Scotland begin WXV title defence with win over Italy

The Scots won the match 19-0 in the DHL Stadium in Cape Town to make it 11 victories in their last 14 Test matches, but they could only score one try in the second period and missed out on a four-try bonus point. The victory was the most important thing against a tough opponent though.

After an emotion-charged singing of Flower of Scotland to mark captain Rachel Malcolm’s 50th cap, the Scots got off to a quick start. They were trying to stretch the Italian defence and they turned down a couple of kickable penalties as they searched for an opening try.

However, Italy stood firm and there were a couple of handling errors too meaning it was still 0-0 after 10 minutes.

Scotland were then guilty of overplaying in their own half and they conceded a penalty with Italy kicking to touch, but they blew the attacking lineout chance in the 15th minute.

Winger Coreen Grant then had a good run out wide as Scotland tried to break the deadlock before loosehead prop Anne Young went down injured after a carry.

She was fine to resume and it was 0-0 after 20 minutes.

Italy were awarded a penalty in the 24th minute and they decided to go for goal, but centre Beatrice Rigoni missed.

Scotland then attacked with real pace and Italy winger Aura Muzzo was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on. Scotland took immediate advantage, good hands helping Chloe Rollie, the full- back, going over for her 24th international try. Stand-off Helen Nelson converted and it was 7-0.

Nelson’s cross field kick so nearly set up Grant for try number two, but she just could not gather and then, in the 32nd minute, centre Emma Orr was held up over the try line.

Muzzo then returned to the field so that Italy were back up to 15, but as the rain began to fall Scotland scored a crucial second try.

With the clock in the red before the break, hooker Lana Skeldon went over from a lineout drive and Nelson converted from out wide to make it 14-0 at half-time.

Scotland would have been keen to kick on from there early in the second period, but the continuing rain and slippy conditions meant that the score remained the same as the hour mark came and went.

Indeed, the score was still the same with five minutes to go until a neat pass from Nelson put Grant in for an unconverted try. The Scots ran out of time to get the fourth try, but it was ‘job done’.

Here are five things we learned from DHL Stadium...

Scotland could have taken early penalty shots, but they backed their attack

In the opening exchanges Scotland had at least two chances to kick penalties at goal, but they turned them down. When it was still 0-0 heading into the second quarter that could have looked like the wrong decision, but this team wants to play and the decision was vindicated with two tries in the 27th and 40th minutes.

Lana Skeldon is just getting better

The hooker made her debut way back in 2011 and this was her 72nd cap, but she is still just 30 and she is playing the best rugby of her career.

The Bristol Bears player from Hawick carried countless times in the first half and then scored a vital  try just before half-time while she has some engine on her and never seems to stop.

Scotland are improving at the breakdown

Defence has been a big ‘work on’ over the last 18 months or so for Scotland and they never really looked like conceding any points in this match.

Their work at the breakdown, led by Player of the Match Evie Gallagher, was particularly impressive and they are really making it hard for teams to break them down nowadays.

Scotland will be slightly disappointed with no bonus point

Having scored try number two just at the end of the first half Scotland would have been eyeing up a four-try bonus point win. The win came, but it took 35 minutes in the second half to score try number three and the bonus point never came.

It would have been nice to get the extra point, but the victory was most important. 

The Scotland-Australia match on October 12 is shaping up to be a cracker

With Scotland winning this game and Australia opening up their campaign earlier on Saturday with a 37-5 bonus point win over Wales at the same venue, the meeting between the two in a fortnight on the final weekend is already looking exciting.

Scotland play Japan next Saturday and Australia take on South Africa in the lead-up to the clash between the two in week three.

Scotland: Chloe Rollie (Lucia Scott 69); Coreen Grant, Emma Orr, Meryl Smith (Lisa Thomson 48), Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Caity Mattinson (Leia Brebner-Holden 73); Anne Young (Lisa Cockburn 66), Lana Skeldon (Elis Martin 66), Christine Belisle (Elliann Clarke 48), Fiona McIntosh (Louise McMillan 56), Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan (Alex Stewart 48-58 and 69), Evie Gallagher.

Tries: Rollie (27), Skeldon (40), Grant (75)

Conversions: Nelson (27, 40)  

Italy: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi; Aura Muzzo, Sara Mannini (Michela Sillari 61), Beatrice Rigoni, Francesca Granzotto; Emma Stevanin, Sofia Stefan (Beatrice Capomaggi 65); Emanuela Stecca (Gaia Maris 41), Laura Gurioli (Vittoria Vecchini 41), Sara Seye (Vittoria Zanette 73), Sara Tounesi (Alessandra Frangipani 65), Giordana Duca, Ilaria Arrighetti (Francesca Sgorbini 24), Beatrice Veronese, Elisa Giordano (C).

Yellow card: Muzzo (25)

Referee: Amelia Luciano (USA)

Player of the Match: Evie Gallagher (Scotland)