Italy vs Scotland: Vern Cotter tells Scotland to hold their nerve in fight to avoid wooden spoon

Scotland have been impressive since it was announced Cotter would leave (Getty)

Sergio Parisse has always stood out, the Italian Atlas, carrying his nation’s slim hopes on broad shoulders. The omnipresent No 8 will be to the fore again in Rome this afternoon but even before the players take to the field in the Stadio Olimpico, he stands above the rest, only this is not a record to be proud of no matter how much it also embarrasses Scotland.

No player on either side has won more Six Nations games than the Italian captain. That the figure stands at nine from 52 attempts says everything about where these two teams have found themselves over much of the past decade.

Scotland’s most successful – a term used loosely – player is the hooker Ross Ford, who has been a victor in eight of his 47 Six Nations games. Five of the starting Scots and five of their Italian counterparts have never experienced victory in the tournament.

Jonny Gray may be a Lion in the making but he has been a loser in all eight of his Six Nations outings. The two No 9s, Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw and Edoardo Gori, key men today, tot up seven wins from a joint tally of 44 games. In comparison, the two captains at Twickenham today have returned 29 wins in 48 games for Rory Best and 27 in 37 for Dylan Hartley. The contrasting figures make it difficult to quibble with Sir Clive Woodward’s barbed assertion that here is the Championship’s second division.

It is also why this afternoon’s Roman arena will be filled by two teams touched by a sporting equivalent of the desperation experienced by the gladiators. “We are both in the same position,” said Moray Low, the Scotland prop. “It is massive for both teams.”

The desperation is topped up with no little frustration as both believe, with some justification, they are improving. Italy could have won in France on day one, Scotland can point to their World Cup campaign, one bad call from reaching the last four. The injury to Carlo Canna, seen as a pivotal figure for the new Italy by Vern Cotter, is a notable blow to the home side’s chances of creating openings against a Scottish defence prone to lapses. His replacement Kelly Haimona is more limited and Scotland have an edge behind the scrum, especially if Stuart Hogg can stay on the pitch.

But to be able to release their backline, they must secure parity up front, the area where Cotter, who sees Italy as the “most improved team in the Six Nations”, believes the hosts remain strongest. Scotland’s lineout has been mixed and Italy have the ability to disrupt it. The looser the game becomes the more it will suit Scotland but the expectation, certainly within the Scottish camp, is the outcome will not be settled until late on.

Scotland’s last Six Nations win came in Rome, via a last-minute drop goal two years ago. Italy’s last in the Six Nations was at Murrayfield last year, via a last-minute penalty try. Cotter has stressed to his players this week the need to keep cool heads and play the game as it unfolds in front of them. The minimal experience on either side of guiding their team over the finish line makes that even more of a challenge.

“We are anticipating it coming down to a few points and a couple of plays at the end of the game,” said Cotter, who has shuffled his bench with that in mind – hence the experienced Low’s recall after a couple of years on the fringes and the return of Glasgow pair Ryan Wilson and Peter Horne, who offers greater creative influence than clubmate Duncan Weir.

“England showed how to do it well,” said the Exeter prop. “Their subs made a big impact. They ran away with it towards the end and scored a few tries. We want to bring that impact and that pace off the bench.”