Mallett gets first win

Mallett gets first win

15 Mar 2008

Italy achieved their first win under coach Nick Mallett when they beat Scotland 23-20 in Rome.

It took a drop-kick from fullback Andrea Marcato in the 79th minute to secure the win, but Italy thoroughly deserved their victory. Mallett’s men still did not avoid receiving the wooden spoon, but their performances throughout the 6 Nations campaign have been heartening – with Wales the only team to give them a hiding.

The two bottom-placed teams were greeted with a perfect Rome day, and they replied by giving the packed Stadio Flamini crowd an extremely entertaining game. Both teams only scored two tries, but their willingness and intent was extremely admirable with only finishing costing the respective teams on occasions.

Italy dominated the scrums throughout, and were rewarded with a penalty try in the 15th minute when the Scots deliberately collapsed the set-piece. But the Scots found some parity and scored 17 unanswered points late in the half to go into the break 17-10 up.

The Italian comeback was sparked by captain and eighthman Sergio Parisse’s intercept when Scotland were about to score at the other end. Parisse ran 40 metres and offloaded to centre Gonzalo Canale who scored under the poles.

Marcato’s boot was solid all day, and when his forwards set up the opportunity for the final drop, there was never any doubt. The win was greeted with rapturous cheers from the home crowd, while the emotion Parisse showed clearly indicated the meaning of the win for the Italians.

Italy – tries: penalty try (1), Gonzalo Canale (1); conversions: Andrea Marcato (2); Penalties: Marcato (2); drop kicks: Marcato (1).

Scotland – Tries: Allister Hogg (1), Mike Blair (1), Conversions: Chris Paterson (2), penalties: Paterson (2).

By Grant Ball

 


32 Comments

  • 1.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 15:02 pm

    Marco my friend they have nothing under their kilts. Nothing! Beating England is like beatingt the Rednecks. Oh sorry Bulls.

  • 2.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 15:19 pm

    Now that’s a scrum that would make Hayman look again. Don’t you love hearing a Brit referee calling for young virile men to keep it up?

  • 3.ruck: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 15:19 pm

    Italy to win this.

  • 4.oxfordshark: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 15:26 pm

    Scots score a TRY,did not think they knew what one was!!

  • 5.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 15:27 pm

    What a crock of merde. Knock on you opium pushing slave trader!

  • 6.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 15:31 pm

    Scotland playing with false confidence. All the want of a Polynesian, Pakeha, or Melanesian but without the talent.

    Speaking of lack of talent. What about the referee and the commentators?

  • 7.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 15:42 pm

    Even I know that Giovani is pronounced Joe Vani no Geo Vani!

  • 8.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 15:43 pm

    10 B 10

  • 9.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 15:45 pm

    Love the eleven for Idali.

  • 10.chch: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:18 pm

    Scots by 9 please

  • 11.rugbymal: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:19 pm

    The Cruelsaders could beat both these teams…and England…on the same weekend

  • 12.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:22 pm

    17 b 17
    Idali!

  • 13.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:23 pm

    Rugby Mal only if they used three teams.

  • 14.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:24 pm

    Ides of March?
    Go Brutus!

  • 15.rugbymal: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:26 pm

    Aidoc, who’s your team?

  • 16.ruck: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:28 pm

    GO THE ITALIANS….

  • 17.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:30 pm

    I have three. Hong Kong, Tapei, and the PR China. We beat Canada last year (PRC). The PRC has more players than the southern hemisphere. It is the preferred sport of the PLA because it encourages manliness and leadership. We have leadership (well more than the Republicans) but little under our kilts so far.

  • 18.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:32 pm

    Ruck I have never heard you make sense before. You sound positively turgid for my brothers, Marco and son.

  • 19.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:33 pm

    Suddenly Owen remembers the rules?:

    IDALI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 20.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:34 pm

    Now he forgets them. Jock dives over and it is a knock on?

  • 21.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:35 pm

    Owen has the morals of Barnes and Morrison the worst cheating referees of all time!!

  • 22.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:41 pm

    Marco go man. How many Kiwis in the Scots team?

  • 23.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:42 pm

    Cannoli!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 24.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:43 pm

    FG

  • 25.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:44 pm

    23 b 20 30 seconds left!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 26.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:44 pm

    Hao Bang!!!!

  • 27.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 16:45 pm

    How good would the Italians be if they had a good coach?

  • 28.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 17:51 pm

    Nou HIER is n coach, Nick Mallet……net wat die Blou Bulle nodig het.

  • 29.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 17:54 pm

    ruck
    Well called!
    Jy het dit reg.
    (Terloops, hierdie ou met die ‘A’ naam en die dokter agterna is ook n sielkundige, hier naby my.
    Maar so mal soos n hoender, steur jou nie aan hom nie.)

  • 30.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 17:56 pm

    Aidoc
    You talking to yourself here?
    You sound like Marty Groeder all over, may he rest in peace, the psycho………..

  • 31.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    15 Mar 2008, 19:04 pm

    Just imagine how good the Italians could be if they had a good coach, like the coach of Japan!

  • 32.whatever: Reply to this comment
    16 Mar 2008, 11:33 am

    AiDoc, have you met Skopskiet? Let me introduce you………you guys could have lank fun together at the asylum in your white straight jackets!!

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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