They say the Six Nations is all about momentum and Scotland, again, find themselves sliding rapidly downhill. Passion and effort are guaranteed from any Italy team, but they were clinical and defended magnificently in Rome. Gonzalo Quesada’s side ruthlessly capitalised on Scotland’s often rank inaccuracy and this richly deserved win – a second in three years against Scotland – sets them up beautifully for the tournament.

The fly-half, Paolo Garbisi, played the appallingly wet conditions superbly to celebrate his 50th Test, testing the visitors’ defence with spiralling contestable kicks and striking the ball sweetly off the tee. The centres, Tommaso Menoncello and Juan Ignacio Brex, also marking his 50th cap, were sensational again while the energy and skill of the wing Louis Lynagh significantly softened the blow of Ange Capuozzo’s injury absence.

Italy were smarter, they looked better prepared and better coached, and in difficult conditions their handling and ball movement were far superior. For Gregor Townsend and his players there is no excuse for that.

Scotland were outplayed, but caused their own downfall in so many respects. The set-piece, ball-handling and discipline were shockingly poor at times. The pressure on Townsend will naturally intensify and perhaps they can raise their level for England next Saturday. But that is not the point. If progress is truly being made this was a match they had to win.

“Hugely disappointed,” Townsend told the BBC. “To lose your first game in the tournament makes things tougher. The guys are very disappointed, but the effort was there. A lot of what we trained was in place … there will be criticism, but I’m with my team.”

Asked if he is the man to take Scotland forward, Townsend said: “Of course. I believe in the players. I believe in what we’re doing. Today it didn’t happen and we’ve got to make sure it happens next week.”

The rain had ceased momentarily when the Italy captain, Michele Lamaro, took to the sodden field with Garbisi and Brex to mark their milestones. Rain would return in earnest during the first half, but not before the Azzurri had established a decisive advantage.

First, the scrum-half, Alessandro Fusco, fooled the Scotland defence into thinking he was moving the ball left from a ruck. When he went right instead, Brex’s grubber kick was expertly collected by Lynagh and Italy were off the mark.

Lynagh was prominent in the second Italian try, too, brilliantly claiming a garryowen, and when the ball was shifted left Menoncello applied a wonderful finish and Garbisi converted. Scotland’s much-needed response came via a fine jinking finish by the Glasgow No 8 Jack Dempsey.

Scotland began the second half with a handy attacking lineout, but when Ewan Ashman overthrew it, Menoncello rampaged downfield and Scotland again could only rue their own inaccuracy. Ashman promptly fluffed another couple of throws and the cost to Scotland’s hopes of a recovery was incalculable.

The hooker’s uncomfortable afternoon continued when the television match official spotted a high tackle, gifting Italy a penalty in front of the posts. Garbisi did not waste it and recreated an eight-point lead. The rain continued to lash down and when Scotland built phases and momentum into the Italy 22, and won a penalty, still they found a way to undermine themselves, George Turner shown a yellow card for a dangerous clearout.

George Horne, Scotland’s replacement scrum-half, brought energy off the bench, willing his teammates onwards, and he applied a perceptive finish on 67 minutes when Scotland opted to kick a penalty for the corner. Finn Russell’s missed conversion meant it was a three-point game in the final 10 minutes.

It was a platform for late drama, a chance for a win that Scotland scarcely deserved. But you can add smart game-management to Italy’s list of assets. They kicked a penalty for the corner, pinning Scotland back and running down the clock. Then they passionately repelled a massive, desperate drive for the line by Scotland that ran to nearly 30 phases with the clock deep in the red.

A magnificent result for Quesada and his team but same old, same old for Scotland. “I’m absolutely proud,” he said. “Especially how much we are growing on the game management.

“We scored from a couple of set-piece moves we prepared. They respected their roles, the timing, the execution, and we scored. It was a great game and [we showed] a lot of character at the end … we are really happy.”