6N: Scotland v Italy: Blair Kinghorn secures bragging right over Toulousian clubmate
Today at 11:39 AM
SEVEN days earlier, Ange Capuozzo earned the nod over Blair Kinghorn as winger in the side that started for Toulouse in the 27-17 win over Montpellier in the Top 14. The Scot had the final word when he replaced the Italian after 53 minutes then weighed in with his fourth try of the season.
This weekend it was a different stage. The duo's names appeared on a dozen-strong list of Toulousains in Guinness Six Nations action, with the 10 men in the French squad – red-carded Romain N'Tamack aside – enjoying a rip-roaring start to the tournament.
At Murrayfield on Saturday, Kinghorn's opposite number was Tomasso Allan, a Scotland Under-20 cap who might have been jostling for the navy blue number 15 shirt had his career followed an alternative path. However, there was also the Capuozzo versus Kinghorn club duel to spark interest, albeit not a head-to-head. In the event, it proved to be no contest, with the Scot emerging as a comfortable winner.
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Physically, there are substantial differences between the two, with 28-year-old Kinghorn 13 centimetres taller and 22 kilos heavier than 25-year-old Capuozzo, who was born in France but qualifies for Italy through his paternal grandparents. However, there are also similarities. Both have pace, like to counter-attack and have matured in the all-conquering Toulouse set-up. Each of them recently signed contract extensions at the club on the same day, with Kinghorn committing until 2028 and Capuozzo agreeing terms until 2029.
They have also enjoyed individual success in this fixture, the diminutive Italian having contributed to last year's victory in Rome, when he was Kinghorn's opposite number at full-back, while the rangy Scot's highlights include two hat-tricks against the Azzurri in 2019 and 2023.
Kinghorn showed his appetite for adding to that tally on Saturday with several intrusions, eager to move the ball wide but equally happy to carry it into contact. His first contribution of note led to the opening points, pirouetting through a tackle by Monty Ioane in the build-up to Rory Darge's powerful finish that set the scoreboard ticking. He was also involved in the second touchdown, feeding Duhan van der Merwe whose strong run and pass inside allowed Huw Jones to open his account. Kinghorn then played a part in try number four, offloading to Darcy Graham, whose electrifying pace and eye for the gap carried play to within striking distance before he sent Jones clear.
Over the 80 minutes, Kinghorn showed the progress he has made since moving across the Channel just over a year ago. Already solid under the high ball, eager to run and a clever reader of the game before he left Edinburgh, this performance showed that he has enhanced all of those qualities since linking up with the current European and French champions.
His safety under the high ball was impressive when the Italians resorted to aerial bombardment as they sought a route back into the contest. And, underlining his value in attack, the post-match stats show that Kinghorn was the leading ball carrier in the Scotland side, providing 18 contributions for a total of 159 metres, 28 metres more than Jones, who was next on the list.
Capuozzo started quietly, starved of ball as the Italians focused on repelling a Scottish attack that should have been more than 10 points ahead at the break. The half-time tackle count told the tale of a first period dominated by the hosts although the scoreboard did not reflect that superiority. And the Italian total for tackles made grew in the second period, rising to a dizzying figure of 188 (another 30 were missed), a lofty number given that lengthy spell in the ascendancy as the visitors battled back, squaring at 19-19 then looking set to take the lead before Scotland steadied the ship and kicked on for the win.
Capuozzo had a chance to show his acceleration when, with half an hour to play and the scores tied, Danilo Fischetti stole possession for the Azzurri in the shadow of their posts and Tomasso Menoncello booted clear. The winger was quick to react but was never likely to reach the ball before it bounced harmlessly into touch.
That was indicative of a frustrating afternoon for Capuozzo, who spent most of the game lurking on the touchline and left it too late to go looking for work. He ended the match with six carries, but the average distance of those efforts was less than eight metres. Much of that total came in the final minute when he received a pass from Paulo Garbisi and tried to break away but was shackled before he could step on the gas.
A friendly exchange between Kinghorn and Capuozzo on the pitch after the final whistle marked the end of a satisfying afternoon for the Scot. He will return to training at Ernest Wallon carrying bragging rights over Capuozzo and having helped avenge last year's loss.
There will also be inevitable mentions of his name as a contender for a place on the plane to Australia with the British & Irish Lions. Versatility in terms of where he might be deployed could support Kinghorn's case, but a calendar clash in the highly likely scenario that Toulouse will feature at the business end of the Top 14 competition – the final takes place in Paris on 28th June, which is also the date the Lions tour starts – may count against him when it comes to that debate.
Before then, he will be relishing another clash with team-mates at the Stade de France on 15th March. That promises to be a tasty encounter, particularly if Scotland can win their matches in the interim.
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The post 6N: Scotland v Italy: Blair Kinghorn secures bragging right over Toulousian clubmate appeared first on Scottish Rugby News from The Offside Line.
