Scotland have been forced into one change for today’s Six Nations wooden spoon decider against Italy and there may well be another before referee Steve Walsh signals the start.
Italy head coach Nick Mallett has made up to six changes for this match, and they look a lot like Scotland did last year-coming in with one positive result but, with a little rub of the green, it might have easily been three wins instead of just the historic victory against France last week.
Robinson said, “I’m full of praise for the way they’ve developed their game in the last year. Sergio Parisse is world class, Masi is a quality player, Castrogiovanni has played many great games for Italy and Leicester and last year Zanni was outstanding against us.”
“These guys have performed to world-class levels and we have to make sure we put their talismanic players under real pressure.”
For the Scots, a setpiece malfunction such as that which occurred at Twickenham is not tolerable, although the perception that the Scottish scrum is in full-scale retreat this season will be hard to resist.
Robinson has pinpointed referee interpretations, but in each game of this Six Nations the Scottish scrum has been hammered early, setting the tone for the rest of the contest and signposting to the officials that they have a problem.
Robinson said, “It’s not just a problem for Scotland-it’s worldwide in the game and what we need are the decisions to go our way and make sure the referee understands how we’re trying to scrummage.
“It’s our problem, we’ve got to keep the scrum up, make sure we scrummage as an eight, and we’ve got to make sure we’re managing the referee properly.”
It is hard to believe that the Scots lineout will be as well read as it was at Twickenham but Italy’s drills in both setpieces are sound and at least the equal of Scotland’s.
This match has never been easy for Scotland with none of the basketball scores Italy have suffered elsewhere and Scottish fans can only relax if the Italians suffer a negative reaction to last week’s success, or their perennial weakness at half-back is exploited.
That is wishful thinking, however, and optimism should now be anathema to anyone who follows Scottish rugby. Italy will have targeted this game all season as a potential away win and not without justification.
Scotland are aiming to avoid a first whitewash since 2004, the first season under Matt Williams when their rebuilding almost guaranteed it would happen. This year, under Robinson, Scotland had different expectations the team were thought to have an outside chance of the championship, not scrapping to avoid last place. If they do avoid it, it won’t be by the try-scoring fireworks naively expected by some.
Expect the usual slug-it-out, nose-to-nose contest with the Italians, and a penalty or drop goal between them at the end.
Max Evans pulled out after failing a fitness test on an ankle strain and is replaced by Nikki Walker, while Kelly Brown passed his test but has his phone on permanently in case wife Emily goes into labour with their first child.
If that happens before kick-off, the number 8 recently dubbed Mr Rugby by legendary former Scotland coach Jim Telfer because of his consistency will miss his first international since the start of last year to be there for the birth, with the consent of head coach Andy Robinson.
It would not be the first alarm for the Browns either, with Emily nearly going into premature labour last week when she saw her husband knocked cold at Twickenham during the Calcutta Cup, and then an attempt at inducing birth naturally was unsuccessful this week.
“I think she was panicking a bit,” said Brown, who was conscious soon after he mistimed a tackle against England’s monster centre Matt Banahan and took a forearm to the head.
“What made it worse, she said, was that the overhead camera was being used and it was panning up and down, like in films when someone’s died and their spirit goes up to heaven or something.”
He added, “Thankfully (Scotland team doctor) James Robson was there straight away and he got a message back really quickly, and our team manager Kirsty Mackay was able to phone and tell Emily I was going to be fine within two or three minutes.”
With Brown given leave to be at home this week and undergo the necessary concussion protocols with doctors at his club Saracens, he returned to camp last night and completed the captain’s pre-match training run and a fitness test at the stadium to get the all-clear.
He said, “You know yourself that it’ll be okay. I could feel all my limbs and there was no extra pain I actually wanted to walk off the pitch but they went through the procedure which is fair enough.”
“I’ve seen it back now and I just didn’t adjust to Matt changing direction because it happened so quickly, how he was carrying the ball was 100% okay.”Expert gives OKA London neurologist confirmed he was okay on Friday, and with Scotland only having two training sessions this week after a six-day turnaround from Sunday as well as having started the last 14 tests in a row Brown has not missed much, but there is still the chance he could pull out.He said, “The phone is still on, and if the call comes at 10am tomorrow, I’ll be going back down. But if I’m still here at 2.30pm, the focus will be totally on Italy and getting the win.”
“Anyone that watched them last week saw a fantastic performance to beat France, which was a huge breakthrough we’re under no illusions that we’ll face a very hard test and have to be at our best to overcome them.”
The confirmed change replaces Evans with a wing seven inches taller and nearly 20kg heavier, but Robinson is sure that the game plan which involved the quicksilver Glasgow Warrior freelancing off his wing will adjust to Walker’s less subtle, more direct style.
Robinson said, “The way we tried to set Max up to spot gaps and make holes, Chris Paterson can do that role and Simon Danielli as well, while Nikki can play to his strengths, running off 10 and the little plays we have to bring him in.
“Max didn’t take part in either session this week and we thought he’d make it, but he’s unable to put pressure on the ankle, which he got quite early in the England game and then aggravated it scoring his try.
“It gives Nikki a great opportunity to bounce back from the frustration he had from not being picked. The guys are really recharged. There’s been enough moments in the games so far that have shown the improvements we’ve made, but the bottom line is we’re here to win games of rugby and we haven’t done that.”
Continued…