I'm almost certain this game can't be as bad as the first half of Italy-Scotland, so stay with us. France have six wins and England four at the Stade de France, let's see what goes off this evening, England kick-off, George Ford with it...

Not that we're leaving Turin untended, and we're ready for the re-start in Italy...

Here come the teams, doesn't sound much like a friendly at the Stade de France, it's full to the brim and making a racket. Listen to this match on BBC Radio 5 live by clicking on the link on the top of this page and get involved via hashtag #bbcrugby. Anthems almost done, we'll have some rugby in a minute.

Our attention turns to Paris, where France are seeking revenge over England after last week's game in Twickenham. Still spots up for grabs in Stuart Lancaster's World Cup squad and winger Johnny May is the only player to start both games against the French. No Sam Burgess or Henry Slade today, even on the bench, so it will be interesting to see how centres Burrell and Joseph perform.

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"Scotland have kicked and chased very well, the scramble defence has been decent but it's all a bit too comfortable for me. After all, it's a World Cup trial match for all the players out there but there's an intensity missing for me at the moment. 

"I don't know whether we should have gone for four games building up to the tournament like we have, maybe three would be better like most of the other countries have gone for."

A game for the die-hards, you might say. Lots of grunt and lots of penalties but not much in the way of excitement, I can't remember anyone outside inside-centre Matt Scott touching the ball in the Scotland backs.

Nice kick and chase by Scotland, Hidalgo-Clyne with the kick, Hughes with the hit on Masi, but Scotland are pinged again. Italy with the line-out on Scotland's 22... Italy making inroads, Vunisa to the fore, here he is again, for the third time in this set... and off he goes again, from the back of a ruck... and again, but he's held up a couple of yards short... Allan with the cross-kick after a penalty is called, but it's a bit of a duff... however, the Italy fly-half does slipper over a three-pointer on the whistle to make it all square... 

"The game just needs a bit of a spark to get it going, either a try or a fight will probably do it. Preferably a try."

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Italy giving it the old heave-ho at the scrum and Scotland are penalised again after Mike Cusack folds like a concertina. It's a line-out on Scotland's 22...

Italy come again, here's scrum-half Palazzani on the snipe. But they lose it in the tackle again and Scotland thump it clear. Too many mistakes from both sides, this is not what you would call clinical, from either side, unless you factor in the kicking.

The Scottish defence up quick and Italy's backs are unable to find any space. But hang on, here's Venditti flying down the right wing... Aguero makes yards before Zanni loses the ball in the tackle and Weir clears his lines.

"Every time Scotland have had possession, Italy have given away a penalty for not releasing. For me, the referee has to start increasing the sanctions."

If any of you have any chat you'd like to send us, you can do so via our hashtag #bbcrugby, external. Some splendid nonsense on there. That's a sweet over-the-shoulder kick by Scotland scrum-half Hidalgo-Clyne, to earn his side a line-out 5 metres out... Matt Scott takes the ball flat after a fine take by Strokocsh but Italy win yet another penalty after a Scot is pinged for clearing around the neck...

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Not exactly a flowing festival of rugby at the moment, the referee's whistle is the headline act and here it is again after Italy mess up their line-out. Another collapsed scrum, the big lads get a telling off, and down they go again... Italy get a shove on, Scotland cave, it's another penalty... Tommy Allan, he of the Scottish old man, is given the responsibilities from closer range and over it pops...

"The quality and the standard of goal-kicking now is that good, he was half a yard inside the Scotland half and stroked it nonchalantly through the posts." 

Ashe rises high at the line-out and Scotland have an attacking platform just inside the Italian 10m line. Italy number eight Vunisa is penalised for off-side, I believe, and Weir will go again from the tee... slots it...

Italy with their first maul of the match and they win a penalty from it, the luxuriously bearded Garcia gets another go from just inside the Scottish half... this time it has the legs and the hosts have halved the deficit. 

Italy have a penalty now, after some good work at the breakdown by debutant winger Rory Hughes, and Gonzalo Garcia leaves his kick just short of the posts. It was a longun, and Scotland did well to deal with the fall-out...