Scotland are facing a washout of a Six Nations campaign after suffering a dispiriting opening loss to Italy in rain-soaked Rome.
Having come from 12 points behind to stun the Scots in 2024, this time the Italians raced into a 12-point lead.
The gap was down to three by the final whistle but Scotland did not do enough as the hosts made the most of their rapid start, superior set-piece and solid discipline.
Italy scored from their first attack as Louis Lynagh slid in to finish off a lovely grubber kick from Juan Ignacio Brex.
The Scottish defence was exposed again soon after, with Jamie Dobie beaten to a high ball and Tommaso Menoncello speeding down the left flank to score with ease.
Amid a torrential downpour, Jack Dempsey powered through from close range to reduce the deficit.
But Paolo Garbisi popped over a penalty after an astonishing drop-goal miss from right in front of the posts to give Italy an eight-point advantage at the interval.
With players aquaplaning across the soggy surface and the error count sky high, Finn Russell and Garbisi exchanged penalties before Scotland’s replacement hooker George Turner was sent to the bin for a rash clear-out.
The conditions were near farcical, the ball frequently squirming through fingers and set-pieces a mess, with Scotland making the lion’s share of blunders.
Then, almost out of nowhere, replacement scrum-half George Horne slithered across the grass and into the corner, although Russell could not add the extras.
A three-point game going into the final 10 minutes, Italy held their nerve and did the simple things better to see out a deserved victory.
