HUW JONES grabbed a hat-trick of tries as Scotland dodged a bullet at Murrayfield.
Juan-Ignacio Brex’s converted try made it 19-19 six minutes after half-time.
![Rugby player scoring a try.](https://www.thesun.ie/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/02/alamy-live-news-2sb79bc-scottish-968417251.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The final score wound up being 31-19[/caption]
But centre Jones crossed following Darcy Graham’s burst from deep and Gregor Townsend’s side never looked back.
Jones admitted: “It was a big turning point.
“Darcy will find a gap when there isn’t one. I just had to try to keep up with him.
“It’s not every day you manage to get on the end of three so thanks to the boys for setting me up.”
Scotland raced into a 14-0 lead, with scores by Rory Darge and Jones in the first ten minutes.
Scrum-half Ben White added a third to give Townsend’s men a 19-9 half-time advantage.
But Benetton centre Brex intercepted a pass by Bath fly-half Finn Russell and the boot of Tommaso Allan brought Italy back on level terms.
The Italians won in Rome last year but Jones struck twice in six minutes to kill off the Azzurri.
Skipper Michele Lamaro said: “We got to 19-19 but couldn’t perform in attack. That cost us.”
SCORERS — Italy: Try, Brex; pens, Allan 4; con, Allan.
Scotland: Tries, Darge, Jones 3, White; cons, Russell 3.