Azzurri rule in Rome
27 Feb 2010
Italy claimed a scrappy 16-12 Six Nations win over Scotland at Stadio Flaminio.
The visitors led 12-9 after 68 minutes, before Italy scored a rare long-range try. Centre Gonzalo Canale made the linebreak and burst into the Scottish 22 before being tackled and making a pop pass to replacement scrumhalf Pablo Canavosio, who scored under the posts.
Scotland rallied in the final 10 minutes and came desperately close to scoring when flank Kelly Brown was tackled inches short of the line.
Italy masterfully killed the clock in the dying stages of the match, taking the ball through 14 phases before being penalised at the breakdown. With time up, Scotland had one last chance to attack only to concede a penalty of their own that sparked wild celebrations in the crowd.
Italy had started the match well when wing Mirco Bergamasco slotted two simple penalties, but flyhalf Dan Parks revived Scotland with back to back kicks of his own.
Parks’ towering punts also kept Italy deep in their own half and under constant pressure, but while Scotland threatened the Italian line on several occasions, with prop Allan Jacobsen coming the closest, they couldn’t make it count.
The second half saw greater continuity from both backlines, but while Scotland had the bulk of the ball for the third quarter of the game, they couldn’t get over the line.
38 Comments
27 Feb 2010, 15:37 pm
Amandla!!
27 Feb 2010, 15:37 pm
Ok.. I am out cheers all
27 Feb 2010, 15:45 pm
What? Italy are looking like scoring a try?!?
A massive improvement. Forza Italia!!
27 Feb 2010, 17:15 pm
Azure Dragons?
27 Feb 2010, 17:19 pm
deserved win for the azzuri
27 Feb 2010, 17:19 pm
Viva Italia! They stuffed up my perfect score at SuperBru but well done.
27 Feb 2010, 17:35 pm
@AiDoc: Forza Italia
but lol @ Scotland
27 Feb 2010, 18:01 pm
Well done Italy!!!!
27 Feb 2010, 18:54 pm
Lekke Mallllllet
27 Feb 2010, 21:40 pm
great for my man Mallet!!
28 Feb 2010, 10:42 am
@Big Hit: dont laugh to hard BH, I remember Scotalnd giving your boys a smacking not to long ago
A Scotsman walks into his bedroom with a sheep on a leash, his wife sick in bed. “This is the cow I make love to when your not around” he says.
‘Ya blind fool” says his wife ” thats not a cow”
” I wasnt talking to you” replies the husband
28 Feb 2010, 10:44 am
…and what happened at Twix?
28 Feb 2010, 11:02 am
Scottish rugga at its lowest! Well done Ities.
28 Feb 2010, 11:02 am
@captain fantail: Post 11.
Come on now El Capitan, lets be fair now. That England loss was on a pitch dampened by some rodent that took a pee in the dead ball zone.
The Englander behemoths were unable to get traction.
(sad day when Biggles could not show Sir Stodders some respect).
28 Feb 2010, 11:07 am
Great day for Italy and their Mercenaries. Can only be good for them.
To all the Jocks out there. Heartfelt Commiserations.
28 Feb 2010, 11:26 am
Thankfully you guys have PDV and not Mallet at the helm.
28 Feb 2010, 11:38 am
@Aus_Rebel:
The Republic of Eye Gougers find it every difficult to accept the principle of, “The best man for the job, gets the job”.
And even when they have a good man “in the job”, they cannot help themselves in bringing about his destruction.
(the above relates to Rugby………..)
28 Feb 2010, 12:22 pm
@cane: too true, whilst the Kiwi’s prefer the keep 3 men in the job so there is no-one to blame theory.
28 Feb 2010, 12:23 pm
@cane: You guys should resurrect John Hart, maybe he could at least get to a RWC final next year.
28 Feb 2010, 12:32 pm
@Oubaas2009:
Would be nice.
