Pressure is off Scotland after Italy win, says Townsend

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 Scotland's Hamish Watson in action with Italy's Giosue Zilocchi REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend conceded that the pressure of needing to beat Italy took a toll on his side as they scrapped their way to a 17-0 Six Nations win in Rome on Saturday.

Townsend's side travelled to Italy on the back of narrow defeats to Ireland and England, while the omission of key playmaker Finn Russell for breaching team protocol has cast a shadow over the start of their campaign.

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 Scotland's Adam Hastings scores their third try REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

The Scots ran in three tries through Stuart Hogg, Chris Harris and Adam Hastings and stopped their hosts from registering a single point.

But Townsend accepted that their performance could have been better, while insisting that the victory will allow Scotland to approach their final two games against France and Wales with clear minds.

"Maybe we didn't play as fluently today, partly because of the way Italy were playing, but also maybe because we knew how important a game this was and how important a result was for us to now kick on in the championship," he told BBC Scotland.

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 Scotland's Adam Hastings celebrates scoring their third try with teammates REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

"I'd now like to think we go into our last two games with any pressure on our shoulders lifted.

"The performance wasn't perfect by any means but the defence was almost perfect when you have a zero against you. The effort was huge and it was a tough game to play in."

Scotland captain Hogg lit up the game with a superb solo try, running more than half the length of the pitch to put his side in front in the first half, and putting the memory of costly errors against Ireland and England behind him.

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 Scotland's George Horne in action REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

"It was world class," said Townsend.

"He almost had another with a few similar line breaks in the second half. He's shown really good energy and good leadership through a tough time."

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 Scotland's Hamish Watson in action REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

(Reporting by Alasdair Mackenzie; Editing by Christian Radnedge)

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 Scotland's Ali Price celebrates scoring a try which is later disallowed REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 Scotland's Rory Hutchinson in action with Italy's Jayden Hayward REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 Italy's Jayden Hayward in action with Scotland's Sean Maitland REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 General view during a scrum REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 Italy's Mattia Bellini in action with Scotland's Rory Hutchinson REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 Italy's Callum Braley in action REUTERS/Ciro De Luca

Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - Italy v Scotland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - February 22, 2020 Scotland's Ali Price in action REUTERS/Ciro De Luca