This was meant to be the start of a new dawn for Scotland but instead it was just more of the same as their Six Nations campaign began with another desperate defeat in Rome.
All the talk in the build-up had been about how the squad had learned from the shambles of the autumn and were ready to put it behind them.
With a fully fit squad to choose from, this was meant to be the chance for Gregor Townsend and his players to finally have a proper tilt at competing for the Six Nations title.
Instead, any chance of that was washed away in a Roman monsoon as Scotland coughed up two early tries to Louis Lynagh and Tommaso Menoncello and never really recovered.
They did at least make a game of it thanks to scores from Jack Dempsey and George Horne but, in truth, the visitors never really looked like a side that believed they could win it.
Scotland at least didn’t have to worry about losing a lead as they never held one at any point in the game.
Monty Ioane celebrates as the final whistle sounds on a momentous opening day for Italy
Horne celebrates a late try to give his side hope, but the body language was poor throughout
Hooker Ewan Ashman is stopped by a pair of Italian tacklers and had a game to forget in Rome
Paolo Garbisi’s first-half penalty ultimately proved to be the difference but Italy were simply hungrier, quicker and better organised. And few could deny they didn’t deserve their win.
Scotland’s cause wasn’t helped by both their hookers having a nightmare. Ewan Ashman’s lineouts were all over the place and he was lucky not to get a second-half yellow card.
His replacement George Turner wasn’t as fortunate, sent to the sin-bin for a no-hands hit to leave Scotland again up against it.
The backs never got going either, with Jamie Dobie struggling on his Six Nations debut and little seen in an attacking sense from Sione Tuipulotu or Huw Jones.
Scotland had lost here on their previous visit two years ago and here was further evidence that nothing has really improved since then.
They also lost their proud record of having won every Six Nations opener going back to 2021. Now that’s gone and all they are playing for is to avoid the wooden spoon.
Louis Lynagh crosses for the opening try to pave the way for a day of Italian celebration
Speculation that Townsend will move to Newcastle Red Bulls after the World Cup clearly didn’t help matters and you wonder how long his Scottish Rugby bosses will allow this charade to go on for.
It doesn’t get any easier for Scotland with England heading north next weekend scenting blood and a rare chance to get their hands back on the Calcutta Cup.
Despite losing here two years ago, the Scots started this one as favourites but never played like it. Instead, it was the Italians who dealt far better with the Scottish-like weather as they raced into a 12-point lead.
Scotland had dominated early possession but it was the home side who showed them the way with two expertly clinical tries, one in each corner.
Nacho Brex was the creator of the first, the centre dribbling in the perfect grubber kick that caught Dobie in no man’s land.
Quickest to react was Lynagh, who made smart use of the conditions to collect the ball and simply slide across the line to score with barely eight minutes on the clock.
Scotland were not helping themselves either, with Ashman wasteful with line-out ball and Grant Gilchrist twice pinged for holding on.
Last year’s Six Nations standout Tommaso Menoncello crosses for Italy’s second try
As the showers turned into a torrential downpour, Scotland’s Six Nations were drowning as Italy scored again.
Tom Jordan — preferred to Blair Kinghorn at full-back — failed to collect the high ball under pressure from Lynagh and Italy pounced.
Two flat, hard passes wide later and there was Menoncello to collect the ball and power down the line, embellishing the try with a flying dive.
The Scotland players had spoken at length in the build-up about learning to deal with in-game pressure — and this was their chance to finally show that was more than just talk.
They finally made an entry into the Italy 22 where the forwards battered away at the line and the Italian penalty count soared.
It felt like a card was coming for the hosts but before referee Ben O’Keeffe could reach for his pocket Scotland finally broke through to save him the bother.
Injury doubts had swirled around all week about Dempsey but he showed there was little wrong with him as he took Matt Fagerson’s pass, sidestepped Giacomo Nicoters, then powered past Simone Ferrari on the line.
Scott Cummings wins lineout ball for Scotland but it was an area they struggled in throughout
It was the lifeline Scotland had been desperate for but instead of grabbing it they again let Italy back into it as the hosts added another three points before the interval.
Garbisi missed a snip of a drop goal — somehow slicing the ball wide from right in front — but Italy had penalty advantage and the fly-half made no mistake second time around off the tee.
Scotland then almost got suckered right from the kick-off as Italy came straight back at them and only a brilliant Kyle Steyn tackle stopped Monty Ioane from scorching clear.
Garbisi was wide with another drop goal attempt but it was the Italians who were definitely the happier as the teams — and fans — got a break from the rain at half-time.
Scotland needed to show fresh resolve after the turnaround but instead they opened up with more sloppy play.
Ashman again failed to deliver clean lineout ball and Menoncello was soon streaking away down the line, with only a brilliant covering tackle from Ben White saving another try.
Ashman’s struggles perhaps came into Scottish minds when they next won a penalty, Finn Russell — another who was quiet — successfully kicking for the posts rather than risk another lineout.
Gregor Townsend will face a furious backlash after his side got off to an inauspicious start
The Edinburgh hooker finally caught a break when the TMO looked at his high hit on Manuel Zuliani and decided it didn’t merit a card. Scotland didn’t escape entirely, however, as Garbisi knocked over the resultant penalty to stretch Italy’s lead to eight points.
Ashman was now mercifully hooked but his replacement, Turner, didn’t fare any better as he stupidly careered into Zuliani with a no-arms clear-out and was deservedly shown the yellow card.
Dobie was removed for Darcy Graham but the conditions and the ferocity of the Italian tackling meant there was little chance for the Scottish backs to have any influence.
It was down to Horne, only just on the pitch a minute, to launch the rescue mission as Scotland threatened a comeback.
The lineout finally clicked and there was Horne to peel off the maul to slide into the corner. Russell couldn’t make a difficult conversion to leave Scotland trailing by three.
Just as they had done all day, however, Italy defended heroically in the closing stages before winning another scrum to seal the win and put the tin lid on another Scottish shambles.
