Scotland/Italy: Scotland squeeze past Italy

Scotland avoided the indignity of a second successive Six Nations Championship defeat to Italy at Murrayfield - but only just.

After their goal-kicking woes earlier in the competition, the Scots were indebted to five penalties and a drop goal from fly-half Duncan Hodge which salvaged his team from an almost disastrous afternoon.

Having conceded 80 points to England a month ago, Italy were again expected to be limited, if spirited, opponents.

Instead they rocked a Scottish team for whom try-scorer Tom Smith and flanker Martin Leslie were the only men who dragged themselves to a respectable performance.

Even at the death, Italy were charging forward searching for a repeat of their only previous Six Nations victory against the Scots in Rome last year.

But Luca Martin's gallop down the wing eventually came to nothing and as Joel Dume sounded his final whistle, Scottish body language showed signs of relief and nothing more.

It had all started so brightly, the home side taking the lead after just 36 seconds.

Clearly learning the lesson dished out by Neil Jenkins last month, Hodge landed the type of 30-metre drop goal Wales had used to keep the Scots on the back foot on Murrayfield's previous Six Nations opening.

With Martin Leslie proving an imposing presence at the back of the line-out, Scotland controlled all their own possession and managed to pinch a fair proportion of their visitors' as well.

Yet Scotland's only reward for such dominance was a single Hodge penalty.

What the home side clearly lacked was any control over the ball.

The electric pace of winger James Craig was rendered meaningless by his inability to catch the simplest of passes. Twice the Glasgow Caledonians flyer fumbled with open space in front of him - and he was not the only one.

Scott Murray, Gordon Bulloch and Simon Taylor all wasted attacking opportunities with poor handling towards the end of the first half, by which time Scotland were surprisingly behind.

In justifying his selection of Gregor Townsend at outside centre, coach Ian McGeechan pointed to the British Lion's outstanding defensive qualities.

It was an observation which came as a shock to many critics and McGeechan's impressions were not upheld by Townsend's miserable attempt to stop Mauro Bergamasco on halfway after Budge Pountney had lost possession.

Having beaten Townsend the Italian flanker then rounded Bryan Redpath and outpaced Chris Paterson down the touchline before diving over for a try which Diego Dominguez converted.

Dominguez, architect of Scotland's downfall in Rome last year, then slotted home a penalty to extend Italy's lead on the brink of half-time.

Two more Hodge penalties within nine minutes of the restart, with a Dominguez effort sandwiched in between, brought Scotland to within a single point.

They also had a man advantage after referee Dume, having finally tired of persistent Italian attempts to spoil Scottish possession by fair means or foul, sent Carlo Checchinato to the sin-bin for deliberately handling in a ruck.

Bergamasco was fortunate to escape the same sanction after twice catching Martin Leslie off the ball, Hodge missing the chance to put the Scots in front from the penalty which followed the first offence.

But when Smith rolled away from a ruck and grounded the ball on the line - a decision Dume looked unlikely to give until he was advised by a touch-judge to consult the video referee - Scotland seemed set to impose themselves on the contest. Instead they got a belligerent Italian reply.

Dominguez first punished Hodge's failed conversion attempt by landing a 30-metre penalty, then added another to nose his team back in front again.

Scotland seemed stunned by such an unexpected fightback but at least Hodge kept his nerve at the other end with his fourth penalty to give his side a priceless one-point lead.

On the touchline McGeechan pondered his options. Having already replaced the ineffective Craig with Cammy Murray, he shoved Jon Petrie on at number eight for Taylor, who is finding the step up to international level a difficult one to make.

Murray was unable to reach his own chip through after breaking down the right wing but after Italy had infringed again close to their own posts, Hodge steadied himself and opened a four-point gap which this time Scotland managed to retain.