Despite their defeat Frank Hadden said Scotland were making progress

Scotland head coach Frank Hadden expressed disappointment after the 23-20 defeat by Italy in the final Six Nations game of the campaign in Rome.

"Where we started in the Six Nations was a very low point and we've made steady progress throughout this championship," he said.

"If we had got the result we merited today it would've been testament to the character of our players.

"We've managed to make steady progress game-on-game."

Interview: Scotland coach Frank Hadden

Highlights: Italy v Scotland

Although Scotland lost in Rome, Italy landed the Wooden Spoon in this year's Six Nations.

Hadden said while he was disappointed to lose the game, his side's performance offered hope for the future.

"It's a short, sharp tournament and you don't have much time," he said.

"We made enough progress to win the game today and that's why we're so disappointed."

Scotland flanker Alasdair Strokosch said the players were "gutted" after Andrea Marcato's drop-goal clinched victory for the Italians.

"We started the tournament badly but felt we progressed with every game up to the England match," he told BBC Sport. "We hoped to build on that here.

"It was a solid performance in the first half but we took our foot off the gas I think.

"We dropped our intensity. We'd had lots of bodies coming onto the ball and flying in but in the second half we didn't have too many options."