The talented Edinburgh full-back, who hopes to be among the British and Irish Lions party for their tour of New Zealand, kicked six out of six penalties to give the under-pressure Australian coach his first win in the tournament at the eighth attempt.

The match was billed as the wooden spoon decider and it was easy to see why in an error-strewn match which brought very little quality and just one late Italian try.

Paterson gave Scotland the lead after just four minutes when he kicked a penalty after Marco Bortolami had been penalised for putting his hand in the ruck.

The Italians should have levelled the scores three minutes later but De Marigny was unsuccessful with his kick from over 25 metres.

Scotland invited their opponents on with too many errors and Italy should have taken a three-point lead in the 27th minute following a mix-up between Paterson and Simon Webster, who was drafted into the side at the expense of Simon Danielli.

Italy were punished for their mistakes after 30 minutes when Paterson kicked a long-range penalty to give his side an undeserved lead.

Paterson needed treatment after being hurt in the ruck in the 48th minute but he recovered to kick a 38m penalty to increase Scotlands lead to six points.

The versatile Edinburgh player was clearly full of confidence as he sent another kick through the posts in the 53rd minute to give his side a comfortable cushion.

Scotland were controversially denied a try in the 65th minute when Australian referee Stuart Dickinson ruled Patersons pass to official RBS man-of-the-match Sean Lamont was forward before the Glasgow player crashed over the line.

But the ice-cool Paterson sealed Williams first Six Nations success with six minutes remaining by kicking another effortless penalty between the posts from a tight angle.

Andrea Masi gave the Italians a late consolation try and De Marigny surprisingly kicked the conversion but the day belonged Paterson and his coach.

Scotland:

Pens: Paterson 6.

Team: Paterson, Webster, Craig, Southwell, S. Lamont, Parks, Cusiter, T. Smith, Bulloch, Kerr, Grimes, Murray, Taylor, Petrie, Hogg.

Replacements: Hinshelwood for Southwell (71), Blair for Cusiter (80), Russell for Bulloch (80), Douglas for Kerr (73), Hines for Murray (75), Dunbar for Taylor (75).
Not Used: Ross.

Italy:

Tries: Masi.
Cons: De Marigny.
Pens: De Marigny.

Team: De Marigny, M. Bergamasco, Stoica, Masi, Nitoglia, Orquera, Troncon, Lo Cicero, Ongaro, Castrogiovanni, Dellape, Bortolami, Persico, Dal Maso, Parisse.

Replacements: Robertson for M. Bergamasco (73), Pedrazzi for Masi (58), Griffen for Orquera (68), Perugini for Castrogiovanni (63), Del Fava for Dellape (63).
Not Used: Intoppa, Orlando.

Att: 61,276

Ref: S Dickinson (Australia).