Varney stuns Scotland as Italy end home winless streak in Six Nations thriller

Two teams with an appetite to run it from deep. A packed out Stadio Olimpico for the first time in a Six Nations game since 2016. Beautiful Roman sunshine washing over a pristine carpet of green. This sport is often a slog in the mud but sometimes, as it was here, it is a thing of beauty. Whirring limbs and dancing feet and silky touches and delicate kicks. Italy edged it with a thrilling victory, but Scotland played their part in the show.

That will be scant consolation to the visitors who were magnificent in parts, particularly in the opening 20 minutes when George Horne at scrum-half kept the ball fizzing at a frenetic pace. But rather than prove that they are a different sort of Scotland, one that takes aim at triple crowns and top-two finishes in the Six Nations, they succumbed to a team that is perhaps the most improved outfit in the world.

Related: Italy 31-29 Scotland: Six Nations 2024 – live reaction

“I believe 100% this team can play games like this. We proved it two weeks ago [against France] and we proved it now,” Italy’s captain, Michele Lamaro, told ITV. “We still have to improve a lot, but to bring back a win in Rome is unbelievable.”

They took an early lead thanks to a Paolo Garbisi penalty that was a callback to the closing scenes of the 13-13 draw with France. Again, the ball fell from the tee as Garbisi approached to kick. Except this time he composed himself to slot it through the poles, sporting a wry smile as he jogged back.

Then Scotland got going. It was as if they had instruction to pass the ball only once they could smell the breath of the defenders. Runners cut in against the grain and stepped off either flank to challenge both sides of the ruck. It was sustained pressure and the buildup of 18 phases allowed Zander Fagerson to burrow over from close range for the first of seven tries in the match. Shortly after, Kyle Steyn dotted down when he received swift service off the back of Finn Russell straightening in the carry.

Italy needed a response and provided one with a stunner. A penalty was hoofed to the corner where a lineout maul was set. The scrum-half, Martin Page-Relo, shifted back to first receiver where he sucked in two defenders before dinking a delicious kick over the onrushing Scottish wall. Juan Ignacio Brex – one half of a dynamic midfield combination alongside his Benetton clubmate Tommaso Menoncello – surged upfield to snaffle the ball centimetres above the deck to complete the score.

It was like watching two knockout artists throw haymakers at each other. There were intercepts, breakdown battles, offloads and a 50-22 kick, delivered from Russell’s boot that set up a lineout deep in Italy’s territory. The throw was secured and ended with Pierre Schoeman rumbling across from the rolling maul.

Russell missed the conversion, his first from 18 shots at goal in this year’s championship, but Garbisi and Page-Relo were on target for two penalties that made it 16-22 at the break.

Scotland thought they had their bonus-point shortly after the restart when Huw Jones dummied and unleashed Horne on the support line. But Schoeman was rightly penalised for taking out Ross Vintcent off the ball.

That proved to be a turning point as Garbisi was soon on the front foot and grubber-kicked through Scottish legs to find Louis Lynagh on the charge. The Harlequins winger gathered on the gallop and muscled over for a memorable debut try.

• Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.

• If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re on the most recent version.

• In the Guardian app, tap the Menu button at the bottom right, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.

• Turn on sport notifications.

Italy had their tails up. Gloucester’s Stephen Varney replaced Page-Relo to bring extra zip around the fringe and bagged a sniping try on 57 minutes when he picked up the pieces from a Vintcent burst. Garbisi’s conversion opened up a six-point lead that stretched to nine with eight minutes to go when he added a penalty.

Scotland had a fourth try with replacement Sam Skinner sliding in between the posts. Russell’s conversion trimmed the lead to two with three minutes remaining but the visitors but could not steal the win.

“The players started well and finished well. We lost our discipline and gave Italy opportunities – that is the most disappointing aspect,” Scotland’s coach, Gregor Townsend, said. “We need to improve next week. We have an even tougher game playing a top team and if we are inaccurate and ill-disciplined, it’ll cost us.”

Scotland will lament missed chances, most notably from a late Duhan van der Merwe run that fizzled to nothing, but credit must go to Italy who repelled 25 phases at the death to force a knock-on and secure a first win in Rome in the competition for 11 years.