Poms edge brave Italy
14 Feb 2010
England were unconvincing 17-12 winners over Italy in Rome.
After England’s surprise win over Wales last week, their critics had called for a more attack-orientated game, especially from pivot Jonny Wilikinson. Similarly, Italy had been criticised for their unimaginative style, but in the opening half the Azzurri were the more positive side.
No 8 Alessandro Zanni was influential and although they didn’t manage to score tries, their endeavour resulted in two penalties from wing Mirco Bergamasco.
England were unsuccessful in their quest to cross the whitewash but their best chance came in the last move of the half, when Riki Flutey broke from his own half, but was pulled down on the opposition 22. The Italians eventually snuffed out the move, but not before Wilkinson – who had uncharacteristically earlier missed two attempts at goal – knocked over the penalty to level the scores 6-all at the break.
Finally the visitors broke the drought two minutes into the second half. Slick handling from the England backs and then No 8 Nick Easter put Mathew Tait away down the left touchline, and his pace meant he evaded the cross cover to score the only try of the match. England began to dominate and the Italians began to wilt under the pressure.
Martin Castrogiovanni was then yellow-carded for a cynical infringement on their own line, but being down a man spurred the hosts into life. This 10-minute period again highlighted England’s attacking deficiencies and poor ball retention as they only scored three points, with the Italians dominating possession and scoring three of their own.
With momentum swinging in their favour, the Italians continued their onslaught and Bergamasco narrowed the lead to just two with nine minutes remaining. The home crowd truly believe their greatest ever upset was on.
Wilkinson may have failed to ignite his side on attack – again taking the ball deep behind the advantage line – but he did silence the spectators with a trademark drop-goal to restore the cushion.
By Grant Ball
129 Comments
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14 Feb 2010, 18:10 pm
@WOLFMAN21: wouldnt that be retributive justice
14 Feb 2010, 18:13 pm
looks like Johnny landed another penalty, 5 mins.. cmon Italy.. snatch the game with a last minute try and conversion
14 Feb 2010, 18:17 pm
Baccckkk. Dammit Italy, snatch a victory.
14 Feb 2010, 18:18 pm
Bah. Defeat.
14 Feb 2010, 18:20 pm
marvellous effort Italy, shame didnt get the fairy tale ending…
14 Feb 2010, 18:22 pm
hard lines italy
14 Feb 2010, 18:28 pm
@poppa69: Funny no BH, he’s probably trying to find a kiwi post so he can knock it, those pom’s so sad having trouble getting past the Italians,I thinks MJ might be on the out if they carry on like that!!!!!!
14 Feb 2010, 18:39 pm
@Taniwha: very funny, I doubt we would have seen him for quite a while, he knows he would have copped a major shellacking… as Ive always said, the English ladies have more kahunas then their men, Carol was at least here until the last 20 when visitors arrived..
probably would have blamed the kiwis in the side, or the ref being in the Italians pocket, or it wasnt their strongest team, injuries etc etc
MJ is on shaky ground, doesnt seem to command the respect he did as a player, or simply they dont have the personnel, perhaps a byproduct of all the foreigners hindering local development in their game…
14 Feb 2010, 19:37 pm
@Taniwha: right here bud, seem to remember the ABs struggling past Italy
a win is a win, we take that and move on to the next one.
14 Feb 2010, 19:46 pm
@Big Hit: wasnt our strongest side big hit, we had injuries and for a change the ref was in the Italians pocket, hence the apology afterwards
14 Feb 2010, 20:01 pm
@poppa69:
you’d never hear me make those excuses
14 Feb 2010, 20:03 pm
@Big Hit: typing error BH. ;(
14 Feb 2010, 20:06 pm
@Big Hit:
14 Feb 2010, 20:12 pm
@poppa69: hey Pops, you watch the game. More likely to bet an unbiased view from you that BH.
14 Feb 2010, 20:17 pm
@TASSIES: Hey Tassies, was at work so I couldnt find a stream to watch it, unfortunately.
14 Feb 2010, 20:26 pm
@poppa69: you need to find a new source of income
maybe. Whats more important than the good game mate? 
14 Feb 2010, 20:30 pm
@poppa69: then again, I wasn’t exactly glued to the box either. Methinks Martin will be starting to feel the pressure now given a ‘lucky’ win against Wales(courtesy of Mr Jones’ brainfart) and now a win by a ballhair against the pizza-munchers.
14 Feb 2010, 20:33 pm
@TASSIES: cant argue with that logic, but one has to sacrifice sometimes for the overall good..
I mean, come next weekend I will be able to watch the whole round of the S14 with fresh steaks on the braai and cold beers in the fridge?
14 Feb 2010, 20:34 pm
Alien
14 Feb 2010, 20:34 pm
:Alien:
14 Feb 2010, 20:35 pm
@TASSIES: but watching Eng play would remind me of going down to my local club in NZ and watching the boys run around, what with all the kiwi park players in the side
14 Feb 2010, 20:35 pm
Ok ,that smiley is not working…
14 Feb 2010, 20:36 pm
@Blouste: perhaps without the capital A Blouste :alien:
14 Feb 2010, 20:36 pm
@poppa69: nope hahaha
14 Feb 2010, 20:38 pm
Ja.
I give up
14 Feb 2010, 20:44 pm
@TASSIES: yes, something to be said for actually learning to coach rugby before being thrown in at the deep end…
14 Feb 2010, 20:51 pm
Martin Johnson seems clueless.
Davies summed it up:Johnny Wilko is not good enough anymore
14 Feb 2010, 21:27 pm
Congratulations, England, a win is a win, no matter how dull. Poor buggers Italians though, I am struggling to imagine how they will beat Poms at last, if even these blokes with JW off key still manage to see them off. Do they really need total imploding from opposition (like Scots when they gifted 3 intercepts in the first 10 minutes) to beat dull but nevertheless professionally enough opposition?
15 Feb 2010, 01:03 am
@Big Hit:
Hmmm
I remember you were lauginh at us when we played the Italians,not funny now is it.
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