Stuart Hogg – Looked very pumped up from the off. This could either mean a potential hat-trick or a sending off. Managed to do neither but still lit up the crowd on numerous occasions with some jinking runs and quick breaks. Came off for Jackson on 70 minutes. 8.5/10
Sean Lamont – Scored two tries, looked fit, keen and hungry. Looking like he’s discovered some vintage form at exactly the right time for Scotland. Found a new lease of life and a new role as a much welcome reliable old head in this young Scottish backline. 9/10
Mark Bennett – As expected he ran hard and tackled well and whilst these assets should not be taken for granted he could do with finding an offloading game to elevate him to a real worldclass threat. Had a good if unspectacular game until his last minute, long-distance interception try. 8/10
Peter Horne – Combining on auto-pilot with his direct running Glasgow team mate Bennett but it was his distribution in midfield that caught the eye. Executed his role in backs moves with precision and simplicity. Came off injured after fifty minutes. 7/10
Tim Visser – Juggled the ball before Campagnero took it off him and scored. Juggled the ball at the start of the second half with the line begging. However, managed to catch Russell’s looping pass and dot his try down to gain a form of redemption and then sealed things with an interception try from inside his own 22. 7.5/10
Finn Russell – Tougher than he looks, as proven with some big hits and the apsorbtion of some rough treatment. Super crisp passing and some incisive breaks. Looks to be one of our sole sources of innovation and creativity. Valuable. 9/10
Greig Laidlaw – Managed the speed of distribution and the referee well. Kicked his goals with a Pattersonesque metronomic reliability. In a good place under Vern Cotter. Replaced by Pyrgos on 65 minutes. 8/10
Alisdair Dickinson – Looks in great physical shape and put Castrogiovanni under huge pressure in the opening scrums before the wild man eventually got the measure of him. Stuck to his tasks and put in a solid all round performance. Replaced by Reid on 65 minutes. 8/10
Ross Ford – Part of an impressive front row which performed a first half demolition job on the uncharacteristically undercooked Italian forwards. Hit his line outs well and has well to ride out the storm of criticism that once dogged his career. 7/10
Willem Nel – Early penalties won in the scrum set down a marker. Didn’t have too many opportunities in the loose but defended competently and cleared out his rucks well. Good home debut for the rotund tighthead.Replaced by Welsh on 65 minutes. 7/10
Grant Gilchrist – Direct and industrious. Did the enforcer bit very well and kept the lineout ticking over to provide a platform for the Scottish performance. Off for Harley on the hour mark. 7/10
Jonny Gray – Discipline is exemplary, as was his defence. Seemed to be tasked with disrupting the Italian lineout and found relative success in doing so. Quietly efficient and must be a pain to play against. Will be a vital part of this pack for years to come. 8/10
Ryan Wilson – Pedestrian at times in attack, ponderous also at times in defence and gave away a collapsed maul which led to the first Italian try. Did some good work however, especially in the lineout. Still got some work to do to cement a first choice place. 6.5/10
John Barclay – Classy display from the once forgotten man. Scored a try, menaced on the deck and provided a good option at the line out. Chopped down anything in front of him too. Came off on the hour mark. 8/10
David Denton – Maintained the bulldozing element to his game but added some offloading in attack for a change too. Fits BVCs system like a huge Zimbabwean glove. More of this sort of stuff will be needed at the World Cup. 8/10
Subs:
Stuart McNally – Came on 55 minutes for his Murrayfield debut and second cap. Did no wrong. 6/10
Gordon Reid – Introduced on 65 for Dicko. Got shoed by two different Italians in a ruck. 6/10
Jon Welsh – Came on to replace Nel on 65 minutes. Held a steady scrum. 6/10
Robert Harley – Took over second row duties from Gilchrist after 60 minutes. Looks strange in the row. 6/10
Blair Cowan – On for Barclay after an hour or so. Maintained his good work. 6.5/10
Henry Pyrgos – Replaced his captain after 65 minutes. Was no great improvement on Greig but a decent deputy. 6.5/10
Ruaridh Jackson – Came on fro Hoggy at fullback. Looked out of place, had a kick charged down but got away with it thanks to Bennett. 5/10
Matt Scott – Came on for Horne after fifty odd minutes. Added some direct running . Looks sharp and in form. 7/10