Scotland's six nations campaign is hanging by a thread after their dismal display in Rome, where Italy inflicted a crushing defeat on the visitors. Gregor Townsend, Scotland's head coach, was seen to be on the ropes as he attempted to rally his team and defend his position amidst mounting criticism.
The Italian players, however, showed incredible heart for the fight, playing with precision that ultimately led to their 29-7 victory over a Scottish side who struggled to find their rhythm in the rain-soaked conditions.
Townsend gave a promise of jam tomorrow after gruel today, but the words ring hollow as his team's error count was higher than Italy's and they looked flat at times. A few wins are now needed from five matches for Scotland to avoid a disastrous Six Nations campaign.
The Scottish Rugby Union has come under intense pressure over Townsend's future amid mounting losses for the team. The head coach, whose contract runs until 2027 with an intended stint as Newcastle United head coach, faces growing criticism of his leadership.
In contrast to the previous games where there was talk from within the Scotland camp that they needed to execute better when entering an opponent's 22, this was put into practice for just a few minutes before they were stealing the ball at the front and Italy escaping.
Scotland had some bright moments but ultimately couldn't overcome their inability to finish chances effectively as they fell behind early on after losing possession in attacking lineouts.
The Italian players, however, showed incredible heart for the fight, playing with precision that ultimately led to their 29-7 victory over a Scottish side who struggled to find their rhythm in the rain-soaked conditions.
Townsend gave a promise of jam tomorrow after gruel today, but the words ring hollow as his team's error count was higher than Italy's and they looked flat at times. A few wins are now needed from five matches for Scotland to avoid a disastrous Six Nations campaign.
The Scottish Rugby Union has come under intense pressure over Townsend's future amid mounting losses for the team. The head coach, whose contract runs until 2027 with an intended stint as Newcastle United head coach, faces growing criticism of his leadership.
In contrast to the previous games where there was talk from within the Scotland camp that they needed to execute better when entering an opponent's 22, this was put into practice for just a few minutes before they were stealing the ball at the front and Italy escaping.
Scotland had some bright moments but ultimately couldn't overcome their inability to finish chances effectively as they fell behind early on after losing possession in attacking lineouts.
... The lad's got spirit, and Italy's a tough team to beat. Still, the reality is Scotland looked like a completely different side out there - all over the shop at times 
. We need to see some real answers from them before we can start talking about 'jam tomorrow' 
... And I do think it's unfair on the coach to be under such intense pressure already, especially with his future plans in place 
. Still, results are what matters, and five wins now is a tall order for Scotland 
...
i mean, 29-7? that's a bummer... i feel bad for the italian team tho, they played like champs 
but scotland just cant seem to get it together 
whoever takes over should just copy italy's tactics and hopefully that'll turn things around 
! They got absolutely destroyed by Italy 29-7 and now the coach Gregor Townsend is under huge pressure to save his job 
. I mean, come on, 22 errors from them and Italy only had a few? It's like they gave up already 
. And what's with this "jam tomorrow" thing? It's not gonna cut it if they don't win some games ASAP 
. The fans are already losing hope and I don't blame 'em 
. Scotland needs to step up their game if they wanna avoid a disaster in the Six Nations 
Scotland's rugby team is really struggling right now. I mean, you can tell Gregor Townsend is trying his best but it's just not happening. The team's playing with a lot of heart but it doesn't seem like they're clicking yet. 
I feel bad for the Scottish players though, they looked so frustrated out there in the rain. Maybe a few more practice sessions will sort them out? 
? We'll see how it plays out...
. The pressure on the Scottish Rugby Union is palpable, with many questioning whether Townsend's contract should be extended beyond 2027 
.
. The team's inability to adapt to Italy's strategy and capitalize on their own opportunities has left fans feeling frustrated 
. It's all about growth, folks! We don't get to see our full potential if we don't learn from our setbacks 
.