Scotland ended their Six Nations campaign on a high with a dramatic late victory over Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Greig Laidlaw kicked a 79th minute penalty to ensure the Scots won their third game of the tournament.

Italy, with former Scotland U20 man Tommaso Allan pulling the strings, started the match at a ferocious pace and went into the break leading the Scots by five points.

Gregor Townsend's men regrouped at the interval but left it late to condemn the Azzurri to their fourth Six Nation's whitewash in five years.

Allan, who opted to play for Italy over Scotland, opened the scoring with an early penalty to put the Italians in front.

Minutes later, Scotland responded, a looping pass from Edinburgh's Hamish Watson found flanker Fraser Brown who touched down to put the Scots in front.

However, Conor O'Shea's men were undeterred, and regained the lead as fly-half Allan ghosted through the Scottish defence with a lovely step-off to score, adding a simple conversion to make it 10-5 to the hosts.

The Italians continued to grow in confidence, and added another try as Allan turned creator, setting up full-back Metteo Minozzo with a lovely grubber kick, who planted the Azzurri's second try of the afternoon. Allan added the conversion to make it 17-5.

Scotland, looking to win back to back matches in Italy, began to impose themselves on the match and were rewarded when captain John Barclay cruised over the line to ensure they went into the interval only five points behind.

The intensity of the first-half showed no signs of slowing, as early into the half, Italy star man Allan breached the Scottish defence to add his second try of the afternoon.

He swiftly added his conversion, and Allan now had scored 19 of the Italian's points for the afternoon.

Injury added to Scotland's worries as Ali Price replaced Finn Russell who  departed the scene for a head assessment.

Laidlaw stepped into the fly-half position effortlessly and floated a perfect pass to winger Sean Maitland who cut inside to breeze over the line and bring the deficit back to five points.

Townsend's men began to up the tempo, and with ten minutes remaining, Glasgow Warriors full back Stuart Hogg sprinted over the line to even the score.

Edinburgh's Laidlaw sailed his difficult conversion through the posts to put the Scots in the lead.

Their lead would not last long though as Benetton player Tommaso Allan stepped up again to kick a penalty and put the Italians back in the lead.

Italy's joy however was short-lived.

With just one minute remaining on the clock, Scotland were awarded a penalty.

Greig Laidlaw stepped up to ensure the Scots escaped Rome with a final day victory.