Scotland suffered a damaging defeat to open their Six Nations campaign in Rome as the pressure ramps up on Gregor Townsend after Italy clung on for an 18-15 triumph in torrential rain at the Stadio Olimpico.
Townsend began this tournament under a degree of pressure after a November in which Scotland stumbled, and has had to bat away questions over links with the Newcastle Red Bulls in recent days. This loss – a second in three years to the Azzurri – won’t have helped his cause and will only increase frustration among Scotland supporters at their failure to properly challenge for the title, with the likelihood of breaking that streak this year now seeming remote.
