Now the hard work starts for Townsend

Scotland’s Six Nations campaign came to a stuttering, but thankfully winning conclusion in the Eternal City yesterday.

A last-minute penalty spared Gregor Townsend’s men some blushes but an impartial observer would feel that the home team were robbed of victory.

The Scottish coach had made a number of changes for the visit to Rome and those changes had a material impact on Scotland’s form.

In came Tim Swinson, who was often a key ball carrier, but whose primary gear was reverse as he was knocked backwards by an aggressive Italian defence.

Fraser Brown replaced Stuart Mcinally – the latter Scotland’s best and most-consistent player since the summer.

The lineout stuttered and the forwards really missed Mcinally’s abrasiveness until he came on at half-time.

There was a new midfield as well and while Nick Grigg offers something that Peter Horne will never do, Scotland’s greatest attacking threat came from their forwards when the game was slowed down.

Most critical was the breakdown, where Italy competed fiercely and dominated.

Scotland lacked momentum going forward in the first 40 minutes and when they were brought to ground, either Italy slowed things down, or Greig Laidlaw did. It was not what Townsend would have wanted.