ROME -- Few had seen this coming. As the full-time whistle went, the Stadio Olimpico erupted, Gonzalo Quesada wildly embraced his backroom staff, and Italian players beat the turf as they roared in celebration. For the first time since 2013, Gli Azzurri had won a home game in the Six Nations.

 Italy went into the match against Scotland far from favourites, attempting to hold off a Gregor Townsend side that had won two of their past three Six Nations fixtures. While Scotland were fighting for an outside chance to win the tournament, Italy had less lofty ambitions of moving off the foot of the table.

 But in a remarkable, bruising contest, Italy’s show of strength and character edged them to victory for just the second time in 45 matches.

 This was a hard-fought game which saw momentum swing between the two nations but was sealed as Italy compounded Scotland’s mistakes to see the result over the line.

 Gli Azzurri had taken an early lead when Paolo Garbisi converted a penalty, catching a slipping tee just in time to avoid a humiliating repeat of the failure to convert versus France.

 But Scotland reacted strongly, bulldozing through the Italy defence to take a 14-3 lead and assert control in the match.

 Quesada’s side rallied and showed flashes of quality, as Martin Page-Relo’s clever chip unlocked the Scottish defence to allow Ignacio Brex to score. As Garbisi’s conversion pegged the score line back, Italy underlined their characteristic willingness to fight and threatened to exploit the Scottish defence with bursts of pace in behind.

 Despite Scotland extending their scoring to take a commanding lead, Italy stayed in the contest and chipped away at the score line through Garbisi and Page-Relo penalties. At half-time, with the score at 16-22, Quesada’s side still had hope.

 Italian aspirations were so nearly deflated at the start of the second half. Scotland started with intensity and carved through the Italian defence for George Horne to score. But in a game of fine margins, the tide turned in Italy’s favour as the try was chalked off for Schoeman’s obstruction.

 For Gli Azzurri, this was the turning point of the match. And there was no one more deserving than Louis Lynagh, the son of Australian great Michael Lynagh, to kickstart Italian momentum. Having chosen to represent Italy over England or Australia, eligible through his Italian mother, much of the pre-match attention had focussed on the Benetton-bound winger. But Lynagh looked unfazed throughout and raced behind the Scotland defence to slam home a try on his maiden appearance.

 Quesada’s side held resolute and kept Scotland at bay. Stephen Varney’s try which followed was pivotal in turning the score line around, making use of patient build-up to score and give Italy the lead. Garbisi duly converted to extend that lead and, as Italy forced mistakes from Scotland, another Garbisi penalty gave Italy a 31-22 lead.

 Townsend’s side desperately rallied in a late comeback through a Sam Skinner try and Finn Russell conversion, but Gli Azzurri held on to claim a major scalp.

 A win for Italy has turned expectation on its head. Scotland had won all 13 of the previous encounters but Italy’s victory all but denies Townsend’s side of silverware. While the focus is on Scotland’s second-half capitulation, it was Italy who forced and exploited those mistakes in a show of dogged determination and resilience.

 Victory is a major endorsement for Quesada’s tenure at the helm of Italian rugby and, on this evidence, the new era is heading in the right direction. Although Gli Azzurri were outplayed by likely-champions Ireland, Quesada will take massive positives from the fight against England, an agonising draw against France which should have been victory, and now this win in Rome.

 With Italy next in action next Saturday versus Wales, Gli Azzurri have an opportunity to go three Six Nations games without a loss for the first time in their history. Italy could be building something special and, while this result underlines optimism in Italian rugby for the future, Italy have finally proven their quality in the present too.