Blair Kinghorn scored 21 points as Scotland wrapped up their 2023 Six Nations campaign with a win against Italy at Murrayfield.
Deputising for star playmaker Finn Russell, absent through injury, Kinghorn showed his class by scoring three tries while producing a close to flawless kicking display as Scotland ran away to a 26-14 bonus point victory.
In a campaign that promised so much with a famous win over England at Twickenham and a comprehensive victory over Wales, the Scots end their campaign in third place.
In a captivating first half during which Scotland dominated both territory and possession, they camped in the Italy 22 but lacked the clinical execution to finish off numerous opportunities.
Fullback Tomasso Allan kicked two penalties in the opening quarter while the hosts got onto the scoreboard through a world-class finish in the corner by wing Duhan Van Der Merwe.
That's pretty sensational has to be said https://t.co/msLzPjU0Id
— Brian Haugh AKA Ali Baba (@Hauzinho13) March 18, 2023
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Kinghorn then scored his first try of the afternoon, crossing the whitewash off the back of well-worked backline move five metres out as Scotland headed into the break with a 12-6 lead.
One became two as Kinghorn crossed again, this time crashing through as Scotland began to pull away.
Kinghorn with the double! ✌️🏴#SuperSaturday⚡️ #SCOvITA pic.twitter.com/R16pI4baAX
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 18, 2023
Italy would not go down without a fight as Allan dotted down next, gathering a grubber kick to canter over in the corner to cut the deficit to eight points and setting up an exciting final quarter.
Allan added another penalty to make it 19-14 and bring the visitors within a try as they began to badger the Scotland tryline, but the hosts held strong gaining a crucial turnover on their five-metre line.
Scotland gained the advantage off the scrum and decided to run break out from the shadow of their uprights, Van Der Merwe breaking away up the left wing before passing inside to Kinghorn who raced away to score his hat-trick with a brilliant length-of-the-field try.
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
ABSOLUTELY SENSATIONAL FINISH IN EDINBURGH! #SCOvITA | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/mqX36oHRCU
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 18, 2023