Scotland v Italy Six Nations 2026: Rain, Lineout Woes, and a Tight Scoreline as Rome Turns into a Test of Nerve

Italy and Scotland opened their 2026 Six Nations campaigns in a wet, grinding contest at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday, February 7, 2026, with Italy edging in front as the match moved through the second half. The game has been defined by slippery handling, tactical kicking, and a Scotland set-piece that hasn’t provided the platform they expected.

As of mid-match in the second half, Italy led 15–10.

What happened so far in Italy v Scotland

Italy struck first and did it in the way underdogs love: pressure, territory, and a decisive finish before Scotland could settle. Louis Lynagh opened the scoring, pouncing on a well-judged kick into space to turn a half-chance into a try. Italy then found a second score through Tommaso Menoncello, punishing Scotland’s edge defense and making the most of a moment when Scotland’s spacing and scramble didn’t match the weather conditions.

Scotland responded with a controlled, well-worked try finished by Jack Dempsey, with Finn Russell adding the conversion. But while Scotland have had stretches of territory and possession, their attacking rhythm has repeatedly stalled at the set-piece, particularly at lineout time, where lost ball and disrupted throws have robbed them of momentum and invited Italy back into the game.

Kick-off time for Scotland vs Italy in ET

Italy v Scotland kicked off at 9:10 a.m. ET on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

That timing matters because it shapes how teams manage the opening quarter: early-day conditions in Rome, a damp surface, and a ball that becomes progressively harder to control as rain intensifies.

Behind the headline: why this matchup keeps getting spiky

This fixture has quietly become one of the tournament’s most volatile meetings because Italy are no longer playing for “respectable losses.” They now have enough power up front and enough speed out wide to punish teams that treat them like a procedural win.

Scotland, meanwhile, are built to stress defenses with width and tempo, but that style depends on clean exits, accurate set-piece ball, and a kicking game that pins opponents rather than gifting them relief. In heavy weather, the margin for error collapses. One mistimed pass becomes a turnover. One poor lineout becomes three minutes of defending. And every missed chance feels heavier because tries are harder to manufacture.

Selection spotlight: Van der Merwe left out, flexibility prioritized

One of the biggest pre-match talking points was Scotland leaving out star finisher Duhan van der Merwe. The trade-off appears to be tactical flexibility in the back three and bench coverage, with Scotland opting for options that can slot across multiple roles rather than a specialist power winger.

That choice raises the stakes for Scotland’s breakdown and kick-chase work. If you’re not leaning on a proven strike threat to win you points in tight moments, you need your fundamentals to hold. So far, the fundamentals that have hurt them most have been lineout execution and discipline at key phases.

Scotland rugby score: what the live score is telling us

At 15–10, this is still a one-score game, but the shape of the match favors the side that stays calmer.

Italy have been effective in two areas that travel well in bad conditions:

• Set-piece pressure, especially at scrum time

• Territorial kicking that forces Scotland to play from deeper, wetter parts of the field

Scotland’s best moments have come when Russell is allowed to play on the front foot and when their carriers win the gainline early in phases. The issue is continuity: every error is amplified, and Italy have been ready to pounce when Scotland’s shape frays.

Where to watch Six Nations in 2026

Broadcast rights vary by country, but the viewing pattern is broadly consistent:

• United States: the tournament is available primarily via a national sports streaming service, with select matches sometimes carried on traditional TV depending on the week.

• United Kingdom: matches are split across two major free-to-air broadcasters, with live streams available through their official platforms.

• Ireland, France, Italy, and other regions: coverage is carried by leading national broadcasters or pay-TV sports networks, with streaming options tied to those same rights holders.

If you’re searching “where to watch six nations” or “six nations live,” the most reliable path is to use your local TV guide or provider listings for Italy v Scotland at 9:10 a.m. ET, because schedules can shift by week and by platform.

What we still don’t know

A few missing pieces will decide whether Scotland can flip this:

• Can Scotland fix the lineout quickly enough to get clean attacking ball?

• Will Italy’s discipline hold if Scotland turn up the tempo late?

• Does the rain worsen, pushing both teams into a pure kicking-and-defense finish?

• Can Scotland create one clean strike chance out wide despite the conditions?

What happens next: realistic endgame scenarios

1. Italy close it out by keeping the game territorial and squeezing Scotland’s set-piece errors. Trigger: another Scotland lineout mistake in their own half.

2. Scotland steal it with a late try built off pressure and penalties. Trigger: sustained phases inside Italy’s 22 and a breakdown swing.

3. A one-score finish decided by a single kick, a dropped ball, or a defensive read. Trigger: fatigue plus worsening handling.

This match is still there for Scotland, but the weather and the scoreboard are insisting on a simple truth: in Rome today, the team that makes fewer mistakes is likely to win.