Match Centre: Scotland 25-13 Italy

Scotland 25-13 Italy, Murrayfield Stadium

Darcy Graham scored a double as Scotland kick-started their Rugby World Cup preparations with a 25-13 victory over Italy at Murrayfield Stadium on Saturday.

Gregor Townsend went with an experimental side captained by Darge and they were tested in the opening half as Italy had a slender 5-6 lead heading into the break but they held the nerve in the second half to hold off Italy.

Scotland started the proceedings in the 12th minute when a clever cross-field kick from Ben Healy allowed Graham to score his first try. Healy's conversion hit the post as Scotland had a 5-0 lead.

As Scotland infringed at offside, Tomasso Allan kicked a three-pointer in the 26th minute to reduce the gap down to two points but they grabbed the lead just before the break with his second penalty kick after the home side infringed at scrum.

Scotland were the quickest to get off the block early in the second half as Healy knocked over another penalty goal before Graham completed his second in the 56th minute after collecting a reverse pass from Ali Price to ensure their lead increased to 15-6.

The visitors reduced the gap as Allan sent a flat pass for Ioane to dot down and the Italy fly-half kicked the extras to make it 15-13 before another scrum penalty helped Healy extend Scotland's lead to make it 18-13.

As the game entered the final phase, Cameron Redpath sent a perfect pass for Josh Bayliss, who went past Ioane to score as Scotland completed a 12-point victory.

Team line up:

Scotland: Smith, Graham, Harris, McDowall, Steyn; Healy, Price; Sutherland, Turner, Walker, Skinner, Cummings, Crosbie, Darge (c), M Fagerson.

Reserves: McInally, Bhatti, Sebastian, Henderson, Bayliss, Dobie, Kinghorn, Redpath.

Italy: Pani, Bruno, Menoncello, Morisi, Ioane; Allan, Page-Relo; Zani, Haiva, Ceccarelli, Sisi, Zambonin, Ruzza (c), Zuliani, Halafihi.

Reserves: Manfredi, Fischetti, Alongi, Iachizzi, L Cannone, A Garbisi, Da Re, Mori.