Match Centre: Six Nations: Italy 31-29 Scotland

Italy 31-29 Scotland, Rome

Italy secured their first home Six Nations game victory since 2013 as they edged out Scotland 31-29 in the fourth round in Rome on Saturday.

This was also Italy's first Six Nations victory in two years as they continued their impressive run in the competition having came close to beat England followed by drawn game against France. This was also Scotland's second defeat in the competition as they are with 11 points while Italy moved to fourth position with seven points.

Paolo Garbisi started the proceedings with a second minute penalty goal before Scotland looked threatening and got their first breakthrough with Zander Fagerson forcing his way over from close range in the 6th minute and Finn Russell maintained his 100% kicking in the competition with the conversion to make it 3-7.

The Dark Blues doubled their tally shortly wing Duhan van der Merwe made a big break before Russell sent a perfect offload for Kyle Steyn to touchdown and Russell kicked the conversion to make it 3-14 before Italy responded with Ignacio Brex latching on to a kick to dive under the posts. Garbisi's conversion meant the gap between the sides came down to four points.

As Italy conceded another penalty for a tackle off the ball, Russell slotted a three-pointer in the 25th minute to make it 10-17 and shortly they completed their third try with Pierre Schoeman bundling over and the Scotland fly-half missed the conversion for the first time.

Italy gathered momentum with the break approaching as Garbisi and Martin Page Relo kicked penalties as they trailed Scotland with a 16-22 margin at the end of the opening half.

The home side were the quickest to get off the block in the second half as a crossfield kick from Garbisi was collected by Louis Lynagh, who dotted down on his debut but the fly-half missed out on the conversion making it 21-22 and they continued their impressive run as Ross Vintcent's break allowed Stephen Varney to dot down taking them to a 28-22 lead.

As Sam Skinner conceded a penalty, Garbisi converted to take Italy to a position of safety with a nine point lead by the 73rd minute which proved enough despite a late try from Sam Skinner.

Team line up:

Italy: Capuozzo, Lynagh, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane, P Garbisi, Page-Relo, Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari, N Cannone, Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro, Vintcent.

Reserves: Lucchesi, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Zambonin, L Cannone, Varney, Marin, Mori.

Scotland: Kinghorn, Steyn, Jones, Redpath, Van Der Merwe, Russell, Horne, Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, Christie, Darge, Dempsey.

Reserves: Ashman, Hepburn, Millar-Mills, Skinner, Ritchie, M Fagerson, Price, Rowe.