A total and utter embarrassment. A far too confident and cocky Edinburgh side got their just deserves.What was the point of putting Andy Henderson on with about 2 mins to go. Hopefully this will encourage Frank Hadden to take a look at other players outwith Edinburgh and give them a chance.

Couldn't agree more, although I don't see Frank Hadden deviating away from his "Edinburgh Select". This has been on the cards, the Italian pack are immense. Scotland were over confident and lacking in talent and invention. Well done Italy, a thoroughly deserved victory.

First of all, I agree entirely about your comments on Italy. They deserved their win, and looked by far the more passionate and determined team.

However, while Hadden will come in for a lot of flak over this result, I feel it should be his captain that takes the brunt of it. If he had slotted 3 points for every penalty where he took the option of kicking to corner, the gap would have lessened and given the Scots some breathing space. Thought Sean Lamont stood out amongst the Scots.

Vicki,

Sean did stand out, but then it didn't take much to stand out with the other 14 performing the way they did. Not kicking the panalties early on was a sign of the over confidence in the Scotland camp, we got what we deserved, humped!!!!

Couldn't agree more Vicki, spent the whole matching shouting at Paterson to take the points! Was poor decision-making anyway but coming after the Calcutta Cup, where Scotland were given a masterclass from JW in how to capitalise on opposition errors, you'd think they'd have learned something. To quote a truly great captain: "Penalty = 3 points on offer. No brainer - you take them." (Martin Johnson). Also, Nicky Walker selected ahead of Rory Lamont - why?? Never again please!

Various strange looks were afforded to me when I suggested that Dan should have been on instaed of Goofman. Apparently Dan has lost Scotland loads of games. Strange I thought he played in the victories against England and France last year. At least at the end of the day we could come home to the West coast.

Phil Godman is a plank! Scotland would not have lost that if it had not been for him. I am totally disgusted with him! Frank Hadden needs to wake up and smell the coffee! Edinburgh is not the Scotland International Squad. Yeah Chris Paterson and Rob Dewey scored but Godman was like a scared school girl for the rest of the game and I do feel sorry for him cause he has just been dumped into international rugby in world cup year instead of being eased into the fray.I think that Scotland were knocked for six with the first 7 mins and we have 2 weeks to get our act togther and Frank has 2 weeks to remember Glasgow and the Borders. Look at the preformance that the 8 warriors and 6 borders guys gave for the A team. Let the Lamont brothers play together and cause some chaos!!!!

Wonder what the papers will say this weekend re the performance of Scotland Number 10?

Hope that they are as "honest" with Godmans performance as they were with Dan Parks, and if they are I guess that Godman will not be featuring in the next game. That is what he deserves. Shows that Dan Parks is not as bad as some are making him out to be.

He was apparently unfortunate ? and Dan kicks the ball to much, but is that not what the Edinburgh ( sorry Scotland) coach had asked him to do. The same tactics we used last year to beat France and England were successfully deployed aginst us today. Some people seem to think that we are better than we really are, including the players.

A few more Glasgow men would have made a difference. Patterson is a protected species, and should serve a term on the outer. Parks gets criticised for playing to instructions. He is a great goal kicker, and tactician, and if he was allowed more freedom to play his natural game like he used to do in Australia, the Scots would be firing a lot better than they do.

Phil Godman, Simon Taylor, Marcus Dirollo and Chris Paterson are the most over rated players I have ever watched in my life. If Paterson didnt kick goals there would be no place for him in that team, he offers very little in attack, i know he scored today but that was his first try since when?
taylor just doesnt seem to have a clue, if hadden wasnt so far up taylors rear end he might see that! I wont even comment on godman or dirollo because what every rugby fan in scotland knows has now been proved...they r both rubbish. Things need to change in this team, Al kellock needs in, barclay or donnie for a genuine openside, even fergus thompson is worth a go the lineout looks shaky. In the back line, Dewy is probably the most talented back scotland have on the pitch, maybe try him with henderson or morrison even (never thought i would say that!), Parksy should also of played that game he has so much more control than godman. Rory's direct running would benifit scotland more than sean's fairy toes. I know this is a long comment but the anger needs to come out.

