Woeful Wobblies steal a win

Woeful Wobblies steal a win

8 Nov 2008

Nick Mallett’s Italians were eight minutes from a glorious upset in Rome, only to be denied by a final five minutes Wallabies flurry in losing 30-20.

The Italians led 14-11 and then 17-14 before having a chance to take a 23-20 lead in the last 10 minutes. The penalty missed and with it went the momentum as Australia battled back to score 10 points in five minutes to open their Eurpoean tour with victory.

The Wallabies were ordinary and on this performance they will lose more than they win in the remaining month in Europe.

Mallett, who has given Italy a competitive edge, will be disheartened that his team imploded when victory was theirs for the taking.

Scorers
Italy - try: Bergamasco. pens: Marcato 2, Orquera 2. D/G: Marcato.
Australia - tries: Turner, Cooper. conv: Giteau. Pens: Mortlock. Giteau 5.


10 Comments

  • 1.RedBull : Reply to this comment
    8 Nov 2008, 19:04 pm

    wobbling Dragons!

  • 2.RedBull : Reply to this comment
    8 Nov 2008, 19:07 pm

    at 20 all I thought the Itallians had a real chance – switched back to Wales vs champs then something happended – the convicts had to cheat they were worse than pathetic, am I right?

    come on we are tlking about a 3rd tier team not the 6N champs.

  • 3.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    8 Nov 2008, 19:13 pm

    # 2. Take it easy on the Wallabies gents. They had no domestic competition to go to after tri nations. Good team, not match fit!

  • 4.Limerick-Bok: Reply to this comment
    8 Nov 2008, 19:30 pm

    Are you enjoying the galavant Keo?

  • 5.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    8 Nov 2008, 20:58 pm

    Hmm what is Deans doing??
    Was he living off a great team in Canterbury and now is finding it a bit harder?

  • 6.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    8 Nov 2008, 21:27 pm

    It was a weakened Wallabies team.

  • 7.Old Griquas 14 in Sydney: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2008, 05:23 am

    I agree that match left more questions than answers, and the question over Deans’ impact on the team is an expected one. However, I suppose we have to give some allowance to the fact that the side included 8 changes to the ABs game the week before. Quade Cooper and Ben Alexander needed to be tested in test match rugby and O”Connor deserved a try somewhere in the tour itinerary. The Berrick Barnes injury had an effect, but we can’t forget the power of the Azzurri forwards. The Italians played a tough, hard, no nonsense brand of rugby and must feel disappointed at falling just short. Full credit to them!! Wallas still have a long way to go, in my view. One tactic I have to question is the ineffectual repeated up and under from Ashley-Cooper when bringing the ball back in counter-attack. It seems to be a decision made by Deans, as he does it each and every time. It stiffles attractive counter play and nine times out of ten just hands the ball to the opposition.

  • 8.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2008, 10:47 am

    #5 Hurricane:

    He is masterfully working his way out of his current contract

  • 9.rex: Reply to this comment
    9 Nov 2008, 21:07 pm

    #8.

    And Mallett may be working his way into a Bok contract. If he can do this with the Italians, imagine what he could do with the current crop of Bok players. IF PDV continues to do weird things, you never know…..Depends on how much Mallett wants to be back in Cape Town.

  • 10.Manlybok: Reply to this comment
    10 Nov 2008, 02:09 am

    Agreed, the reason the Wallabbies struggled is that Nic Mallet is the smartest coach Soth Africa has ever seen, and Deans met his match.

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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