Said Madrid: This is the old Scotland we thought we'd never see under Gregor Townsend.Lets hope Scotland can play better because they have the quality to perform

Jon Salinger: Where has this Italian team been all Six Nations? Playing some good rugby or are Scotland not at the races.

Andrew Priestley: It’s hard to decide whether this is classic Italy or classic Scotland? Italy always seem to turn up on the last weekend of the championship when all has been said and done, and Scotland seem to always disappoint when they are supposed favourites.

All the talk before the match was of a top-half finish for Scotland in this year's tournament.

The visitors have the chance to move second with a victory in Rome. But they've got themselves in a sticky situation here and it's wooden spoon winners Italy who are showing their class.

Early days for the Scots, but they have only made 16 carries to 61 from Italy in the first quarter of this match.

Colin Gregor
Former Scotland sevens captain on Radio 5 live sports extra

We talked beforehand about Scotland trying to dictate. It's not happening at the moment.

Brilliant play from the Italians again. They've mixed it up well so far and keep making ground. Tommy Allan puts it in a perfect kick and Matteo Minozzi finishes it well.

A thoroughly deserved score for Italy.

Italian prop Simone Ferrari set off at speed there and skipped through the clutches of a struggling Scottish defender.

The crowd are on their feet here as Matteo Minozzi joins the line and shows his speed down the left wing.

Image source, Reuters

Meanwhile back in Rome...

The Italian front-row have gone down at the scrum and referee Pascal Gauzere hands the Scots a penalty.

An interesting decision from John Barclay who opts for another scrum, Italy are pulled for an early engage but Finn Russell's fires his cross-field kick straight into touch. That was a very poor decision from the fly-half.

Image source, Getty Images

This is exactly what we wanted to see today.

Shout out for all dressed-up dog pictures please.

Colin Gregor
Former Scotland sevens captain on Radio 5 live sports extra

Another great piece of play from Italy. Tommy Allan gets the ball and skips past Huw Jones and WP Nel and goes straight underneath the posts.

In rugby, the ball is the threat and Scotland didn't defend it properly. They should have made Allan make the pass but they didn't and it was too easy for Italy to score.

So, after all their early possession, Italy find themselves behind in Rome.

Scotland stroll over the line with their first real attack, all too easy.

But the visitors are immediately on the back foot after a high tackle from Tommy Seymour on Italy captain Sergio Parisse. He had an arm over the top of the number eight's shoulder and that's not allowed these days.

Italy with a dangerous line-out 10 metres from the try-line.

Al Kellock
Former Scotland captain on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Very well-worked try from Scotland. Nick Grigg was involved and allowed his team-mates a bit of space. Scotland had a huge amount of runners overlapping before they eventually scored a try in the corner.

We've wanted them to maintain possession and ask questions of the defence. They'd been under the cosh but got hold of the ball and made it count.

Scotland have more success with their second line-out of the day and it sets up their first real period of possession.

Nick Grigg gets his first run as he ducks under the arm of Leonardo Ghiraldini.

Scotland with the advantage as Tommy Seymour sees a gap down the left and the visitors are eventually held up a metre from the line.

They have to score here...

Tommaso Allan is deadly accurate with his first kick of the day and the crowd love it.

A huge roar goes up as Allan gives himself a little clap.

Image source, Reuters

But we'll come back for the penalty as Gordon Reid is penalised for offside.

And Italy will take the points here.

Colin Gregor
Former Scotland sevens captain on Radio 5 live sports extra

A few early mistakes from Scotland. They need to get some possession and start asking questions of the Italian defence. Every time Italy get on the front foot, the crowd are getting excited and their team is making ground.

Italy are dominating the set-piece. A brilliant scrum is followed by a huge carry from captain Sergio Parisse as Italy look to come down the blind side.

Tommaso Castello tries a Finn Russell-esque floated pass out to the right wing and Italy are still in possession. This is brilliant work from the hosts!

A nice dinked kick from Marcello Violi as Italy steal the first line-out of the match.

Fraser Brown's first throw gets lost in the air and this has been a good first few minutes for the Azzurri.

Ooops, cursed it. Brown makes up for this missed throw and scoops the ball up at the breakdown.

Italy do not want to concede points early on.

We have a brief kicking contest before the hosts carry it through the middle and grind their way to the halfway line. A purposeful start.

Image source, Getty Images

Al Kellock
Former Scotland captain on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

I want to see Scotland start well both in attack and defence. The Italians will be really pumped up. It's a great occasion here today and there's a lot of passion in the national anthems. Very much looking forward to it.