I sat next to two Italian supporters (who were actually French)..they commented throughout how poor our No 10 was. Yes, he lost us the match, but the rest of the team were pretty inept. I have to say that it was FH's fault.. but I agree with Postman.
..and I watched Ross's poor performance for the A team last night also. Dan may not be world class but he is the best we have (and would not have lost us the game today). Back to plan A please Mr Hadden, you don't have a plan B !

Agree with all of the points made. Can someone enlighten me as to who FH talks to on his headset? When Paterson had clearly lost the plot by not kicking the penalties, could a waterboy not have passed on a word of advice!! Or perhaps it was Uncle Frank who lost the plot when his game plan went down the plughole after 8 glorious minutes

This result has been coming for several seasons. We have been regularly losing to Italy at all age group levels. They have far greater strength in the numbers of professionals in the game. The real test is in St Etienne and I don't think we're up to it.

and they encourage their clubs

All I can say is...bring back Dan!!! Hadden is definately going to need to sort out the side for the Ireland game, Ireland crushed England at the weekend, marking every player and literally crushing them, Dan MUST come back, hes going to need to either switch paterson and lamont back to their normal positions on the wings or bring in other players!!! We don't stnad a chance against the Irish with that team, they need to get their acts together.

PS - I HATE GODMAN!!

oh dear dear how bitter does that sound!!!

though changed in the team defo needed.

You can't be lethargic like last Saturday in International games......................................

Everyone talks about N°10...
Cusiter(i think he is a good player but)was very slow.

The way the forwards played was pathetic, what to do with the ball,the backs with Di Rollo thinking too much...
The wingers like Sean Lamont involved instead of the forwards!
Too much individual game from the Scots
The two CENTRES are 12.Henderson, 13.Dewey

About Ireland V England
Quite incredible, who could imagine that 10 years ago.
Ireland forwards were so powerfull and well oiled together.
It is not by chance.

Ireland has enough money to keep the players centrally contracted.
They look after them, not burnt out, and build a real National Team.
I feel sad about the news of a big exodus of young talents from Scotland.

Hugues.. don't accuse ANY of the Scottish players of actually thinking yesterday, let alone thinking too much!
..and FH seems to insist that Henderson and Dewey are both 12's so neither can possibly play at 13 ..well there must be some reason why MDR is always there!

The game was garbage - hopefully it will force a re-think. Italy are not a better team than Scotland - we just got it all wrong on the day. I watched the A Team in Perth on Friday, and Danielli should definitely be playing for Scotland. Dewey coming on to the ball from slightly deeper at 13 off Hendo at 12 would be a good pairing, and Danielli outside him at 14 would provide another option to miss out pass straight to the wing. I like the sound of Cus, Parks/Paterson, Walker, Hendo, Dewey, Danielli, Rory Lamont. On form.
Front 5 I don't see any changes, but for god's sake let's get the back row of Brown, Barclay, and Hogg (with Beattie as cover). Isn't it obvious!

I think you'll find that most players starved of international game time some back and bring a new energy to the team. I'm referring to Parks at 10 pretty much. I thought Scotland's defence last year was brutal and relentless, every tackle hurt the opposition, a change from this year somewhat as people seemed to lack momentum and direction. One hit by Jason White gave the forwards real purpose at the end of the game, which is what they need. What has bugged me about this year's campaign is that the game plan went from almost one extreme of kicking for field position and kicking penalties, to a high-risk style that ended in embarassment last week. For the sake of the team, put Parks in at 10, he surely grew up on running rugby in the southern hemisphere and knows it well, so a bit of freedom to create could be just the thing. Certain people need to put their body on the line (backs and forwards) in order to match their opposition, especially Ireland in form. It'd be nice to see Scotland take it to Ireland and show that spirit again!

