Blair Kinghorn hat-trick seals dominant Six Nations win for Scotland against lacklustre Italy

Relive all the latest updates from the Six Nations clash at Murrayfield

Six Nations preview: Scotland in profile

Winger Blair Kinghorn scored a hat-trick of tries and pivot Finn Russell provided decisive moments of genius as Scotland got their Six Nations campaign off to a winning start with a 33-20 victory over Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Scotland scored five tries to three for Italy for a deserved win, headlined by Kinghorn's three scores but inspired by Russell's clever touches, both out of the hands and with the boot.

They let a 31-3 lead slip in the final 10 minutes after Simon Berghan was yellow carded and Italy took advantage of the one-man advantage to score through Guglielmo Palazzani, Edoardo Padovani and Angelo Esposito to give some late gloss to the Italy score.

Stuart Hogg got Scotland's third try, although television replays cast doubt on its veracity, and substitute Chris Harris went over for their fifth.

Reuters

Relive all the action below.

[2 February 2019 14:15 · Tom Kershaw]

The national anthems are playing. We're just moments away.

[2 February 2019 14:17 · Tom Kershaw]

KICK-OFF: We're underway!

[2 February 2019 14:21 · Tom Kershaw]

2': And Scotland get off to a brilliant start. Italy's fumble frees up a charge from Stuart Hogg and Greig Laidlaw's kick is shinned into touch. A line-out for Scotland on the Italian 5m line.

[2 February 2019 14:24 · Tom Kershaw]

3': Ryan Wilson collects from the lineout and Scotland pile towards the try line. Grant Gilchrist thinks he's scored but the TMO awards a penalty to Italy. Double movement.

[2 February 2019 14:29 · Tom Kershaw]

6': Italy have barely had a touch of the ball so far and this time it's Blair Kinghorn who skips past his opposite number and into space. Tommaso Allan runs across to cover and Stuart Hogg is penalised for not releasing the ball. They've not had a look in so far, but the Italians defence is holding strong.

[2 February 2019 14:33 · Tom Kershaw]

Scotland 0-3 Italy

10': But against the run of play, it's Italy who break their duck first. 

Full-back Jayden Hayward's kick forward breaks Scotland's pressure and Jamie Ritchie is penalised for a low tackle on Sergio Parisse. 

Tommaso Allan makes no mistake.

[2 February 2019 14:37 · Tom Kershaw]

Scotland 5-3 Italy

13': But Scotland bonce back immediately! 

Italy squander the loose ball in their own 22 and Finn Russell spots Blair Kinghorn in acres of space on the left wing, who strolls over the line unchallenged. Sloppy defending from the Italians, but lovely vision from Russell. 

It's a tricky conversion though and Laidlaw drags a fraction wide.

[2 February 2019 14:39 · Tom Kershaw]

[2 February 2019 14:42 · Tom Kershaw]

19': The pace settles slightly with a number of scrums, but Scotland clearly have the upper hand.

Moments later and Laidlaw tries to recreate the move which conjured the first try. His diagonal kick is covered by Hayward this time though, but then Tommaso Castello knocks on. It'll be a scrum to Scotland on the five-metre line.

[2 February 2019 14:45 · Tom Kershaw]

TRY! Scotland 12-3 Italy (Kinghorn)

21': Kinghorn adds his second. A series of passes whiz down the line, reaching the gleeful 22-year-old, who dives over the line in almost exactly the same position.

Take two, and Laidlaw makes no mistake this time.