Italy 31-29 Scotland: Gregor Townsend’s players ‘abdicate responsibility’ in Six Nations defeat

“We’ve got a good coach but we’ve got players who abdicate responsibility. We’ve said we’re a good team for the last eight years and have nothing to show for it.”

Former Scotland prop Peter Wright was scathing in his criticism after Italy came from behind to earn their first Six Nations win at home in 11 years.

In a collapse of epic proportions, Scotland conceded 21 unanswered points as they completely lost their discipline and composure. A 22-10 lead soon became a 31-22 deficit.

Yes, Italy were superb and Sam Skinner’s late try gave Gregor Townsend’s side a chance, but it should never have got to that point.

A seemingly unstoppable stream of penalties went the Italians way, gifting them both territory and points.

“You’ve got good players on the park for Scotland but there aren’t any real leaders,” Wright added.

You can have the best gameplan in the world, but if players fold under pressure, it matters little.

It’s not as if the players aren’t aware of the issues. “It’s a game we had by the scruff of the neck,” co-captain Rory Darge said.

“We need to get better at finishing teams off when we’re ahead but credit to Italy. All we can focus on is things we can work on and that’s discipline and defence.”

‘Why is everyone playing as individuals?’

This is no one-off for Scotland, though. These issues have cost them time and time again in recent years.

Even in this championship, against Wales, Scotland’s 27-point lead was eroded to just one. Against France, the game was allowed to drift before the controversial non-decision at the death.

For some time now, this group of players has been talked up as one of Scotland’s best ever but, at the crucial moments, when it really counts, Scotland tend to fall short.

Good teams get the job done; Scotland don’t.

“When the chips are down, why is everyone playing as individuals?” former Scotland sevens captain Colin Gregor asked at full-time.

“That’s a sign of no leaders. Scotland need to be able to weather the storm and stop shipping points in the process.”

Even after Scotland had handed Italy the initiative, there were clear-cut chances that went to waste.

Duhan van der Merwe, so clinical against England last time out, opted not to pass to Ali Price when the replacement scrum-half had a clear run to the line.

Draw the final defender and pass – it’s schoolboy stuff. But Van der Merwe took contact and the chance was gone.

Plenty would point fingers at the coaching set-up. A side that consistently make the same errors is hardly a positive reflection on Townsend and his team, but centre Huw Jones insists the players have to do better.

“We’re all behind the coaches, we’re all behind Gregor,” he said. “We love the way we want to play. We have a good plan; when we execute it, it’s brilliant and we play good rugby.

“I don’t think today was on Gregor, it was on the players. We didn’t execute our plan well enough, Italy played well, and in that second half they managed the game better.”

Scotland could, perhaps should, be going to Dublin next week with a shot at a Grand Slam. But if they perform as they did in Rome, they will end this year’s championship with three defeats.