Saturday,
February 24, 2007
Rugby: Italy
Stuns Scotland
in Historic Manner 37-17
I
never thought of Italy and Rugby. Yes, rugby is a cousin to Soccer, and Soccer
is Italy's
passion, but I have not
seen that much Italian interest.
But Italy
ROCKED the Rugby world with it's victory over Scotland, AND did it in such a
historic manner.
Italy scored 3 times in the
first seven minutes!!!!!!
The
Scots, and English press were unusual in their gracious attitude toward Italy, were
suitably impressed, and made No excuses.
The
Scotland Courier describes the Italian Team, PRIOR to the Italian Victory:
Italy made it extremely awkward
for everyone they played against in the Six Nations last year and theyre
on the verge of doing something special.
Everyone is aware
of how powerful their scrummaging is and they are
improving the quality of their attacking play all the time. Italys
forwards remain their outstanding strength and their abrasive style has been
unsettling for opponents.
In the scrummage they are particularly formidable,their
lineout is sound, have a good centre partnership in Mirko Bergamasco,
possibly the best player in his position in last years championship, and
Gonzalo Canale. However, Italys fatal weakness lies
inside them.
Italy still have
a real problem at half-back. That Italy
had to rely on veteran Allesando Troncon
for the match against England
was an admission that Italy
still have a real problem at half-back.
The latest
incumbent at stand-off is Andrea Scanavacca, but he doesnt look like the
answer.
In addition, Italy have
problems on both sides of the crucial kicking game; they dont have the
reliable placekicker which is essential in modern
international rugby, and they give away far too many penalty chances to teams
that do.
Rugby: Italy stun Scotland
New Zealand Herald
Sunday February 25, 2007
By Alan Lorimer
Italy 37 Scotland 17
EDINBURGH - Italy made an historic breakthrough by achieving
their first away win in the Six Nations championship after defeating Scotland 37-17
in an amazing game...
In a bizarre
match Scotland were 21
points down after only seven minutes after Italy ruthlessly cashed in on a
series of Scots blunders.Thereafter the Scots were
hopelessly chasing the game
Halfback
Alessandro Troncon rounded off the Italian scoring
with their fourth try late on and told the BBC: "It's the result of our
hard work. "We were focussed
and we played well and today I think is the start of a new era for us.
Scotland tried desperately to get
back on terms but were three times thwarted by determined Italian defence... Scotland
continued to try everything to break down the Italian defence
but It was to little avail.
A historic win
for Italy and a decidedly
disastrous day for Scotland
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/
4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10425686
Scots
rocked by Italy
trouncing
IC
Wales
Saturday 24th February 2007
SCOTLAND were
tonight reeling from a 37-17 defeat by Italy in the RBS 6 Nations
Championship which wing Sean Lamont described as gutting.
Italys
first away win since entering the competition in 2000 was achieved on the back
of tries from Mauro Bergamasco, Andrea Scanavacca and
Kaine Robertson in the first six minutes.
The home side handed Pierre Berbiziers
side an astonishing 21-0 lead, and although Scotland hit back with tries from
Rob Dewey and captain Chris Paterson, another Italian
try from Alessandro Troncon ensured the home side
ended empty-handed and resoundingly beaten.
Lamont told BBC Radio Scotland: Its beyond
comprehension. Its gutting. We gave them too much
of a start with three interceptions in the first five minutes. That killed us.
It was a nightmare start. That is unacceptable really
and we couldnt recover....
Scotland
head coach Frank Hadden... offered no excuses, and
added: We were absolutely shellshocked in the
changing room".....
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0500rugbyunion/
0200news/tm_headline=scots-rocked-by-italy-
trouncing&method=full&objectid=18671187
&siteid=50082-name_page.html
Italy's show on the road at
last
Saturday 24th
February 2007
It
has taken 33 matches and some heart-breaking close failures, but Italy finally have
claimed an away win in the Six Nations, beating Scotland
37-17 in Edinburgh
on Saturday.
Scotland
presented their visitors with a 21-point head start within the first seven
minutes!
But after nearly forty minutes of rock-like defence
as the Azzurri fought off the Scottish comeback, the
Italians dominated the final ten minutes to make the game safe.
Rome, the Eternal City,
is history. There is history at every turn. The whole of Italy is one
great miracle of history. But today Italy
made history in Scotland.
Hadrian built a wall to keep the Picts out, for the
Romans had no stomach to invade Caledonia
stern and wild. Today Marco Bortolami went where
Hadrian did not go. He went to the heart of Scotland and made history. For the
first time Italy
won a Six nations match abroad and won it well.
Afterwards exhausted and exhilarated Ale ssandro Troncon, heaving for breath, announced that this was
"the start of anew era for Italian rugby".
What a day, what a victory - and what a muzzle for those who have been
preaching Italy
out of the Six Nations.
Three tries in six minutes! It must be a unique situation in the annals
of the International Championship however many nations were playing. Murrayfield was stunned.
Scotland
got lots of referee assistance. They had eight penalties before Italy had one,
10-4 in the first half, 20-10 in the match as a whole.
Just as Italy had started so brilliantly, so they finished the stronger of the
two as they throttled the life out of Scotland keeping them pinned in their own
territory till the match was lost and won.
Imagine the overflowing of joy at this most famous victory.
Moment of the Match: Of course, those three
tries in six minutes. But there was a touching moment at a break in play after
60 minutes when Chris Cusiter stood there looking
downhearted and bewildered and Alessandro Troncon
gave him a comforting pat on the head. Cheering up was not possible but it was
a decent moment.
Can
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