78: Paterson converts the decisive penalty (Getty)
80
Hugo Southwell is named man of the match over the tannoy - I know some who do not rate him at all, but he has been a rock under the peppering of kicks today. Pez clears to touch. Murray takes the line-out, back to Parks, who boots the ball out of the ground! Just as well it is full-time! A crushing defeat for Italy, who will rue missed chances once again. But a victorious end for the Scots, who will look back on this season with immense pride after wins over France and England, and an away win against the best-ever Italian team. Cheers from Rome, over to my colleague in Cardiff!
79
Two minutes of keep-ball for Scotland now. The maul rolls out of the scots 22. Back to Parks, a good touch. Quick line-out, Galon chips, but the Scots get the ball out of the melee of bodies. Ball kicked to Italy's 22, Griffen's clearance charged down into touch, but a minute to go, and Italy are 5m from their own line.
78
...lands it! 10-13! Have the Scots pinched the game?
77
Italy moving the ball, to one side and the other, but props are wide, caught in possession, and Lo Cicero is thumped, holds on to the ball, and Paterson has a kickable shot for poles. 43m out, according to the TV monitor, and the noise, the whistles and boos, is phenomenal! Paterson...
75
Terrible pass from Griffen, behind Pez! Bergamasco does brilliantly to clear it up. Out it goes, Southwell catches in touch, a huge one-handed throw-in to Webster, wonderful...oh, why! Why does Alan Lewis flag that for being not straight? a decision completely lacking in common sense. A 40m throw went a half-yard skew. Webster was not away as such, not huge advantage to be gained.
74
Pez clears, but Scotland have a line-out on Italy's 22, as the match enters the final six minutes! A tense finale building here. Marched down midfield into Italy's 22...but knocked on by Smith, with Parks just getting back into the pocket for a drop goal.
72
Lamont is off. Scotland move the ball into the middle of the field from the line-out. Parks ducks and weaves, and gets through down the middle, but his chip is hooked left, and Canavosio shepherds it to touch.
70
Wonderful Italian defence! Lamont smashed back by Canale, flings the ball backwards, Canavosio tackles Paterson some 30m behind the gain-line...but Scotland get a penalty for a stray hand. a waste of work, and Ongaro stares at the grass in shame.
69
Scotland maul the line-out ball well, a wide kick for Lamont, taken by canavosio, and now a counter! Brilliant rugby from Italy, canale, to Parisse, cuts the defence like a back, tackled on the scots 22, offloasd to Bergamasco, the centre goes, still going, but he has taken it too far, and now has the ball ripped from his grasp. Scotland get to clear.
67
Scotland running the ball well, but again a poor pass, and Canale picks it off! Canavosio, chips, charged down, but Picone does well to recover it, and now Galon must kick it away. Good thinking from both teams, but the execution still a little clumsy all over.
63
Dan Parks is on, and his first action is to give the Scots a great field position from a penalty. But again the Italians steal a line-out, Bortolami has been superb all match. Pez clears, Scottish line-out on half-way. We await a match-turning moment as the game tightens up. Again the Scots lose the line-out, thius time Italy get a scrum. Sole does well off the base. Great chip by Pez...so unlucky not to claim it. Long clearance by Parks.
61
Bortolami takes. The maul drives forward well, but then Pez can't sell his dummy and is penalised when isolated. Scotland lose the line-out though - both teams have been very weak there so far. A superb kick by Pez finds touch deep in Scots territory. Both teams look a touch tired.
60
Italy win a penalty at the restart, 'Italia, Italia' ringing out around the ground as the home team nudges itself into the ascendancy. Line-out on half-way.
59
The roar of the crowd tells you he can! 10-10!
58
Italy get a penalty as a scrum collapses - the Azzurri front row is just getting slowly on top now. It is within Pez's range. 40m. Can he exorcise the ghosts of Cardiff's misses?
57
A change to one side of the scrum, Lo Cicero and Smith on, Douglas and Perugini off.
