Greig Laidlaw was the Scotland hero with a penalty two minutes from time that got his side out of jail against a plucky Italian outfit.
Down 24-12 early in the second half it was a try from full-back Stuart Hogg ten minutes from time that laid the foundations for victory. Then in a pulsating encounter Laidlaw stepped up to put over the vital three points near the end to secure victory.
The narrow win was heartbreaking for the Italians who had put in their best performance of the Six Nations so far. You had to feel especially sorry for their hard working captain Sergio Parisse who suffered his 100th international loss in 134 games.
Greig Laidlaw scored a penalty with two minutes remaining to give Scotland a 29-27 win over Italy at the Stadio Olimpico
Stuart Hogg and Laidlaw celebrate at the end of the match after sealing a narrow victory over Italy on Saturday afternoon
Tommaso Allan kicks a penalty to open the scoring for Italy against Scotland on Saturday afternoon at the Stadio Olimpico
Fraser Brown of Scotland touches down for the first try of the Six Nations match on Saturday and to put Scotland in the lead
The Italians took the lead in the fifth minute when Tommaso Allan put over a penalty.
Four minutes later Hamish Watson played in hooker Fraser Brown for a try in the corner. Laidlaw missed the conversion.
Allan took full advantage of slack defensive play by Scotland to score under the posts. The Italian fly-half got up to convert his own try.
It was all Italy and they increased their lead through Matteo Minozzi who beat Hamish Watson in a foot chase to touch down. Allan put over the conversion.
Brown celebrates scoring their first try with his Scotland team-mates in what was an entertaining first half on Saturday
Allan celebrates after scoring Italy’s first try of the game to put them back in the lead against Scotland on Saturday afternoon
Allan of Italy celebrates with team-mates after scoring his side’s first try of the Six Nations match at home to Scotland
Scotland got back into it when a rolling maul ended up with captain John Barclay going over. Laidlaw put over the conversion.
The Italians laid siege to the Scotland line and were unlucky not to go in at the break no more than 17-12 ahead.
Scotland took off the whole front row -props Gordon Reid and Willem Nel plus hooker Fraser Brown – at the break. On came Jamie Bhatti and Zander Fagerson as replacement props with Stuart McInally on as hooker.
Italy’s Matteo Minozzi (right) scores a try despite the tackle of Scotland’s Hamish Watson to extend Italy’s lead in first half
Minozzi celebrates scoring Italy’s second try with his team-mates on Saturday afternoon in their clash against Scotland
Scotland’s John Barclay scores his side’s second try of the game to reduce the deficit to Italy in the Six Nations match
Greig Laidlaw scored the resulting conversion from Barclay’s try to make it 17-12 to Italy inside the opening 25 minutes
Italy’s Dean Budd (right) goes for the ball during a line out during a thrilling first half of rugby at the Stadio Olimpico
Scotland were let off the hook when winger Sebastien Negri had a try disallowed after a knock on from Parisse.
They weren’t so lucky four minutes after the break when Gloucester number seven Jake Polledri shrugged off a tackle from Ryan Wilson to play in Allan for his second try of the match. The Italian fly-half got up once again to put over the extras.
Scotland’s chances weren’t helped when Finn Russell had to go off with a head injury. Laidlaw moved from nine to ten with Ali Price taking over at scrum-half.
Scotland’s Barclay (right) in action during a scrum during the Six Nations match against Italy on Saturday afternoon
Italy’s Sergio Parisse vies with Scotland Tim Swinson during the clash at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday afternoon
Allan of Italy runs through to score his side’s third try of the match shortly after the restart to put them 22-12 ahead
Allan touches down to score his second try of the Six Nations match to increase Italy’s lead over Scotland on Saturday
Allan of Italy celebrates scoring his side’s third try with his team-mates and he converted his second try to make it 24-12
The changes made a difference with Laidlaw playing a long pass to put in Sean Maitland on the hour mark. Laidlaw put over the conversion.
They went further ahead when a pass from Laidlaw played in Hogg to score with ten minutes left. Laidlaw put over the extras to give Scotland a two point lead.
With five minutes left the pendulum swung again when a Allan penalty put his side back in front by a point.
Sean Maitland celebrates scoring Scotland’s third try of the game against Italy to close the gap to just five points
Scotland’s Stuart Hogg scores his side’s fourth try of the game to level the score against Italy in the second half of the game
Allan scores a penalty to put Italy back in front with just five minutes left on the clock but Laidlaw sealed win for Scotland
With two minutes to go up stepped Laidlaw for a massive kick under pressure. The nerveless Scot put it straight between the posts.
At the final whistle the Italian players slumped to the floor after losing such a close game in such cruel circumstances. They had given their all only for the game to be snatched away from them at the death.
At the end of the day though it was yet another defeat and yet another Wooden Spoon for Conor O’Shea’s team despite their best efforts.