Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has challenged his team to replicate the form they showed during 10 minutes at the start of the second half against Italy yesterday for the full 80 minutes in order to get a surprise win over Grand Slam-chasing France in their next match in two weeks’ time.

“The 10 minutes after half time is the best we played,” he said. “We scored a good try and created space for Adam Hastings to go through, although we didn’t connect with the off-load, so if we can put that on top of our defensive work, we’ll be a very tough opponent for France. [I’m looking for] a bit more fluency and accuracy in our attack.

“Our best performance was Ireland, but today was a win and that means a lot more than getting a losing bonus point.

“We know we can be better than we showed today in attack, but maybe that was part of the fixture and how important it was for us, and maybe something to do with being in Italy with a different atmosphere. We know we have to be better, but let’s build on the confidence this game gives us as we look to develop our attack in the last two games and play our best rugby.

“We didn’t score a try in the first two games and today we left maybe three or four tries out here. We’re not going to take all our chances but taking a couple of chances would have allowed us to kick on from being an arm-wrestle at 10.”

Townsend added that while improvement in attack is crucial to the team pushing on from this morale-boosting win, it is vital that the strides the team have made in defence are preserved.

“The nothing [keeping Italy to zero] is the most important thing for us,” he said, as he looked back at his team’s victory. “When you come away from home against any team and don’t concede a try, you don’t concede a point, you know you have put in a good defensive performance.

“The way the game was played, there were mistakes from both teams, so a huge encouragement is how we got back and scrambled in defence. So that effort and togetherness, and to get the turnovers as well, was very pleasing.”

Townsend also had words of praise for Stuart Hogg, who has had a tough time since taking over the captaincy at the start of the Six Nations, but showed his character with an accomplished performance which was topped off with an excellent solo try.

“It was a world-class try and he looked lively as well at other moments,” said the coach. “I thought his decision at the back – when to have a run and when to put more kick pressure on Italy – was very good. It is brilliant for him to get that win as a captain, and to have a big part in that with his performance and his try.

“We discussed how there was going to be tough times – any Scotland captain is going to experience wins and losses, when speaking to the media after a defeat or picking up the players on a Monday after a defeat is something you have to go through.

“I think his lowest point was the press conference after the England game, but getting back to Exeter last week was a really good thing for him. He trained on Monday and Tuesday after playing two Test matches back-to-back, he was just really professional and full of energy, scored a great try for them and for us today.”

Townsend wouldn’t be drawn on the likelihood of exiled playmaker Finn Russell returning to face France, but it continues to look unlikely.

“We’ll see,” was all the coach would say on that issue.

Centre Chris Harris failed a Head Injury Assessment midway through the second half, but there are no other fresh injury concerns. Townsend sounded hopeful rather than confident about winger Darcy Graham getting over his knee injury.

“We’ll see how he goes next week but he might not be available for France.”