"Absent" - Five Scotland players who flopped in shock defeat to Italy

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Having come from 12 points behind to stun the Scots in 2024, this time the Italians were the ones who raced into a 12-point lead.

Although the gap was reduced to just three by the final whistle, Scotland did not do enough as the hosts made the most of their rapid start, superior set-piece, and solid discipline.

Below, we assess five Scotland players who struggled in Rome.

Returning from limited game time after Achilles surgery, Jones never found a rhythm in Rome. Well contained by Italy and hampered by the conditions, he struggled to influence the contest and missed a key opportunity late on when a try was on.

Rugby Pass said: “A hat-trick scorer against the Azzurri in 2025, Jones has barely had any rugby since then due to Achilles surgery and was largely anonymous in this match. Well contained by the Italian defence.”

RUCK added: “Barely touched the ball in the first half and had little impact on Scotland’s battle to get back into the match. Strange performance.”

FloRugby noted: “Marshalled out of the fixture by the Italian defence and weather conditions, the dynamic Jones struggled with his few interventions. Missing Tom Jordan with a poor pass when a try was on in the 64th minute perhaps sums up his challenging afternoon.”

A frustrating afternoon for Scotland’s lineout general. Gilchrist failed to impose himself at the set-piece, conceded penalties at key moments, and was replaced early after an ineffective display that blunted Scotland’s attempts to build pressure.

The Scotsman observed: “Gave away a penalty early in the match for holding on. Won't be happy with the way the lineout got washed away given he runs the show there. Replaced by Brown.”

FloRugby said: “Unable to get to grips with the lineout and largely ineffective around the park, the Edinburgh lock will be frustrated with his performance.”

RUCK wrote: “Gave away a penalty in the 12th minute for obstruction as Scotland were gathering momentum. Gregor Brown replaced him early in the second half after a disappointing performance from the second row.”

Rugby Pass concluded: “Was always a willing carrier but looked a bit pedestrian. He was also responsible for two of the six penalties Scotland gave away in the first half. Maybe it’s time for Gregor Townsend to give someone more dynamic a go.”

A nightmare outing for the hooker in difficult conditions. Inaccurate lineout work and a costly high tackle summed up a performance that unravelled further when he was forced back on after Turner’s sin-binning.

The Scotsman summed it up bluntly: “This was an afternoon to forget for the Scotland hooker.”

FloRugby reported: “Struggled to find his marks at lineout time, which nearly cost his side when they were chasing the game in tough conditions. His high tackle in the 48th minute cost his side majorly.”

Rugby Pass added: “A nightmare match which only got worse when he was compelled to come back on in the second half and relive the torture following George Turner’s sin-binning.”

Kept things ticking with his kicking game but was unable to stamp his authority on a match played on the back foot. Quiet by his own high standards, with Scotland’s lack of platform limiting his influence throughout.

The Scotsman said: “Probed away all afternoon at the Italian defence with his kicking. Not a game where flamboyance was going to win the day. Missed one conversion from a really tough position.”

FloRugby noted: “Exceptionally quiet, which was unsurprising given how much his pack were on the back foot throughout the contest.”

RUCK wrote: “An outstanding kick from a penalty just before the quarter-way mark put Scotland into an attacking position, only for it to be spilled from the set-piece. He also kicked the ball out on the full from a restart, resulting in Italy winning a penalty.”

Handed a tough assignment in awful conditions, Dobie struggled with errors at crucial moments. Poor positioning at a restart proved costly, and he failed to work himself into the game before being replaced midway through the second half.

Rugby Pass said: “The pressure of filling Duhan van der Merwe’s big boots, plus dreadful conditions for a winger, were always going to make this a tricky assignment, but Dobie’s error count was way too high.”

FloRugby observed: “Getting his positioning wrong at a kick-off just after Scotland had closed to within a score was costly as Italy eventually won a penalty, which Garbisi slotted.”

RUCK concluded: “Another Scottish error halted a promising period of momentum. Later, Dobie was adjudged to have taken Menoncello out of the way after chipping the ball through. Needed to work more off his wing to find the ball. Replaced by Darcy Graham in the 50th minute.”