Greig Laidlaw: ‘Italy always believe they can beat Scotland’

The Azzurri at Murrayfield should be the kindest start the Scots could have, but Gregor Townsend remembers only too well a famous upset in the same fixture 19 years agoGregor Townsend remembers only too well the last time Scotland began their Six Nations campaign against Italy. It was 19 years ago, Scotland were the title holders after Townsend had inspired them to the last ever Five Nations crown in 1999 – scoring a try in every match – and it was Italy’s first foray in the championship. Townsend and Scotland were promptly steamrollered in Rome.It is a quirk of the fixture list that in all th…