Scotland and Italy may not make World Cup quarters, but warm-up is important

I was over the moon this week when I discovered that the northern hemisphere Rugby World Cup warm-ups were getting underway this week.

It may not be the likes of France or England but it’s good to see international rugby back ahead of one of the biggest and most unpredictable World Cup events in a long time.

Scotland take on Italy on Saturday at Murrayfield while Down Under there’s a Bledisloe Cup tie between Australia and New Zealand in the 100,000 seater Melbourne Cricket Ground – host of the second Test against the British and Irish Lions in 2025 – and a match between South Africa and Argentina.

World Cup hopes

But focusing on two of Europe’s top nations, it is fascinating to see how both Gregor Townsend’s Scotland and Kieran Crowley’s Italy look at this match north of the border.