After two credible performances in defeat, there can be no excuses for Scotland when they face Italy in Rome in their third Six Nations game.
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The sight of Barclay's battered body was the history of Scotland versus Italy in Rome in microcosm. Scottish defeats in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2012. A 78th-minute winning penalty in 2006, a 79th-minute winning drop goal in 2014, a 78th-minute winning penalty in 2018. Seven of the 10 games in Rome have been absolute battles to the last whistle.
If Townsend is to kick on to France at home, Wales away and then South Africa and New Zealand away in the summer he's going to have to get a win in the bank and Rome is his best chance. If they win with tries and flair and a fair degree of comfort, then great. All of those things are needed now. But history tells us that it will probably be tight and tense.
There's been much to like about a lot of Scotland's attack shape and a continuation in Rome should see some tries. Italy's defence can and probably will be taken to the cleaners at times. That's no guarantee of victory, though. Scotland scored four tries two years ago and still had their supporters hyperventilating into paper bags at the end.
This is their first home game of the championship and they're relishing it. The ingredients are there for another scary afternoon for Scotland, but this is a game they should be winning. It's the one match in the championship where the fans are correct to demand victory.Where are Townsend's boys at after two games? It depends on what your expectations were in the first place.
You couldn't call it a good result but nor could you call it an especially bad one. Some will say that Scotland must win two games in the Six Nations or else it's a failure. No. Scotland must win one game and must be competitive in the other four. That's the base line. That's the realistic expectation based on the talent in this team and the ability of the teams they go up against.
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