With both team’s having lost their first two fixtures, the clash of Scotland and Italy at Murrayfield was already being labeled a wooden spoon decider.
Both teams were desperate to clinch a victory and show they are actually making progress.
Here’s a report on the game by BabyBlueElephant.
Italy 22 – Scotland 19
by “BabyBlue Elephant”
Italy managed to secure a rare away win on the first game of the third round of this year’s Six Nations.
Much was made in the build up to the game in Europe about Italy’s inclusion being invalid. Italy responded to produce a performance that secured them their second away win, ever, in the tournament.
Scotland on the other hand were much talked up in the after narrow defeats to Wales and France. Much anticipation stemmed from their attacking game.
Mark Bennett – immaculate interception try
First Half
Italy infringed after 18 seconds and scrumhalf Greg Laidlaw slotted the goal.
Things got worse for Italy six minutes later when Glasgow centre Mark Bennett intercepted a poor pass from Italy flyhalf Kelly Haimona, to lope in to score. Laidlaw added the extras and Scotland was ahead 10-0 just eight minutes in.
Things were going to plan for the Scots who expected a fine win. The Azzuri however, had other ideas and a minute after the restart replied with a try of their own.
From a lineout inside the Scottish 22 Italy started a deep maul so the Scots couldn’t get at them. With superb technique they drove all the way to the line, almost running sometimes, and lock Joshua Furno, who had taken the ball in the lineout, scored.
Joshua Furno – scored first try for Italy
The conversion missed and although Scotland led 10-5 it was obvious the Italians weren’t there to make up the numbers.
The game opened up, and both sides attempted fluid, running styles: contrary to their stereotype forward game plans of late. The only thing lacking from both teams was accuracy—typified by Haimona’s poor goal kicking.
The teams swapped penalties as Haimona eventually broke his duck, and at 17 minutes Scotland led 13-8.
After good work from new flyhalf Peter Horne, Laidlaw kicked another penalty.
Scotland were looking the better team but at 36 minutes Haimona’s poor goal kicking bore fruit. A penalty goal attempt deflected off the upright of the posts and fell into the hands of Italian left wing Venditti who gleefully grounded the ball at the base of the posts for another seven points for the Italians.
Scotland entered the break with a slender 16 – 15 lead.
Scotland lock Tom Swinton and friends
Second half
Much of the second half was dour, but it was dominated by the Italians. Five minutes after the break Tommaso Allan replaced Haimona, who limped off., but his goal kicking was astray also, missing a sitter right in front of the posts. Italy could have taken the lead and had missed three place kicks by this stage: mind you, one miss gained seven points..
There was one bright moment for Scotland when winger Sean Lamont put fullback Stuart Hogg through defenders on the hour mark but the pass was judged forward. The first points of the second half were when Laidlaw kicked a penalty goal to make the score 19-15 at 66 minutes.
In the last quarter of the game the Italians turned the screws lead by their mercurial skipper Sergio Parisse. A series of Scottish infringements found the Italians with a scrum five metres from the Scotland goal line.
Stuart Hogg – had a bright moment for Scotland
With only a few minutes left a try seemed inevitable, such was the Italians dominance in the scrum, but the Scots won a penalty for an collapse by the attacking team.
Murrayfield breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Horne had the chance to clear his line, but he blew the chance by missing touch by inches. The Italians kept the ball in play and ran it back with a vengeance. The Scottish defence cracked instantly and gave away a penalty. Italy kicked for touch and set up a five-metre lineout with 79 minutes on the clock.
The Italians’ brilliant forward game was evident as they bashed their way toward the line with a maul, with that man Parisse orchestrating it, but the Scots pulled it down. Mild-mannered referee George Clancy became the mouse that roared when he awarded Italy a penalty try.
Scotland heartbreak as they again failed to close out a tight game; Italian joy as they won 22-19.
Italian joy
The wrap up
Scotland were meant to win well today, but as so often ended up with nothing. The Italians bettered them in the forwards and matched their backs with an equal game of attacking intent.
Both sides were inaccurate but as the cliche goes the Italians seemed to want it more, as was obvious at the end when Italian captain Parisse was close to tears.
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The Game Changer
Scottish stand off Horne failing to kick to touch in the final few minutes of the game was criminal. It gave the Italians a chance and boy they took it.
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The G&GR MOTM
For me, Italian openside Simone Favaro was everywhere, disrupting the Scotland attack excellently through his ground work and huge hits. [/one_half]
Greg Laidlaw – big scorer for Scotland
The Details
Score & Scorers
[one_half last=”no”] Scotland 19
Try: M.Bennett (7)
Conversion: G.Laidlaw (8)
Penalties: G Laidlaw (1, 15, 26, 66)
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]Italy 22
Tries: J.Furno (9), G.Venditti (36), Penalty try (79)
Conversions: K.Haimona (37), T.Allan (80)
Penalty: K.Haimona (17)
[/one_half][one_half last=”no”]
Cards & citings
B.Toolis – Yellow Card (77)
H.Watson – Yellow Card (79)
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Crowd
62, 118
[/one_half]
The Teams
Scotland
1. A.Dickinson, 2. R.Ford, E.Murray, 4.T.Swinson, 5. J.Gray, 6. R.Harley, 7. B.Cowan, 8. J.Beattie, 9. G.Laidlaw (c), 10. P.Horne, 11. S.Lamont, 12. A.Dunbar, 13. M.Bennett, 14.T.Seymour, 15. S.Hogg.
Reserves: 16. F.Brown, 17. R.Grant, 18. G.Cross, 19. B. Toolis, 20. H.Watson, 21. S.Hidalgo-Clyne, 22. G.Tonks, 23. M.Scott.
Wales
1. M.Aguero, 2 L.Ghiraldini, 3. D.Chistolini, 4. GF Biagi, 5. J.Furno, 7 . S.Favaro, 8. S.Parisse, 9. E.Gori, 10. K.Haimono, 11. G.Venditti, 12. E.Bacchin, 13. L.Morosi, 14. M.Visentin, 15. L.McLean.
Reserves: 16. A.Manici, 17. A. de Marchi, 18. L.Cittadni, 19. M.Fuser, 20. S.Vunisa, 21. G.Palazzani, 22. T.Allan, 23. G. Bisegni.
See next page for Bardon’s report on France v. Wales
