SM
Bayern vs. Augsburg: 4 hrs 8 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Six Nations | Group Stage
Feb 2, 2019 at 2.15pm UK
 
Scotland
33-20
Italy
Kinghorn (12', 21', 54'), Hogg (47'), Harris (62')
FT
Palazzani (71'), Padovani (75'), Esposito (78')

Hat-trick may not be enough to retain Scotland place, says Blair Kinghorn

:Headline: Hat-trick may not be enough to retain Scotland place, says Blair Kinghorn: ID:349140: from db_amp
The Edinburgh full-back ran in three tries in the Six Nations win over Italy.

Blair Kinghorn admits scoring Scotland's first ever Six Nations hat-trick may not be enough to keep his place for next week's showdown with Ireland.

The Edinburgh full-back was asked to stand in for injured Saracens wing Sean Maitland as Gregor Townsend's team kicked off their campaign at home to Italy.

And the 22-year-old took to the unfamiliar role like a natural as he ran in three tries for the Dark Blues' first Championship treble since Iwan Tukalo achieved the feat in a Five Nations clash with Ireland back in 1989.

But with Maitland battling to shake off the hamstring strain that kept him out of the 33-20 triumph over the Azzurri at Murrayfield, Kinghorn is not taking it for granted that he will be given the nod by Townsend to face an Irish outfit ranked number two in the world when they visit Edinburgh next Saturday.

Kinghorn said: "It was awesome to score three times. I'm over the moon.

"To score any try is brilliant. I was just lucky to be on the receiving end of some great passing and a great kick from Finn Russell.

"Is the jersey mine to keep now? No, not at all. It goes week by week. You just have to train hard week by week and if you get selected put your best foot forward.

"It's cool to have my name up on Scotland's list of hat-trick scorers though. It's nice to be named among them. But I'm mainly just over the moon with the result."

“It was awesome to score three times. I'm over the moon.”
- Blair Kinghorn

Townsend spoke to his team earlier this week about the need to build early momentum if they wanted to make a run for the title and Scotland were quick out of the blocks.

Playmaker Russell created the opener when he booted the ball straight into Kinghorn's grasp for the opener after 12 minutes.

The make-shift winger had more to do for his second nine minutes later as Stuart Hogg's sloppy pass landed at his feet but the pick-up and finish was impeccable.

Scotland took their foot off the gas for the rest of the first half but they were motoring once the second period got under way as Hogg got the faintest of touches to a Russell grubber to add try number three.

Stuart Hogg (left) celebrates his try against Italy (Ian Rutherford/PA)

Kinghorn wrapped up his treble and the bonus point after a brilliant run by Jamie Ritchie carved Italy apart, while substitute Chris Harris climbed off the bench to score his maiden Test try.

Some of the shine, however, was taken from Scotland's win as they allowed Guglielmo Palazzani, Edoardo Padovani and Angelo Esposito to score three tries in a sloppy final 10 minutes after Simon Berghan had been sin-binned.

And Townsend insists there is no chance of his men getting carried away with their triumph.

He said:  "Perhaps it's not a bad thing we are now coming up against the second best team in the world, so it's feet on the ground and that's good for us. We have started with a solid win and scoring five tries is a credit to the players.

"The challenge next week will be huge and we'll understand what we have to do better next week.

"We face the second best team in the world before going away to France, where we haven't won for 20 years. But I'm not too concerned.

"We were a man down, their passes began to stick and perhaps we weren't smart enough in that last 10. We didn't react to that quickly enough and that's disappointing.

"Blair took his tries superbly. He adds to our depth and it makes selection next week that bit harder."

Italy have now lost 18 Six Nations games in a row but head coach Conor O'Shea said: "I want to have success for these guys because they give so much and we're doing everything we can to put in the foundations for a great future."

amp_article__349140 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-02-02 19:01:45:
html db last update - 2019-02-02 19:01:45 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Blair Kinghorn

Click here for more stories about Italy

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .