Scotland will be looking to bounce back from their Round 3 defeat to France when they take on an Italian outfit who have lost all three of their 6 Nations fixtures this term and head into the clash with a points differential of -111.
Italy v Scotland
Saturday 12 March
Stadio Olimpico
16:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Italy 8/1 | Draw 33/1 | Scotland 1/20
Handicap
Italy 9/10 (+19.5) | Scotland (-19.5) 9/10
The 2022 Six Nations is all but over as a competition for these sides with Italians three defeats and Scotland’s two seeing them ruled out the running for this year’s title. Both teams will still have plenty of goals and objectives to achieve so this game is unlikely to be a total damp squib,
The hosts have shown signs of improvement here and there but are still unable to really mix it with the best in Europe as their points differential of -111 attests to. They were desperately unlucky in their last fixture as they went down to 13 men with an injury to their starting hooker and then a red card for their reserve hooker seeing them forced to bring on a specialist frontrower and drop a back line player. As expected, after this transpired, Ireland ran riot and the Azzurri had a 57-6 defeat inflicted upon them.
Scotland also tasted the ever bitter flavor of defeat in Round 3 as they went down 17-36 at home to rampant French outfit, who look like title winners-eclect. While the French were on another level, it was a rather poor showing from the Scots who really struggled to contain the French backs.
We are likely to see a few changes from both sides for this one as they look to give some of their fringe players a run in a bid to build squad depth.
Verdict: Italy 9/10 (+19.5)
I feel the hosts may actually give the ‘Scots a proper run for their money here. They’re likely to make fewer changes than the visitors and should be more galvanized as a result. As such, I’m all over the Azzurri on the plus line here.