55
Another Scottish territory kick after they pinch a line-out, but Nitoglia does very well running it back, and wins a penalty. Pez clears. Italy win the line-out, put up a high ball, but there is no challenge on Southwell. It has been Italy's only real failing, the way they don't always challenge 50-50 balls. But if there is no challenge, why kick in the first place?
53
Murray tries to go from the line-out, but no support, and Paterson clears - a huge clearance.
52
Cracking driving maul from Italy, now Parisse breaks away off the back of it...but then loses the ball. Both teams setting up good platforms of possession, but just don't seem to be performing on them.
50
Scotland get the penalty down to the Italian 22. Good position, but the line-out ball is lost. Good countering by the Italians, with Galon making it to half-way. It is a breathless game here. Now the Scots turn over, Ross kicks and chases into Galon's hole, but Nitoglia clears and covers.
48
Huge up and under by Bergamasco, well-taken this time by Southwell, and Bergamasco goes off his feet at the ruck.
46
Ross forced to pass to Southwell under pressure, and Southwell hurries his clearance to touch, Italy putting real pressure on here.
44
Terrible pass by Ross for Lamont, and the ball is knocked on. Italy run the ball well down the backs, Canavosio tackled just by the Scottish 22. Parisse charges now, Hines brings him down. Pez a grubber, and another mix-up in Scotland's back three! Canavosio, tackled by Lamont, pops the ball up climsily to Pez, who can't hold it with the line gaping!
43
Canale bashes up the middle from the scrum, but he is well-tackled, and the Scottish defence forces the Italy attack offisde.
41
We're off again! Scotland clear the restart, but not to touch. Galon hoists a bomb, which the Scots don't deal with properly. Italy on the front foot, with canale now. Very poor kick by Griffen, clearance by Southwell, still infield, a kick by Pez, and a dreadful mix-up gives Italy an attacking scrum.
40
Last move of the half, as the Scottish forwards drive on fromn the line-out, on and on, into Italy's 22. Scott Lawson goes, to 6m out, back to Ross...a drop goal, 7-10! Scotland seize the lead with the last kick of the half! It is all to play for in the second half though, in a fascinating game. See you in ten!
39
Ross nearly runs himself into a dead-end from the scrum, thought about attacking then changed his mind half-way through. He manages to clear though. Another untidy Italian line-out, secured in the end, but Pez punts it out on the full.
37
Scots get a scrum from the line-out, but then concede a penalty for a binding infringement, and Pez eases the pressure, much to the relief of the home fans, who are finding voice again. But the Scots disrupt the line-out again - Italians angry, they think he is closing the gap - and Scotland get a scrum.
35
Penalty Scotland, taken quickly by Hogg, up to Italy's 22, but another handling error. Another penalty for Scotland - Parisse again penalised for coming in on the side, and he gets a stiff talking to.
34
Pez fumbles a sitter! Quick Scottish hands needed now, advantage over very quickly, and now Scotland drop the ball - it should have gone down the line straight away when Hogg gathered up the fumble. Galon clears.
32
Huge up and under by Pez, marked by Southwell - Nitoglia could have challenged for that a litle more. Scotland clear, a quick Italy throw, then they try that funny switch move revolving aorunf the full-back, but Stoica is caught. we have seen that one a few times, and it still hasn't worked.
30
Long drop-out by Pez again - Italy need a little more adventure to get back into the game, Scotland dominating at the moment. Some sublime hands in midfield - too sublime for the outside players, who drop it!
28
Better pressure from the Scotrs close defence, and Pez slices his clearance awfully. Scots take the line-out, super long pass from Di Rollo has Southwell and Lamont away...but not enough room for the pair to manoeuvre. A chip by Ross for Southwell now...just bounces dead in-goal.
27
Cracking Italian scrum, Scottish pack just crumpled, but Blair saved the day. It is very messy and rushed though, and now Ross slips changing direction and drops the ball.
26
Some good territorial kicking by the Scots gets us down to Italy territory, and now they pinch a throw. No headway made, but a Scotland scrum for the Italian knock on.
