The right boot of fly-half Dan Parks, who kicked three penalties and a drop goal, looked set to secure the Scots a narrow win as they led 12-9 with 15 minutes remaining but Canavosio's intervention, and some sterling Italian defence, saw them home.

Mirco Bergamasco also kicked 11 points as the home side made it five wins from their last 11 matches against the under-par Scots.

Italy started the brighter and showed some early attacking flair working the ball wide well but with a gap opening up wing Mirco Bergamasco spilled the ball and the chance was gone.

The Scottish scrum - containing recalled Edinburgh prop Allan Jacobsen - laid down an early marker by pressurising the much-feared Azzurri pack into conceding a penalty in their first showdown but that was the only good news of a poor opening 15 minutes for the visitors.

The Italians - dominating both possession and territory - opened the scoring on ten minutes with Bergamasco making amends for his earlier butter fingers moment kicking a penalty to make it 3-0 after Euan Murray infringed at a scrum.

Four minutes later the home side stretched their advantage to six points. This time Bergamasco given his penalty chance after referee Dave Pearson harshly penalised John Barclay for coming in the side of a ruck.

Andy Robinson's side finally stirred into life after 20 minutes with a fine Barclay break through the middle.

The Scots were desperate for quick ball but the Italian defence illegally slowed it down allowing Parks - man of the match against Wales last time out - to make it 6-3.

And the Parks show continued eight minutes from the interval with more Italian indiscipline giving him the chance to comfortably make it 6-6.

The Azzurri were lucky to end the first half with their full complement of players when Josh Sole somehow escaped a yellow card after cynically denying the visitors quick ball.

Skipper Chris Cusiter had looked like he would get clear until the Kiwi-born flanker's intervention.

Referee Pearson further angered the visiting fans by not allowing Sean Lamont to take a quick tap penalty but then let off Sole with a talking to when a yellow card looked imminent.

And further salt was rubbed into the Scots wounds when Parks skewed his kick wide of the posts to leave the half-time score all square.

The Azzurri began the second half in perfect fashion with Bergamasco notching his third successive penalty after Alastair Kellock had his hands in the ruck.

The Scots hit back and thought they had got the first try of the game on 44 minutes but after stringing some good phases together Jacobsen was viewed to have been held up over the line by the video referee.

But the visitors were starting to stamp their authority on the game and levelled proceedings on 49 minutes when, after some sustained pressure, Parks easily dropped a goal from under the posts.

The game continued to be scrappy as neither side managed to maintain any sustained possession but the Italians were left incensed on 61 minutes when their dead-eyed kicker Bergamasco looked to be obstructed by Hugo Southwell.

The left wing was charging onto his own kick ahead but his appeals fell on death ears.

And the Azzurri's anger was exacerbated three minutes later when Parks kicked the Scots into the lead with a well-struck penalty after the home side went off their feet at the tackle.

But any refereeing gripes were quickly forgotten by the Stadio Flaminio faithful when their first real line break of the afternoon brought about the decisive score on 67 minutes.

Canale was the man who eluded the Scottish grasp and just when the move looked dead his skilful offload put Pablo Canavosio in the clear and under the posts.

Bergamasco added the extras to make it 16-12 but Scotland roared back and prop Jacobsen looked to be on his way over the line but was held up by the Italian defence.

Craig Gower tried to put the Azzurri out of reach with a mammoth 74th penalty attempt from just inside his the Scotland half but came up just short.

But it ultimately made no difference as the home side expertly kept hold of the ball for the last five minutes to secure a precious victory.