But i think you should concentrate on your own team. If SA have to face NZ,France,OZ or Ireland in a semi final,get ready for an early exit i say
28 Feb 2010, 12:41 pm
@Oubaas2009:
John Hart coaching/mentoring Rugby League these days, with the Auckland Warriors. He would be in no hurry to come back to Union me thinks.
I would like to see R.League and R. Union in this part of the World, unite to form a hybrid of both games.
Then we could give the finger to the rest of the whiners in World Rugby Union. Let them go **** themselves.
8)
28 Feb 2010, 13:02 pm
@Hurricane:
Good weekend for us who dwell at the end of Terrafirma.
5 from 5. With a couple of bonus points thrown in.
After 3 rounds:
- SA Teams average a total of 6.6 points per round.
- “The Cousins” average a total of 4.75 points per round.
- NZ Teams (God Bless each and every one of them) average a total of 10.2 points per round.
The Natural Order is slowly but surely being augmented.
28 Feb 2010, 13:07 pm
@cane: LOL
Ah….
but can you stop them bulls????
28 Feb 2010, 13:17 pm
@grant10: perhaps, but when they lose to an anzac team with an anzac ref, wont this site be a barrel of laughs..
28 Feb 2010, 13:18 pm
@grant10:
They will stop themselves.
It’s a long and winding road that leads from Loftus to the outside world.
The Blue Heifers were undoubtedly the best S14 Team last year. But without a home semi or a home final………………they are corned beef. Best eaten cold, sliced thin. with chow chow.
28 Feb 2010, 13:25 pm
@poppa69: @cane: Agreed…site will be a barrell of laughs….but the team doing the business against them will have work cut out….home or away.
fact is they have players returning from injury that will improve there outfit too….
but very few teams will get through this unbeaten
and newlands awaits them too!
28 Feb 2010, 13:30 pm
@poppa69: @cane: Howzit Cane and Poppa, So far it looks like it will be a final at Loftus. Hard not to see that at this stage. Just look at the great draw Bulls have too. They have a bye this week. Which will be good for them. Gives time for Spies (who never playeds yesterday) and Stegmann to get over thier injuries.
They then face, Landers 13th March, Canes 19th March at Loftus. Think Bulls will win both those games. Then they tour. WF in Perth should win that one, Blues and Chiefs in NZ after. Those two games are their only tough games away really. Reds in Brisbane, Bulls should win that one. Then Lions, Sharks and Saders at Loftus, should win all those games. Then Stormers at Newlands that will be tough but the way the Bulls are playing they could win that one too.
So really hard not to see a Final in Pretoria. Could be wrong but Bulls have everything to play for. It is in their hands. They playing some very good rugby and never mind the leaked tries. That Tahs side was very, very good last night. Many teams going to see their butt against them. They have finally clicked and played superb last night, just that they came up against a very determined and class Bulls side.
Think Brumbies and Tahs going to get far better as the season goes and whoever are playing them on their home turf will find it very difficult to beat them. My Sharks play them on their turf and the way the Sharks are playing will lose both those games.
Anyhow that was a superb game of rugby to watch last night from both teams.
28 Feb 2010, 13:45 pm
@Puma: hey Puma, agree it was a quality match last night, and the bulls do look very formidable..
Last year the Landers beat them, so the fact Landers have a couple of weeks beforehand in SA may help again.. SA struggle to win in Brissy, let alone the Bulls, so not as clear cut as everyone thinks… also, injuries can play a big part, who replaces Steyn if he gets injured?
too many variables, IMO, to declare they will win or even have a home semi and final…
lets remember NZ teams generally get better as the season progresses too..
In my humble opinion, it is too soon to be calling any side as certainties… remember, your Sharkies last year were leading after 7 or so games, anything can happen..
did you see the T20 result NZ and Aus? both teams finished on 214, had a “super” over with NZ coming out on top… was great to watch..
