Perfection can wait. Scotland were understrength and out of sorts for much of this match, but they found a way to win. And, given that they still have three World Cup warm-ups to play, that is perhaps the main thing.
As Gregor Townsend said after the game, you want things to work on. Every department of the team showed signs of rustiness - including Darcy Graham, who scored two of his team’s three tries. But, just as they had done against Italy in the two teams’ last outing on the final day of the Six Nations, they still did enough to prevail.
As was the case back in March, the outcome of the game was in the balance until the closing stages. Back then it was Blair Kinghorn with the killer try in the closing minute; this time it was substitute Josh Bayliss who touched down.
It would be wrong, however, to liken the two games to too great an extent. The excitement in the spring was conspicuous by its absence for long stretches yesterday: indeed, much of the excitement in a drab first half was generated by a sodden seagull, which stubbornly stayed in the midst of the action for a time before eventually being removed to safety.
There was one genuine moment of inspiration in the opening 40, however, and it came from stand-off Ben Healy, who produced a commanding performance in just his second cap. With quarter of an hour played, he chipped perfectly to the corner for the unmarked Graham to touch down and open the scoring.
Healy missed the conversion attempt, and after that Italy, who had begun the game more brightly, gradually got on top. Their playmaker Tommaso Allan first reduced the deficit with a penalty after Scotland captain Rory Darge had strayed offside, and then put his team 6-5 ahead with the last kick of the half from a scrum penalty.
The slender lead was arguably the least that the visitors deserved. Their back division had looked slicker with ball in hand than their hosts, producing some cute no-look passes which stretched the Scotland defence. And they had been unlucky not to make more of a move in which winger Monty Ioane all too easily went round Graham on the outside - a rare feat against someone of the Scot’s sheer speed - before being shepherded into touch.
Scotland knew they needed to raise their energy levels in the second half if they were not to let the game drift away from them, and they did so successfully. When the Italians were penalised for a scrum collapse less than ten minutes after the restart, Healy calmly added the three points to restore his team’s lead.
Graham then got in on the act again, first charging down a clearance to earn his side a scrum five, and then latching on to an Ali Price pass from the set piece to score easily from close range. Healy’s conversion made it 15-6, and that looked like game over.
Italy had different ideas, however, and hit back when Ioane finished off in the corner from an Allan miss-pass. Allan himself added the two points to throw the match back into the balance.
Just 15-13 ahead with the momentum against them, Scotland faced a test of character and cohesion as much as one of fitness. They passed it, thanks in no small measure to several of their substitutes, with hooker Stuart McInally to the fore.
Healy’s penalty six minutes from time eased the nerves somewhat, then in the final minute Josh Bayliss scored in the corner, finishing off smartly from a Cameron Redpath pass after the smoothest Scotland attack of the afternoon.
The stand-off’s conversion produced a final score which flattered the home team, although the absence of so many first-choice players - among them Hamish Watson, Jamie Ritchie, Finn Russell and Duhan van der Merwe - was clearly a factor in the general lack of cohesion. Townsend is expected to restore most if not all of those key players to the starting line-up for the French match, which will be the team’s last outing before he gets his squad of 41 down to the final 33 for the World Cup.
Saturday will be France’s first outing of the Summer Series, and it may also be the first time in which the new Bunker disciplinary system is deployed. Designed to prevent incidents of potential foul play from holding up the game for too long, it was available here but was not needed.
Scotland player ratings
15 Ollie Smith Needed to be very alert in deep defence early on as Italy began more brightly, and showed up well in attack on occasion too. Looks increasingly likely to earn a World Cup place. 7 out of 10
14 Darcy Graham After missing the Six Nations through injury, the winger made a dynamic return, scoring two tries. He was vulnerable in defence, however, albeit against a potent opposite number in Monty Ioane. 8
13 Chris Harris Shook off an early elbow injury to maintain his usual role as the defensive linchpin, playing his part in ensuring that his team, while stretched, restricted the Italians to just one try. 6
12 Stafford McDowall Having waited so long to make his debut, the Warriors centre no doubt had a memorable afternoon, although in fact he would have preferred to be more involved. 6
11 Kyle Steyn Like his Glasgow team-mate McDowall, the Glasgow winger was a marginal figure at times. 6
10 Ben Healy Controlled the game maturely on just his second appearance, with his kicking from hand being particularly impressive. 8
9 Ali Price Made an early error kicking from hand but later combined well with Graham for the winger’s second try. 6
1 Rory Sutherland Battled hard up front but like most of his team-mates needs more game time to get close to top form. 6
2 George Turner Performed well in lineout but was not as prominent in the loose as he usually is. 6
3 Murphy Walker Part of a scrum that was under pressure at times but ability to play on both sides could be invaluable come World Cup time. 6
4 Sam Skinner Impressive at times in the lineout and lasted well throughout the 80 minutes. 7
5 Scott Cummings Did the heavy duties well and showed a light touch to avoid contact with the pitch-invading seagull. 6
6 Luke Crosbie Played at blindside rather than open and did not have as big an influence on proceedings as he would have liked. 6
7 Rory Darge The first-time captain was less conspicuous on the deck than usual but was a big influence in close-quarters defence. 6
8 Matt Fagerson Will not want to watch an early spill on the edge of the Italian 22 again, but gave as good as he got thereafter in the back-row battle. 6
Best of the rest:
Stuart McInally The hooker was lively from the minute he came off the bench, showing the hunger he will need to keep displaying if he is to win a World Cup place.
Josh Bayliss Took his try well and was another substitute to inject some dynamism into the team late in the game.
Cameron Henderson The Leicester lock made his debut for the final 15 minutes and may well get more game time over the coming two weeks.
