuozzo through injury, provides significant momentum heading into their next fixture against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. A win in Dublin would represent a remarkable start to the tournament for Gonzalo Quesada’s side, and a first victory against Ireland since 2013.
For Scotland, the focus now shifts to a crucial home match against England at Murrayfield. Townsend faces mounting pressure to deliver a response, and a defeat against their oldest rivals could prove fatal to his tenure. The manner of this defeat – a disjointed performance plagued by errors and a lack of attacking fluency – will undoubtedly fuel further criticism and speculation about the future of the Scottish team.
The wet conditions at the Stadio Olimpico undoubtedly played a role in the match, contributing to handling errors and challenging kicking strategies. However, Italy’s ability to adapt to the conditions and capitalize on Scottish mistakes proved decisive. Their superb retention of possession from kicks, coupled with Scotland’s disorganised backfield, laid the foundation for a deserved victory.