28 Feb 2010, 14:01 pm
@poppa69: Howzit Poppa, Yip it may be too early to call who will host the final, but those Bulls are looking so superb. Years back they would never have come back with a deficit like that. They did last night. Everytime they got a penalty went fot touch. ( I was shouting take the bloody 3 points….hehe) They proved me wrong each time, got a try doing that, they believe in themselves and that is a huge factor. Very, very tough to beat Bulls at Loftus. The only team who will come close will be Canes. No-one else. Tahs came close but Bulls always came back at them and looked in complete control. There was no panic with them. Good to see that, that is a sign of a good team. Injuries to key players will cost but they have depth Poppa. So far it looks like a final at Loftus is on. I could be wrong as yes, the season is early days yet. Yes they did lose to Landers and Saders last year in NZ but think after that great final against the Chiefs in the S14 last year. They have huge confidence in themselves to play well home and away this year. Time will tell once they travel. As a Shark supporter I was proud of them. A really great game to watch.
Never saw that T20 Game against NZ and Oz would have loved to see NZ win Especially in a ‘super over’ must have been a thriller. Well done to your boys Poppa.
28 Feb 2010, 14:07 pm
@Puma: Im good mate, hope you are too…
must admit I was surprised the bulls kicked to touch too, very un bulls like… They definitely are looking the team to beat
to be honest about the cricket, we batted first.. we didnt really deserve to beat the Aussies, allowing them to get so close with such a big total is a concern..McCallum got 116 not out, one run short of Gales highest in T20..scored his 100 of 50 balls, some incredulous shots… hitting Tait behind the wicketkeeper for 6 runs quite a few times… amazing stuff.
28 Feb 2010, 14:13 pm
@poppa69: Not sure if the crici was on our tv. It might have been as we get all the crici everywhere. Pity I missed that would really have enjoyed to watch it. Love the cricket.
Now McCallum is a great batsman Poppa, that is a huge score (116) to get in a T20. Congrats to him. Would loved to have seen him hitting take for 6′s. Must have been a thriller. When are your odi’s and tests. Not too sure as have been watching SA in India. I know NZ was playing Oz in 2 tests I think and some odi’s. Or do I have it wrong? Not too sure.
28 Feb 2010, 14:14 pm
@Puma: take = Tait.
28 Feb 2010, 14:22 pm
@Puma: 1st one dayer is on Wednesday mate, and they do play some tests, but not sure when they are..
I still prefer the traditional one dayers and tests the most… 5 day game is the real test of someones skills..
28 Feb 2010, 14:31 pm
@poppa69: Poppa, Will check and see if it on here.
Just checked it is on. Very early but if I am up will watch it. Good luck to NZ Poppa.
Out of here now. Going out. Such a brilliant day today.
Catch up another time Poppa. Enjoy your day when it comes. I take it you working overtime again.
28 Feb 2010, 14:37 pm
@Puma: cheers Puma, nah at home, some time off…
enjoy the fantastic day there mate..
28 Feb 2010, 19:14 pm
@poppa69: @28
it was even better to watch from my sun-bathed seat at Lancaster Park. Best game/finish of live cricket Ive seen since 1992 CWC, simply incredible 440 runs in 30 hours and over the Aussies n’all. It was a privilege to be there, McCullum and C.White were simply amazing. And Southee at the death, superb.
Since landing in Godzone Ive had perfect weather, watched the Crusaders put the Sharks in turbo-reverse (literally), spent all next day at the beach with the kids getting fried, drinking sav and gorging on shellfish, and then watch the Aussies get those smirks extinguished from their smug faces.
I might just go and get me a Lotto ticket.
28 Feb 2010, 19:18 pm
Viva Italia
1 Mar 2010, 06:43 am
@Puma: Can’t argue the logic, and as much as I’d like to see the Hurricanes get ‘married’ for once it’s looking pretty much as you say.
The only favourable possibility for a Kiwi team is as Poppa says, we do warm up as the season goes and if the Bulls slip up once( as the Crusaders did with the Reds) the smell of blood maybe enough to get one over.
Still, its looking exciting!!
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