02-27-2010, 11:25 AM
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#24 (permalink)
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Italy v Scotland:
Quote:
Italy scored their first Six Nations victory for two years with a hard-fought 16-12 result over Scotland at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome.
A second-half try from replacement scrum-half Pablo Canavosio proved the match-winning score in a closely fought contest with the Scots left to rue a series of missed opportunities. Two penalties apiece for Italy's Mirco Bergamasco and Scotland's Dan Parks saw the sides enter the break all-square and their kicking duel continued into the second half before the hosts struck the killer blow to notch their first Championship success since the corresponding fixture two years ago.
Both sides entered the clash without a win in this year's Championship and desperate to open their account in what many had predicted would be the Wooden Spoon decider. Italy were unchanged from the side that made England work for their victory a fortnight ago while Scotland had been stripped of the services of Chris Paterson, Thom Evans and Rory Lamont through injury with fullback Hugo Southwell, Ulster wing Simon Danielli and Glasgow's Max Evans drafted into the starting XV.
Mistakes from both sides peppered a lively opening during which Italy offered invention and brute force in equal measure. The home side broke the deadlock on ten minutes with Bergamasco putting them ahead with a penalty when Scottish pack buckled under pressure in the shadow of their own posts.
The more efficient Italian forward effort brought reward shortly after with Parks forced to scramble the ball into touch inside his own 22. From the resulting lineout John Barclay was penalised for a blatant infringement at the ruck and Bergamasco had no trouble in doubling the home side's lead. Italy continued to have the better of the opening exchanges with impressive centre Gonzalo Garcia proving a thorn in Scotland's side.
Parks' boot was used well to keep the Italians at bay and a rare lineout steal saw Barclay drive deep into the Italy 22 before centre Graeme Morrison added a bit more grunt. But they were unable to breach the home side's defence and had to settle for a penalty courtesy of Parks.
Scotland took heart from that foray but poor execution and some costly errors continued to let them down with Italy forced to live off the scraps.
A careless foot in touch from Southwell gifted Italy great field position but they failed to capitalise with an attempted chip and chase from prop Martin Castrogiovanni a symbol of their lack of ideas with the ball in hand. Scotland were not so short of ideas but still struggled for continuity and had to rely on the boot of Parks to pull them level just past the half hour.
Scotland continued to pepper the Italian defence with Barclay pouncing on a loose lineout throw before surging into the 22 but again they could not find the finishing touch with a forward pass their undoing on this occasion.
An ill-advised grubber from Tito Tebaldi handed Scotland the ball once more and Johnnie Beattie led the charge towards the Italian line but they were thwarted by flanker Josh Sole who was lucky to escape a yellow card for his desperate attempt to snuff out the danger. And Parks also failed to make Italy pay with the penalty - pushing his attempt wide of the posts.
Italy showed a willingness to give the ball some air early in the second half and when Alastair Kellock strayed off-side at a ruck Bergamasco was able to restore his side's lead with his third penalty.
Back came the Scots with Beattie and Barclay again making a big impression in the Italian defence. Max Evans was unable to unlock the Azzurri with a grubber but the visitors were soon back on the front foot with Allan Jacobsen driven over the line but he was denied by some excellent defensive work from Mirco Bergamasco and the Television Match Official. The Scottish pack were rewarded with a penalty at the following scrum and they bravely opted for another. Cusiter then looked to inject some urgency with a three kick but the Scots were repeatedly foiled by the Italians with Parks eventually slotting a simple drop goal to level the scores.
Italy rallied with a crowd-pleasing series of phases as the game continued to spark into life but they too lacked the cutting edge to put the finishing touches to a promising passage of play.
A Bergamasco kick and chase had the crowd on their feet on the hour but this time it was Scotland's turn to scramble in defence. And moments later Italy fly-half Craig Gower was penalised for going off his feet allowing Parks to put his side into the lead for the first time in the game.
But their lead was short-lived with Canale conjuring a superb break in midfield before cutting a great line into the heart of the Scotland 22. The centre was eventually hauled down but produced a superb off-load to Canavosio who darted through to score under the posts. Bergamasco slotted the easy conversion to cement his side's lead.
Parks' boot led Scotland's riposte and his forwards took them to the Italy line with Jacobsen going close but again he was denied by some desperate defence and the TMO. An injury ended the Scottish prop's game forcing a re-shuffle up front that included the return of Euan Murray who had previously been replaced. The ball was won against the head at the scrum and Italy cleared the immediate danger to the delight of the home crowd.
Gower narrowly failed with a long range penalty when handed a chance to close the game out but his miss was not as costly as it could have been with errors returning to Scotland's play as the game drew to a close. With a rare victory in sight, the Italians kept the ball tight but successive penalties offered the Scots hope of a late turnaround. However, it was a familiar story for the Scots with a lack of a cutting edge proving their downfall.
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