Scotland twice blew a nine-point lead before eventually going down to an Italian side whose winning try came just before full time on Saturday.
As an encore to a couple of record defeats against Southern Hemisphere opposition earlier this season, this was a particularly spectacular footshooting exercise. When selectors gather on Wednesday to name a side for the opening Five Nations championship clash with Ireland in Dublin on February 7th, it is bound to be a lengthy session.
The Treviso encounter was only the second full-cap international between the countries, and Scottish coach Richie Dixon is coming under intense pressure. As the dust settled on a match in which the Italians had a "try" disallowed and strong claims for a penalty try waved away by the Welsh referee, Dixon made it clear he had no intention of walking away.
"There can be as much speculation as people want, but the fact is that we believe in what we are doing, the coaches and management," Dixon said. "Italy stuck with their game plan and kept their composure, while we lost ours.
"Our biggest problem was decision-making; in that respect, not enough of our players were up to speed. We were ahead on the scoreboard in the first half, but we only had control for short periods. Then we surrendered the initiative almost immediately after the interval. Italy kept their game up and it was almost inevitable they would score towards the end."
Scotland led 18-9 at half-time through tries by Alan Tait and Rowen Shepherd, who also kicked two penalties and a conversion.
Both Scottish tries were opportunist efforts based on exploiting Italian mistakes: Shepherd plucked a kick out of the air to run 80 yards, while Tait intercepted a pass 25 yards out.
By contrast, Italy had to rely on three successive goal kicks by Diego Dominguez, and a further exchange of penalties saw Scotland into 21-12 lead. From then on it was all Italy.
After Corrado Pilat had seemed to be checked by Gary Armstrong as he chased a kick through to the Scottish line, Dominguez slotted another penalty and sparked an even fiercer onslaught.
With eight minutes remaining, Alessandro Troncon slipped the massed Scottish defence at a ruck, but a touch judge spotted an infringement and Italy's Walter Cristofoletto received a warning after being recalled from his half where he and colleagues were waiting on the anticipated conversion attempt.
Italy had to wait until two minutes from the end for their winner, when Paolo Vaccari sold a dummy and glided over the Scottish line. The try was converted by Dominguez who added a penalty in injury time.
Italy: Pilat; Vaccari, Stoica, Martin, Cuttitta; Dominguez, Troncon; De Carli, Orlandi, Castellani, Croci, Cristofoletto, Giovannelli (capt), Sgorlon, Gardner. Replacement: Arancio for Sgorlon (78 mins).
Scotland: Shepherd; Stanger, Tait, Chalmers, Joiner; Townsend, Armstrong; Hilton, Bulloch, Stewart, Murray, Weir, Wainwright (capt), Roxburgh, Holmes.
Referee: D Davies (Wales).
