Italy 18-15 Scotland: Hosts grind out Six Nations win to pile pressure on Gregor Townsend

Pressure mounted on Gregor Townsend as Scotland suffered a disastrous Guinness Six Nations start by losing 18-15 to Italy in rain-lashed Rome.

Italy 18-15 Scotland: Six Nations 2026 rugby union updates – as it happened

Italy shone through the storm to claim best possible start in Rome but Gregor Townsend’s Scotland flopped again

Townsend dismisses talk of stepping down as Scotland slip to defeat by Italy

The conditions in Rome were apocalyptic and the mood around the Scotland side now cannot be much brighter: an opening-weekend defeat by Italy, doubts swirling about the future of head coach Gregor Townsend,

Italy 18, Scotland 15

Scotland 15 (Jack Dempsey, George Horne tries; Finn Russell conversion, penalty). HT: 15-7 Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Under-pressure Scotland slip to costly Italy loss in Six Nations

Italy v Scotland live: Scots slip to costly defeat as Azzurri hang on for memorable Six Nations win - Italy 18-15 Scotland: The Azzurri clung on for almost 30 phases at the end to ramp up the heat on

Italy 18-15 Scotland: Have your say

Scotland are facing a washout of a Six Nations campaign after suffering a dispiriting opening loss to Italy in rain-soaked Rome. Read the full match report here. Let us know your thoughts here.

Six Nations: Trailing Scotland down to 14 against Italy as Turner yellow goes to review - watch

Sione Tuipulotu is now in the Scotland scrum for the 14-man visitors. The Scotland captain has been pretty anonymous.