Italy shock France

Italy shock France

12 Mar 2011

Italy picked up a surprise 22-21 victory over France in their Six Nations clash in Rome on Saturday.

It’s the Italians’ first victory over France in Six Nations history and only their second triumph over the latter since their first meeting in 1937. Wing Micro Bergamasco played a key role in the historic win as he kicked 17 points to edge the visitors.

It was Bergamasco who opened the scoring as he slotted an early penalty before wing Vincent Clerc scored the first try of the game shortly afterwards. Bergamasco and scrumhalf Morgan Parra traded penalties for an 8-6 half-time score in France’s favour.

Parra then put France in a commanding position as scored a converted try and a penalty for a 12-point advantage. But then came Italy’s charge.

Fullback Andrea Masi crossed the whitewash while Bergamsco added the extras and his third penalty for a two-point game. Parra extended the visitors’ lead but Bergamasco punished France’s late ill-discipline by slotting two more penalties to create an intense finish as Italy led 22-21 with five minutes left. But the hosts managed to hold on for victory.


8 Comments

  • 1.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    12 Mar 2011, 18:36 pm

    Monumental Dragons

  • 2.dquinn25: Reply to this comment
    12 Mar 2011, 19:06 pm

    Amazing just brilliant im so happy for Italy, they lose so many games they should win and to see them hugging at the end of the game just makes you feel so good.

    Big Hit congragulations on tomorrows win, i think today also puts France in perspective, i always knew they were nowhere near as good as everyone thought and it was proved today, all in all the standard of the 6 nations teams is poor

  • 3.Big Hit: Reply to this comment
    12 Mar 2011, 20:34 pm

    yep good to see Italy win and I agree on the 6N this year, it’s less than vintage edition unfortunately. tomorrow will be a tough game altho Scotland seem to do better against the SH than NH teams!

  • 4.TASSIES: Reply to this comment
    12 Mar 2011, 20:41 pm

    @Big Hit(Big Hit)-3: I don’t know GH. We’ve yet to see the tri-nations in full action this year, warts and all, boet. This is all good for rugby union. Bring it on. The more competitive the better, either side of the hemisphere.

  • 5.SimiJan: Reply to this comment
    12 Mar 2011, 22:13 pm

    Well that’s earned Nick Mallet a bunga-bunga party of his very own.

  • 6.HongKongSlong: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2011, 06:47 am

    Great for the Azzuri! The French coach makes P-Divvy look logical? Sergio Parise is the best number 8 in the world and has been for a while. Hope this result gets more Italians playing rugby.

  • 7.Frost_01: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2011, 08:46 am

    What a pathetic piece of copy and paste. You would think something as eventful as Italy’s first win in ages would get a better write up!

  • 8.Dwis: Reply to this comment
    13 Mar 2011, 10:31 am

    Well I hope this can get my italian girlfriend into rugby. Taking her to newlands was a big mistake. She almost fell asleep.

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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