Man of the match Mauro Bergamasco had scored a wonder try to help Italy towards a 10-6 half-time lead after Hodge had given the home side a dream start with a drop-goal after 38 seconds.

McGeechan insisted: "We had control for all but three minutes of the first half and had three or four clear scoring opportunities that would have made a difference.

"We just picked the wrong support player. We had a lot of players free and a lot of space to play with.

"It was always going to be a stop-start game because of the way Italy were playing.

"We had a rhythm going for 30 minutes but we found it very hard to get that back.

"Our pack and half-backs did very well in controlling where the game was played - mostly in their half."

McGeechan, while aware that Scotland could and should have spared a record 60,708 crowd a nervous second half by making the most of their many chances, insisted that he would be more worried if his side was not opening sides up.

He said: "It is easy to look at just finishing things off, it's important to create those opportunities.

"And obviously as then game goes on and it's tight you tend to close your own game down a bit.

"That's where I take my hat off to the likes of Duncan Hodge. I was delighted with Duncan, I thought he kicked very well. "

McGeechan and his men now face a long wait for their next Six Nations clash, against Ireland in May, foot and mouth epidemic permitting.

"I would like to think that we can find a game to play before Ireland," McGeechan revealed. "That would be important to us.

"It would allow us to try a few things. But I also think that Ireland are playing with a fluency and a pace that would suit us actually.

"It will be good to have them here and I am sure it will be quite an exciting game."