Former Scotland and Lions captain Gavin Hastings
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, PA

"Scrums are only supposed to be means of restarting a game. It's not a mini game-within-a-game, despite what certain players would tell you. Let's just get on with it, let's just play more rugby that's more appealing to the majority of fans watching both here and at home."

George Clancy seems to have just given up on the two front rows. "I can't manage it any more. You just have to get on with it," says the Irish referee at scrum time.

Scotland get a shove on and get in Clancy's good books. Penalty awarded and Stuart Hogg clears up to halfway.

Will Moody in Edinburgh: The battle for the wooden spoon is a great adjunct to studying in the library. Sport helps the concentration... Right?

A switch at fly-half from Italy who bring on the Scottish-raised Tommaso Allan for Kelly Haimona.

The ball goes to ground as Scotland try and build pressure and an Italian boot fly-hacks high, hard and clear.

Scotland lose the resulting aerial ping-pong and we are back up to halfway.

Italy concede their sixth penalty of the day as some good work from Mark Bennett - clamping down over the top - lures George Clancy into blowing up for holding on.

Stuart Hogg boots up towards the corner.

Carlo Del Fava
Former Italy lock on BBC One

"I think the balance of play lies with the replacements. Italy are playing such an expansive form of rugby, it's going to tire the front line. How those players off the bench exploit the spaces will be key."

Kelly Haimona gets up us and running with a hanging restart. Scotland are secure underneath it.

A tightrope walk of a scoreline for both sides.

Sir Ian McGeechan
Former Lions and Scotland coach on BBC One

"I'll be disappointed if Scotland restart with some nervousness. They're working tremendously well off the ball. They're prepared to get it away in to space and work the spaces."

Stuart in Argyll: Well... Cotter did say he wanted to return Scotland to their traditional form of play. Job done!

Image source, EPA

Business-like downstairs, party upstairs.

Loving the token bit of fancy dress that these two fellas have gone for. I think it is all-or-nothing with the novelty outfits...

Sir Ian McGeechan
Former Lions and Scotland coach on BBC One

"It almost looks as though the post helped Venditti out on that try for Italy. Fair do's to him, it was really well controlled with the players piling in. To have that understanding in that circumstance shows great awareness."

What to make of that then? A strong start from Scotland, undermined by a little loss of focus and large slice of bad luck.

Here are the stats from the first half.

Scotland-Italy

Tackles made: 72-47

Tackles missed: 5-11

Turnovers won: 3-2

Penalties conceded: 5-5

Carries: 50-60

Offloads 5-4

Metres made: 247-181

Dr Why: Well played, Italy.

Dan McLean: Italy resilient in defence, Scotland lacking creativity.

Rob Cox: Cracking game of rugby. So much going into a wooden spoon game, as always.

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Dan in Edinburgh: The Italian back line is standing very deep during their attacking phases, do you think this is hindering their ability to make ground against a tight Scottish defence?

Cammie in Fife: The scrums are making this game ludicrously boring. Clancy can do more to make it a free flowing game to watch.

Antonio Falisi: Who can't beat Italy? It's a joke if Scotland lose to them.

Stephen Barr: So poor from Scotland. Do they actually want to win? Still too many errors.

Former Scotland and Lions captain Gavin Hastings
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"I have to say, 10 minutes ago I was not expecting Scotland to lead just by a point at the interval. Huge credit to Italy, who have been more of a handful at the scrum and have come right back into this game.

"I have been disappointed with the Scots. They lead by 10 points from almost the off, but Italy have had the majority of this game. Vern Cotter will be raising his voice inside that dressing room, and Scotland need to come out a much better side in the second half."

Nope, penalty to Scotland as Italy come in at the side and Stuart Hogg opts to boot to the touchline, before setting off in pursuit.

Into injury-time at the end of the first half. Italy are rumbling up over the Scotland 10m line. One last roll of the dice before the half-time oranges?