Italy -12, Scotland - 29: This was a tale of two Kiwis. For Brendan Laney, once of Otago Highlanders and now an integral player in the Ian McGeechan clan, there was a Scottish record haul of 24 points; for Italy's beleaguered coach Brad Johnstone, a former All Black prop, an 11th-successive Six Nations defeat was another mauling from which it may be difficult to recover.
The president of the Italian rugby federation, Giancarlo Dondi, has stood by Johnstone: "If Brad had lost the respect of the players, he would have to go but he has not and it was not the coach's fault we lost today."
Worrying for Italy was not that they have six yellow cards and no try from two games. They have yet to threaten their opponents' try-line in 160 minutes and part of the problem rests on the shoulders of their most celebrated player Diego Dominguez.
The outhalf may be the best-known Argentine number 10 since Diego Maradona with 946 internationals points, but he is 36 in April and on Saturday, despite again being Italy's only scorer, had a dreadfully flat game, failing to provide his backs with any quality ball and even kicking poorly from hand. It may be time to say grazie for the memories.
It was more a measure of Scottish nervousness than Italian quality that the home side were only three behind until seven minutes from time when first Gregor Townsend and then Laney scored Scotland's first tries of the tournament.
That left Johnstone to carry the can which he did after the game with considerable dignity. "Obviously, I'll be under pressure because there are people who don't want me here. But I'll try and do the best I can. We must be realistic. Look at the Italian clubs' results in Europe, look at the time I have with the players."
Mauro Bergamasco was outstanding in the Italian back row, but the flanker marred his afternoon when he was sent to the sin-bin in the first half for sparring with Andrew Mower, and the lock Santiago Dellape was perhaps unlucky to follow him after the break for a retaliatory cuff around the head of Jason White.
SCORERS: Iitaly: Pens: Dominguez 4. Scotland: Tries: Townsend, Laney. Cons: Laney 2. Pens: Laney 5.
ITALY: Vaccari, Pedrazzi, M Bergamasco, C Stoica, Dallan, Dominguez, Troncon, De Carli, Moscardi, Pucciarello, Checchinato, Dellape, Bortolami, M Bergamasco, Phillips. Replacements: Martin for Vaccari (69), Pez for Dominguez (80), Lo Cicero for De Carli (61), Moreno for Pucciarello (40), Giacheri for Dellape (64), Persico for Phillips (80). Not Used: Queirolo. Sin Bin: M. Bergamasco (15), Dellape (40).
SCOTLAND: Laney, G Metcalfe, McLaren, Henderson, Paterson, Townsend, Redpath, T Smith, G Bulloch, Stewart, S Murray, Grimes, White, Mower, Taylor. Replacements: Graham for Stewart (61), M Leslie for Mower (72). Not Used: Russell, Petrie, Beveridge, Hodge, Logan. Sin Bin: Mower (15).
Referee: K Deaker (Hawkes Bay).
