Pool C: Scotland v Italy Venue: St Etienne Kick-off: 8pm today On TV: Setanta IrelandScotland may have finished at the bottom of this year's Six Nations Championship, but they appear to have a better chance than any of the other five of making the World Cup semi-finals. Victory over Italy here tonight would give them a probable quarter-final against Argentina in Paris, and captain Jason White is dreaming of what might be.
As he assessed Scotland's potential quarter-final opponents, the Pumas, France and Ireland, White said: "Argentina would be my preference, even though they won the opening game of the tournament."
Not that White or his team-mates can get ahead of themselves. Italy may have a wretched record in the Six Nations since joining in 2000, but three of their five victories have come against Scotland and they won by 20 points at Murrayfield this year. "I do not think that match has any relevance at all," said White, who missed the championship because of a knee injury. "We have a lot more experience now."
Italy arrived in France in good heart after narrowly losing to Ireland in Belfast, but subsequent events have proved that was not as significant a display as it appeared to be at the time. Scotland had comfortably defeated Ireland at Murrayfield and the Azzurri had the misfortune to meet New Zealand in the opening round in Marseille. Coach Pierre Berbizier fielded his strongest side and expected to rattle the All Blacks up front, but the contest was over after 20 minutes.
The Scotland coach, Frank Hadden, decided to field a largely reserve side against the All Blacks last weekend and received a barrage of criticism. But as he compared the scoreline afterwards to the one Italy had endured, a 40-0 defeat compared to 76-14, he mused his weakened side had done twice as well as Italy's finest.
When Haddentook over, the Scots did not have a first team to speak of, but they now have options in a number of positions: the experienced secondrow Scott Murray cannot even make today's bench, and number eight David Callam and fullback Hugo Southwell miss out.
Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni believes the Italians have struggled to cope with the unfamiliar burden of expectation. He said. "We have always been the underdog and we have been feeling the heat . . . I do not mind if we play another ugly match and win."
Guardian Service
SCOTLAND: R Lamont; S Lamont, S Webster, R Dewey, C Paterson; D Parks, M Blair; G Kerr, R Ford, E Murray, N Hines, J Hamilton, J White (capt), S Taylor, A Hogg. Replacements: S Lawson, C Smith, S MacLeod, K Brown, C Cusiter, A Henderson, H Southwell.
ITALY: D Bortolussi; K Robertson, G Canale, M Bergamasco, A Masi, R Pez; A Troncon (capt); S Perugini, C Festuccia, M Castrogiovanni, S Dellapè, C Del Fava, J Sole, M Bergamasco, S Parisse. Replacements: F Ongaro, A Lo Cicero, V Bernabò, L Ghiraldini, P Griffen, R de Marigny, E Galon.
