EDINBURGH (Reuters) -Scotland’s centre Huw Jones scored a hat-trick of tries as they got their Six Nations campaign off to a winning start with a 31-19 bonus-point victory over Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday after holding off a fierce attempted fight-back by the visitors.
The home side raced into a 14-0 lead after tries by flanker Rory Darge and Jones before scrumhalf Ben White and two more from Jones gave Scotland the win after Italy had rallied early in the second half to level at 19-19.
The boot of full-back Tommaso Allan and an intercept try from centre Juan Ignacio Brex kept Italy in the contest as they played their part in an absorbing clash but despite late pressure they could not break through the Scottish defence.
Scotland host champions Ireland next Sunday, while Italy will be at home on Saturday to Wales, who slipped to a 13th consecutive defeat in France on Friday.
“I’m pretty happy. It’is not every day you get on the end of three (tries). Thanks to the boys for setting me up,” said Jones.
“We’ll be happy with the win today but we have to take each game as they come. Ireland is a massive challenge and one that we want (to win) for sure,” he told the BBC.
The Scots have now won their opening Six Nations games in seven of the previous nine editions, while Italy have lost their last 12 in a row.
BLISTERING BREAK
Scotland soon imposed themselves on Italy as Darge barged over from close-range and then after a blistering break down the left wing from Duhan van der Merwe, the latter’s pass inside was touched by Brex but fell perfectly for Jones to score.
Allan got the visitors on the scoreboard with two quick penalties as Italy settled into the game, but Scotland soon scored their third try.
Hooker Dave Cherry found his jumper in the lineout and wrapped around to carry the ball forward in a driving maul before setting White away with a superb offload as Scotland led 19-9 at halftime.
Allan kicked another penalty to narrow the gap to seven points early in the second period, and the visitors then drew level with their first try.
Finn Russell’s poor pass was intercepted by Brex and the centre raced clear to score under the posts.
The momentum was with Italy and Scotland needed to wrestle it back, which they did on the hour-mark as wing Darcy Graham burst through a gap in the Italy defence and fed Jones to cross for his second score.
When Jones showed his power to hold off two defenders and stretched to complete his hat-trick Scotland had breathing space on the scoreboard.
“It was a very tough game, first half we did not play the game we wanted to,” Italy captain Michele Lamaro said.
“We could not perform in attack today and that cost us a lot. They put us under a lot of pressure in the breakdown. We could not solve that problem and we did not have quick ball.”
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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