The mood afterwards from Townsend was that his side would benefit from that period of tension where Italy flipped the score from 19-9 at the interval to 19-19 within a couple of minutes, after good defensive work from their talented centres, a Tommaso Menoncello turnover penalty followed by Juan Ignacio Brex’s intercept try picking off a poorly timed pass by Finn Russell.
What they would give for another fast start similar to this one, with Darge’s score followed by a second try with a number of enjoyable details, including Jamie Ritchie’s pull-back pass and Duhan van der Merwe then somehow avoiding the touchline before putting Jones away.
“It’s three tries today but I reckon Huw has probably missed out on five or six tries over the last few games because he has just not had the ball,” said Gregor Townsend, the Scotland coach.
Darcy Graham’s lightning feet bamboozle Italy at perfect time for Scotland The great wingers only need a hint of space to make something happen.
No Lions selection area will be more hotly contested than the back row – yes, it is only the opening weekend of the Six Nations, but the tournament is essentially one big audition to impress Andy Farrell – yet Darge would have to be on Farrell’s longlist.
