Argentina 20 – Italy 18
by “Lee Grant”
After losing nine tests on the bounce Italy had a decent win over higher-ranked Samoa, coming from behind last week; could they win two in a row?
Against Scotland, Argentina were a shadow of the team that beat the Wallabies in Mendoza five weeks earlier. Would they get back on track or would they be as listless as they were at Murrayfield? At least starting with a lot of reserve players should freshen them up.
Expecting bad weather on Saturday in Genoa, already flood-affected, the organisers brought the kick-off time forward 22 hours to Friday 5pm local time.
Kelly Haimona – new Italy flyhalf
First half
New Azzurri flyhalf Kelly Haimona ticked the scoreboard over for Italy to lead 12-3 just before the break.
Haimona, a test rookie last week, though a seasoned player, was managing the game well also, and no. 8 Sergio Parisse, the Italian skipper, was doing everything in the stadium except selling the programmes.
Argentina couldn’t make an impression and the excellent Azzurri defence gave them just one sniff in the first half hour, but Los Pumas went off their feet on attack.
After Haimona went on an excellent run he gave a loose pass near the Argentine 22 and Pumas’ winger, LG Amorosino, kicked the ball through and recovered it in the Italy 22. For once Argentina put a few phases together and after Amrosino side-stepped Haimona he scored with a minute to go in the half.
The try was against the run of play and Italy must have been gutted when 10 JM Hernandez converted it to make the score just 12-10 for the Azzurri at half time.
There were only three scrums in the first half and they were a shambles for referee Craig Joubert—they all ended in a penalty or a free kick.
Tomas Cubelli – caught Italy napping in second half
Second half
There was a key moment when Italy got scrum ball on the Los Pumas five-metre line five minutes after the break but the Argentines spoiled delivery and counter-rucked the ball to clear it from their half.
Haimono kicked another penalty for Italy, then the visitors blew a lineout five metres out from the Italy goal line.
It looked like the Argentine comeback attempt was going to be short-lived but following another scrum penalty, near halfway—this time against Italy—the Argentine scrum-half, Tomas Cubelli, took the home team by surprise and tapped the ball and ran. The Italy defenders were not matched up and when Hernandez passed slickly to 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, he met no tacklers and scored between the posts.
With the Hernandez conversion Argentina led for the first time, 17-15, with 20 minutes remaining.
Jeronimo de la Fuente – scored between the posts
Argentina looked stronger with their bench players on but Italy lifted their game also, which meant the best rugby was played in the last quarter.
Reserve flyhalf Nicolas Sánchez kicked a penalty for Argentina with eleven minutes left – 20-15 Argentina.
Then Italy 13 Michel Campagnaro broke away to the Argentine 22 but a poor pass by Parisse stalled a try-scoring chance—however reserve flyhalf Luciano Orquera kicked a penalty goal under advantage.
There were six minutes and change remaining after the Argies restarted play, still ahead but by only 20-18.
The crowd were getting excited as Italy attacked and with 90 seconds left Oquera attempted a drop goal from 42 metres out, but it missed.
Final score: Argentina 20 – Italy 18.
Parisse was the outstanding player for Italy but they have found a keeper in flyhalf Haimano; youngster Campagnaro continued his promising play also.
Unpredictable scrummie Cubelli was influential for Argentina and was responsible for the match-winning try.
Sergio Parisse – Italy’s skipper – did everything but sell the programmes
The players
Argentina: 1. M. Ayerza, 2. M. Cortese, 3. NT Chaparro, 4. GP Pagadizavai, 5. T. Lavanini, 6. F. Isa, 7. JO Desio, 8. L. Senatore, 9. T. Cubelli (c), 10. JM Hernandez, 11 M. Montero, 12. J de la Fuente, 13. H. Agualla, 14. LG Amorisino, 15. J. Tuculet.
Reserves: 16. SI Valdez, 17. LN Paz, 18. R. Herrera, 19. L. Ponce, 20. T. Lezana, 21. M. Landajo, 22. N. Sanchez, 23. M. Moroni.
Italy: 1. M. Aguero, 2. L. Ghiraldini, 3. M. Castrogiovanni, 4. Q. Geldenhuys, 5. J. Turno, 6. A. Zanni, 7. S. Favaro, 8. S. Parisse (c), 9. E. Gori, 10. K. Haimona, 11. L. McLean, 12. L. Morisi, 13. M. Campagnaro, 14. L. Sarto, 15. A. Masi.
Reserves: 16. A. Manici, 17. A. de Marchi, 18. D. Chistolini, 19. M. Bortolami, 20. F. Minto, 21. G. Palazzani, 22. L. Orquera, 23. G. Toniolatti.
The Scoring
Argentina 20 (LG Amorisino, J de la Fuente tries, JM Hernandez 2 cons, pen; N. Sanchez pen.) def. Italy 18 (K. Haimona 5, L. Orquera pens.)
See next page for Scotland v. New Zealand
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