24
Scots running the ball from their own 22! Lamont in broken play, offloaded, space right! Ross chips! Why?!? He had a huge overlap. Paterson chases but it bounces harmlessly to touch.
23
Scotland spreading the ball well, out to Lamont, but he is a shadow of his Premiership self at the moment. Italy turn the ball over, wonderful chip and catch by Bergamasco. He is through....cover gets back, and Bergamasco's offload is fumbled by all three Italians going for it! should have been a try, an orderly queue to score would have served them better though! Scotland scrum.
21
Griffen is back on with a ratherfetching headband bandage, as Taylor takes the line-out ball. Ross chips long, far far too long, and Griffen touches down for a 22.
20
The Italians turnover another ball - they are excellent at the break down today. Out the ball goes, then up in the air - was Bergamasco taken late? Scotland counter superbly, out to Paterson, a clever switch, for the corner...super cover tackle from Pez! Bergamasco is fuming at the late tackle.
18
Good Scottish ball, again the drive nullified, but wide it goes to Paterson, who is hauled down - great defence! Blair goes off the fringe, but isolates himself, and holds on to the ball under pressure from Piccone.
16
Another good scrum by Italy, Piccone is on for Griffen, and he gets it wide. Zafiri drives it on...but a Scotland penalty, not entirely sure what for. Maybe within Paterson's range, but Ross kicks well into Italian 22 for an attacking line-out.
14
The Azzurri turnover the restart ball, in Scotland's 22. Out the bal goes, wide to Parisse and Sole hanging out wide. To 7m out. Back wide the other way, Canavosio is set free, but shut down just as far. Pez goes for a drop goal. Why? Patience could have got them another try. 22 drop out.
13
A super kick! 7-7!
12
Good safe Scottish ball, and they try to get the rolling maul going. Use it or lose it shouts referee Rolland. Blair goes, great tackle, but Paterson seizes on the loose ball and scores! Try Scotland, they hit straight back. Can Paterson level the scores?
11
A big blow for the scots with Chris Cusiter going off - a cruel blow to him as well, his first start in the tournament is ended after just ten minutes. Looks like a bicep injury. Murray takes a line-out of an Italy throw, and the Scots drive well...but then lose the ball again. Griffen slices his clearance though, and Scotland have a line-out 8m from Italy's line.
10
Pretty grubby clearance by Pez from the restart, but Lamont spills the ball into touch - an inauspicious start by the Scots to say the least. Nathan Hines comes in on the side at the line-out, and Italy get a penalty to punt into Scots territory.
9
Pez lands the easy conversion for a 7-0 lead.
8
Good safe ball for Italy. Out to Pez, a little stab over, bergamasco catches and... scores! A cracking opening for Italy, 5-0 and right by the posts!
7
Anotehr good kick by Pez to the corner, and this time Paterson can only find a shallow touch. Italy line-out 10m from Scots line.
6
Italian backs shuffle the ball wide a couple of times, but not enough pace to threaten. Good kick by Pez to the corner, but Paterson reacts swiftly with a quick throw and Southwell clears.
4
Scrum reset twice - about par for every scrum these days - and then Ross finds a good touch by half-way. Good scrum by Italy though.
3
Southwell's kick charged down! Italy have good ball in scotland's 22...but Nitoglia spills a pass.
2
Scots win their first line-out - they havelost 18 out of 70 in this tournament so far. A drive, but turnover ball and Griffen clears. Southwell fields and sends up a bomb, Bortolami secures. tentative opening.
1
Gordon Ross gets us underway, well taken by Bortolami and Pez clears.
0
Welcome to a packed Stadio Flaminio for the first of this afternoon's three matches. It is still such a pleasurable breath of fresh air to have these Italians in the Six Nations, and this stadium has much to do with that. It is packed to the rafters, everybody joining in the jovial-sounding national anthem, klaxons blaring, a cracking atmosphere. Scotland need a win to cap a fine season on a high, while Italy need one to assure their fans that they really are a force to be reckined with, after some gallant defeats. Kick-off seconds away...
