Scotland player ratings in desperate defeat by Italy as 3/10 Six Nations display in Rome rain says it all

Scotland have started their 2026 Six Nations campaign with a damaging loss to Italy at a sodden Stadio Olimpico.

The Italians eked out an 18-15 victory in Rome and withstood a late Scotland onslaught to hold on for a famous win.

This result heaps huge pressure on Gregor Townsend and his players. Scotland did not perform well in the autumn Tests and a rare defeat to the Italians with only raise questions over the head coach’s tenure.

Conditions inside the famous Italian stadium were treacherous due to persistent heavy rain, but the hosts dealt with them better. They scored two early tries and then held out for the win.

Louis Lynagh and Tomas Menoncello crossed the whitewash within 14 minutes and while Scotland rallied to an extent and got their own try through Jack Dempsey, they were always under the pump.

Scotland did have a chance to win the match in the dying stages with some sustained pressure in four added-on minutes, but Italy held on.

“It was very frustrating,” said Scotland captain Sione Tuipolutu. “We let them score too easily in the first 20 minutes. It’s on us. We were too loose, we didn’t adjust to the conditions in front of us.”

They head to Dublin next to face Ireland. Scotland must lick their wounds ahead of welcoming England to Murrayfield for the Calcutta Cup clash next Saturday.