Giovanbattista Venditti’s try proved the difference in their 13-6 defeat and Scotland’s attempts at a fightback were thwarted by indiscipline as Nick De Luca and Jim Hamilton were both sin-binned.

But the skipper maintained that it was not through a lack of effort which saw Scotland collect only their third Wooden Spoon since the switch to the current format in 2000.

“Obviously all the boys are disappointed with the result which came through a lack of possession in the right areas,” the Edinburgh hooker said.

“We didn't give ourselves a chance, there was no lack of effort but we were attacking from our own half and you can't do that.

“But I think [of] the spirit in the camp, it’s a tight team, it’s just through a lack of accuracy that we didn’t get a rhythm going

“We didn't get possession in the right areas, not simply through the lineout but we turned over too many lineouts in their half and in their 22 and that didn't give us the rhythm to attack and sustain pressure."

Italy battered Scotland in the opening half as they camped in the Scotland territory for 38 minutes of the opening 40 but only came away with a solitary penalty.

And the Ford bemoaned Scotland’s inability to turn a determined rearguard effort into forward pressure.

“In the first half they threw everything they had at us but we kept them out, turned them over and got penalties," the 27-year-old said.

“We were defending well through those 38 minutes, we had the opportunities to get up and build momentum but we didn't.”