The way we view Italy has changed – or ought to have changed. Some, perhaps subconsciously, still see them as a nailed-on win with only the margin up for discussion. That was the case for a long time, but not anymore.
They have class and power all over their team, they have clever creators, deadly finishers with dynamism and belligerence.
Scotland have lost more Six Nations games to Italy (eight) than all the other nations combined, so the warning signs are there, flashing blue. Would it be a massive surprise if Italy won? Not in the minds of anybody who’s been paying attention to them.
Townsend has injuries, but he’s not wallowing. He has absolute faith in Stafford McDowall filling in for Tuipulotu and bringing some of his ball-carrying and defensive solidity to the party.
McDowall is not Tuipulotu but he’s still a seriously accomplished footballer, a leader, a big presence who will relish a run in the team. Save for Cherry and the undercooked, but freakish unit, Gray, then this is an impressive Scotland team with an impactful bench.
And they’ll most likely need it. A recurring theme throughout last season’s championship was Scotland’s fast starts and slow finishes, the opening day hair-raiser against Wales being the classic illustration of that.
In points scored across the four quarters of games they went from first, to third, to joint fifth to sixth in the final quarter. For points conceded they were again at their weakest in the final quarter.
Townsend has some terrific firepower on the bench. George Horne, Tom Jordan and Kyle Rowe can create things out of nothing. Gregor Brown, with his physicality and skill-set, could be a real breakout star. Jack Dempsey hasn’t played a whole pile of rugby but his carrying and his intensity might be just the ticket to get Scotland over the line.
It could be nervous, it could be positively terrifying, but it’s the Six Nations and it’s back and it’s a hell of a time to be alive.
