A dramatic last minute try from Alasdair Strokosch saw Warriors prop Euan Murray and his team achieve a 30-29 victory over Italy this past Saturday.
It was a dramatic game from the first whistle with both Italy and Scotland scoring a try each within the first ten minutes.
After Italy gained an early lead, a lineout on the Italians ten-metre line allowed Matt Scott to slip through the defence and go over for Scotland’s first try of the game. With a conversion from Greg Laidlaw, Scotland and Italy were tied at 7-7.
By the time the first quarter was over Scotland had scored another converted try as well as a three point kick at goal from Laidlaw. The extra ten points from Scotland, and the extra three from Italy, made it 17-10 at the twenty minute mark.
When half time rolled around the score was once again tied at 20-20. After Scotland’s Sean Lamont scored their second try, Laidlaw once again added to their total with a three point penalty and a conversion.
However, Italy answered back with a Penalty try from a scrum on Scotland’s five-metre line. Italian fly half Alberto di Bernardo scored two penalties to tie the score.
The second half was less dramatic with the only points coming from the boot until the drama of the last minute as Scotland pounded away at the Italian defence and a quick tap allowed flanker Strokosch to crash over. Laidlaw added the conversion for a one-point win.
Also in action was summer scrum half signing Jeremy Su’a who featured in an incredibly hard game against South Africa as they lost 56-23 in Pretoria.
Samoa were not aided in the first half by a yellow card to prop Logovi Muilpola and by half-time the Springboks had built up a commanding 32-9 lead.
The Islanders also lost Alesana Tuilagi after he was given a red card for a high tackle on Jean De Villiers. After that South Africa took full advantage by scoring two tries within five minutes.
South Africa’s Bryan Habana also received a yellow card later in the game which allowed Samoa to score a try from Junior Poluleullgaga. It would make little difference as in the last four minutes the Springboks scored another two tries.