Rugby League World Cup continues with Pool B action featuring Scotland v Italy where the minnows of Group B will be battling out for the likelihood of their only victory for the tournament. But maybe it will be a draw, there’s already been one of those between these sides.
Our Group B Scotland v Italy Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards. More than you could ever need or want.
If you want more information on all the squads – follow this link here.
Scotland v Italy Match Summary
Italy have upset Scotland in the Group B clash. The stats (on offer below) shows a close game but the Italians won easy on the scoreboard 28-4.
Scotland looked to have crossed in the first minutes but was rightly called back by the video referee, next set Italy blew a chance themselves to score when Richard Lepori spilled an easy pass on the wing. A few minutes later Luke Polselli defied the danger of running into the fence past the in goal to score chasing a grubber from Radean Robinson. Ten minutes in and Italy led 6-0.
Ten minutes later Italy doubled their lead when hooker Dean Parata scooted over from 10 metres from Dummy Half to score under the posts. It was the final scoring of the second half, but the Italians did blow a golden opportunity when Nathan Brown and Jack Campagnolo’s slick lead up work was undone by a dropped ball. Half time score was 12-0 to Italy.
Four minutes into the second half and Italy went further ahead through winger Jake Maizen in the corner, the last pass thrown by Jack Campagnolo who also converted for a 18-0 lead.
A huge Daniel Atkinson line break set up Italy’s next try, and again it was Jake Maizen to score in the corner after Daniel Atkinson went close. A sneaky blind side move from Luke Polselli at dummy half set up the try. 50 minutes in and Italy were 22-0 to the good.
Jake Maizen needed no assist for the next try, he simply broke the Scottish line one pass from a scrum on their own 10 metre line and sped through the 90 metres to score a hat trick on debut for Italy. Not bad for a Sunshine Coast Falcon player from the Queensland Cup.
Scotland got themselves a definition consolation try in the 76th minutes, with a decent piece of work from the short kick off, and they eventually went right and winder Lachlan Walmsley jinked inside to seal the only points for Scotland.
Italy sealed a big win in the game of the minnows, and may well give Fiji a headache in the battle for second spot behind Australia. The Italians did also blow a few chances.
Scotland 28 Italy 4 Scores
Scotland 4
Tries: Lachlan Walmsley 1
Italy 28
Tries: Jake Maizen 3, Luke Polselli 1, Dean Parata 1
Goals: Jack Campagnolo 4
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
3 Pts Daniel Atkinson
2 Pts Nathan Brown
1 Pt Jack Campagnolo
POINTS OF INTEREST
- It took some getting used to seeing rugby league on an artificial pitch.
- Those watching mini matches on Fox may ask why a 17 minute game has a full minute of video referee replay fest for just one of the many tries that required it.
Scotland v Italy Stats
Scotland v Italy Teams
SCOTLAND
RYAN BRIERLEY
LACHLAN WALMSLEY
BAYLEY LIU
KIERAN BUCHANAN
MATTY RUSSELL
BAILEY HAYWARD
CALUM GAHAN
SAM LUCKLEY
LIAM HOOD
LOGAN BAYLISS-BROW
EUAN AITKEN
KANE LINNETT
JAMES BELL
BEN HELLEWELL
LUKE BAIN
KYLE SCHNEIDER
DALE FERGUSON
JACK TEANBY
ITALY
LUKE POLSELLI
RICHARD LEPORI
ETHAN NATOLI
DANIEL ATKINSON
JAKE MAIZEN
JACK CAMPAGNOLO
RADEAN ROBINSON
LUCA MORETTI
DEAN PARATA
ANTON IARIA
BRENDEN SANTI
RYAN KING
NATHAN BROWN
JOE TRAMONTANA
LUKE HODGE
GIOELE CELERINO
JACK COLOVATTI
KYLE PICKERING
Scotland v Italy Pre Match Stats
- Scotland beat Italy by 104-0 in their first match.
- Italy (W6 D1 L2) have lost only two of their nine games on British soil.
- Scotland may be unbeaten in their last three matches (W2 D1) but have only two wins from their last 16 games (W2 D3 L11)
Scotland v Italy Preview
We are always going to go for an upset at some stage in the opening group stages, and this is one of them.
Scotland surely have more World Cup winning pedigree, but there’s not much difference in the squads with very few NRL players in either side.
Euan Aitken headlines the Scots side, but most are from the second tier and below of English football, although former NQ Cowboy Kane Linnett is also named in the squad.
The Italians have a decent halves combo in Jack Campagnolo and Cooper Johns, with Eels firebrand Nathan Brown also in the squad. That firepower alone tips us into selecting Italy for the win. Italy have won one game at each of their two World Cup tournaments, and this is their best chance to keep that run going.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jack Campagnolo our player to watch here, an excellent second tier player who did a fine job for Italy at the last World Cup too. The five eighth will no doubt be a major part along with Cooper Johns of our predicted upset for the Italians.
PREDICTION
Italy 18 Scotland 12