I came up from London for that match - woeful! Many of us were screaming at Paterson to get some points on the board from penalties - schoolboy stuff. Mind you, let's not get carried away - one bad day doesn't make a rubbish rugby player - we all have bad days at the office. Well, I do anyway! Interceptions apart, I thought Cusiter did ok and Paterson and Dewey took their tries well. Did anyone see the A game on Friday night - how did the Glasgow boys do? Johnnie Beattie/John Barclay? Thought Callam was poor on Saturday, wonder if there's spaces opening up in the back row? Might as well write off the 6N and start toying with options for RWC now...?

Bring back Dan and keep Cusiter!!!! Dont think the crit of Donnie is fair! He is a good player but just needs the match practice before he gets back on form. Was good on Friday night. Colin Gregor and Fergus Thompson are two new guys who could do well for Scotland.

Keep Cusiter in? All this talk of Godman's mistakes on this thread. From where I was sitting I saw Cusiter make mistakes that cost Scotland so dear too. Yes Godman made mistakes but so did Cusiter which also gave away an easy seven points. So let's go over it again, Godman out for mistakes, Cusiter stays for making mistakes. Oh the Glesga Banter!

I know that I have slagged them off but thinking about it I have come to a conclusion:

U lot can not call ure self Scotland supporters. If u are a true supporter u support them through thick and thin. Forget Italy! Ireland and France next and then the world cup. As for you slagging off players? I would love to see Dan Parks playing but Farnk is in charge not me or any of you lot. Chris Cusiter has just come back from an injury and has been humbling about his preformance ("I apologised to my team-mates. My two passes gave us that uphill battle," he said, bottom lip quivering and eyes filling with tears. "I don't think there's anybody feeling lower than I am just now, because I would do anything to take back those passes.") not the best but I have seen him and the rest play worse. No of the team have played well so far this season expect maybe Rob Dewey. Chris Paterson could have gave us an extra 19 points from kicks well within his range. Not one of you plays for Scotland and yeah some of you might be good rugby players but its those guys that are doing it day in day out. Stop complaning and give the boys our full support for Ireland! They need it and as fans we should give it to them. How many of you went to the games when Williams was in charge. I can tell you that while everyone else was silent or walking out on Sat I was roaring my support for all the boys all 22 of them cause they deserve it!!!!!

Sorry, did you pay for my ticket??

no but walking out is stupid. I would hate to look and see fans walking out! they need the support and I dont care what the result is a win is great but i pay to watch my national team play the best they can and they always do!

I agree that we should all throw our support behind the team against Ireland, France and so on but that doesnt take away from the fact that the supporters were badly let down by the team on Saturday. Having gone 21 points behind, instead of rallying to the cause, half of them went home. Regardless of whether they were the best players to be there on the day they are all professional and they are getting paid a lot of money to perform and they didn't. There was no passion, no committment and precious little effort. I have often seen Scotland lose but left feeling that the team did their best but not on Saturday... However I will be there in a fortnight..ever the optomist!

I don't think it mattered who we had on the field in varius positions. The Italians were due a win in Edinburgh, it's been coming for a good number of years. Don't forget England found them tricky a few weeks back. Blood some new caps in the remaining two games, not too many on the field at the same time, but it's time to look ahead to the World Cup.

Had a few days to think this through, & while I agree with most comments made, I don't think FH will change anything-he is too conservative & East coast based. I said before the England game & before the Wales game that FH had got it wrong-Parks is better than Godman, both at kicking and tactics. By all means try Paterson at stand off, but he does not have the kicking game required at this level-just watch O'Gara for comparison!! I think where he really erred was in sticking to players who had not performed-Southwell is OK but one paced & offers little attacking threat, De Rollo offers nothing, Kerr has been a good servant to the cause,but probably needs a rest, Murray did not even rule the line out on Saturday & I would like more use made of Kellock. The back row is not balanced-we need a genuine open side-Taylor has had his day & Callam does not yet seem up to speed-why not try Hogg, Brown & Barclay (Barclay is young, but if they are good enough, they are old enough). However we are unlikely to see the fluke set of circumstances again, so let's hope their nerves return before Ireland. I don't necessarily follow the Paterson should have kicked the penalties argument-if he had kicked the first one the nature of the game would have been changed and Italy probably would not have conceded others in the same places-Paterson possibly would not have had 8 chances.