Scotland dominates Italy and avoids the wooden spoon

The Scots breathe. After a calamitous start to the Tournament, marked in particular by the 55-0 loss received against the Blues and the 58-7 slap against England, the XV du Chardon saved the honor on Saturday April 22. Opposed to Italy, which had already won a match against Ireland, the Scots hung on painfully a first success in four games. Victorious (29-21), they thus avoid the wooden spoon in this Tournament, which they can also “offer” to Ireland on the final day, since the Irish are the only ones not to have yet won.

Dominant in all areas (60% possession, 57% territorial occupation), Scotland took the game by the right end and then led throughout the game. With five tries (including two converted), captain Rachel Malcolm’s team did not need to register a single penalty against the Italians who did the same (three converted tries). Italy, however, had the merit of never giving up, even returning to three points per hour of play. But the expulsion of Sara Seye, in the 64th minute, signaled the end of the transalpine revolt. And allowed Scotland to catch some air to ensure a first success in the Tournament, and thus ward off the specter of last place.