Match Facts

Italy won their most recent Guinness Men’s Six Nations match against Scotland (31-29 in March 2023) after losing eight in a row against the Azzurri previously; Italy have won more Six Nations games against Scotland (8) than they have against the other four nations combined (7, Wales - 4, France - 2, Ireland - 1).

Italy are unbeaten in their last three matches in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations (W2 D1), winning the last two in a row; it’s the Azzurri’s longest unbeaten streak in the Championship, while they have the opportunity to win three consecutive matches for the first time in their Six Nations history.

Scotland have won their opening match of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations in six of the last eight editions of the tournament, including the last four in a row, this after winning just one of their initial 17 Championship openers. This will be the third time they’ve faced Italy in Round 1, after 2000 (lost 20-34) and 2019 (won 33-20).

Italy have won their opening game of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations in just three of their 25 campaigns, losing their last 11 in a row since beating France 23-18 in Round 1 in 2013; however, each of the Azzurri’s last two such defeats have come by five points or fewer (24-29 v France in 2023, 24-27 v England in 2024).

Since the conclusion of the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Scotland have won seven of their eight Tests (L1), with their only defeat in that period coming against the world number one side, South Africa; Italy have a 50% win rate in the same period, winning three and losing three.

Italy averaged the most tackles per game of any men’s Tier 1 side in 2024 (164), while Scotland had the best tackle success rate (90%) of any such side last year.

Scotland had the best goal-kicking success rate (96%) in the 2024 Six Nations, they scored 55 of a possible 57 points from the boot (Finn Russell their only kicker), however, the average goal kicker would have been expected to score just 48 points from the same attempts, their overperformance of seven points was the best of any side.

Italy were awarded 56 penalties in the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, more than any other side, while Scotland conceded the most (57) and were awarded at least 12 fewer (27) than any other team last year.

Duhan van der Merwe was the joint-top try scorer in the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations (5, also Dan Sheehan) and finished the year as the outright top try scorer for any men’s Tier 1 nation (9) in addition to ranking first for defenders beaten (48); the Scotland winger has scored four tries across his previous four Six Nations games against Italy.

2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Player of the Championship Tommaso Menoncello made the most dominant tackles of any player from a men’s Tier 1 nation in 2024 (21) and won at least four more turnovers than any such back last year (10).