Six Nations

Italy celebrated yet another famous Six Nations win, beating Scotland 16-12 at Stadio Flaminio in Rome on Saturday - the venue of all but one of their six pervious victories in the competition.

The one-try-to-nil victory - which lifts the Italians ahead of the Scots at the foot of the Six Nations table - is the first for Nick Mallett's team since they beat Scotland in Rome in March 2008.

It is Italy fifth Six Nations win over Scotland - all but the 2007 victory were at Stadio Flaminio - to go with the two triumphs over Wales.

Substitute Pablo Canavosio was the hero with a second-half try - after Dan Parks almost single-handedly threatened to win the game for the visitors with another masterclass with the boot, kicking three penalties and a drop-goal.

Mirco Bergamasco kicked Italy's other points - ending their seven-match losing streak in the competition, as Scotland were left to rue a number of missed try-scoring opportunities.

For Scotland it was a ninth straight defeat away from home in the Six Nations and no less than they deserved in a disjointed and stuttering display.

But the Italians showed great spirit and scored a wonderful try by the replacement scrumhalf, Canavosio - their first in this year's tournament created by their own play - to boost their chances of avoiding finishing last for the third year in a row.

Italy's former captain Marco Bortolami - who was impressive in the second row - was ecstatic at following up a tight affair against England a fortnight ago (17-12) with victory here.

"This is a massive win," said the 29-year-old Gloucester lock.

"Every time we fight against better teams like we did against England and last time we were very close to them.

"Today [Saturday] we showed that we can beat anybody. Our defence was hugely influential in the win. We really fought for it and this has been a huge victory."

Scotland's Dan Parks was perplexed at suffering yet another defeat.

"I just don't know what to say," said the 31-year-old Australian flyhalf.

"This defeat is less hard to take than the Welsh one [Scotland led Wales 24-14 with a few minutes remaining].

"Overall it is very disappointing. We had scrums on the line and we had a line-out on their line and while other teams have been scoring from opportunities like those we were incapable of doing so."

The first half was a largely forgettable affair that finished all square at two penalties apiece.

Mirko Bergamasco put the hosts ahead on 10 minutes with a penalty from inside the 22 after Scotland were penalised for offside and four minutes later he doubled the lead with another penalty from an almost identical position.

Scotland were slow to get a foothold in the game but once Parks's right boot started to function, the visitors wrestled their way back into the game.

Parks brought the score to 6-3 with a penalty from inside the 22 to the right of the posts after John Barclay made a break from a stolen Italy line-out.

Parks levelled the scored with another penalty, from the left this time, before Italy's failing line-out put them in trouble again.

Captain and hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini threw the ball over all his own players' heads from inside his own 22 and Barclay made another break but Scotland were held up two yards from the line.

Italy probably welcomed the half-time whistle and the break did them some good as Bergamasco kicked them back into a three point lead three minutes after the restart.

Scotland came straight back and went left and then right with prop Allan Jacobsen burrowing over the line but being held up.

However moments later Parks hit a drop goal from under the posts and it was all square again.

Parks put the Scots ahead in the 65th minute kicked the visitors into a 12-9 lead.

But suddenly, out of nothing, Italy struck.

Gonzalo Canale made a brilliant slaloming, scything break through the midfield and then off-loaded in the tackle to Canavosio who cut in from the left and found a channel that arrived under the posts for his fifth try in 28 tests, with Bergamasco converting for a 16-12 lead.

Scotland came charging back and for the second time Jacobsen burrowed over the line but was once again denied a try by the video referee because it was impossible to see the ball.

Man of the match: Many will think Dan Parks's performance is worthy of this, but we are going for veteran Italian prop Martin Castrogiovanni - not just for his enormous his workrate and strong scrums, but the manner in which he carried the ball up and tackled his hearty out.

Moment of the match: There is no doubt it is the match-winning try by Italian replacement Pablo Canavosio late in the second half - which came when the Italians burst into Scotland territory and centre Gonzalo Canale cut through the defence. When the cover eventually got to him, he off-loaded to Canavosio, coming on an angle, and he carried it over for ten game's defining moment.

Villain of the match: Nobody.

The scorers:

For Italy:
Try: Canavosio
Con: Mirco Bergamasco
Pens: Mirco Bergamasco 3

For Scotland:
Pens: Parks  3
DG: Parks

The Teams:

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Andrea Masi, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Alessandro Zanni, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain), 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Kaine Roberston.

Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Simon Danielli, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Chris Cusiter (captain), 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Al Kellock, 4 Jim Hamilton, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Nathan Hines, 19 Al Strokosch, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Phil Godman, 22 Nick De Luca

Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Tim Hayes (Wales)
TMO: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)