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Italy beats Samoa 24-6, 1st win in 17 months
Source: Agencies |
November 29, 2009, Sunday
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INSPIRED by the late withdrawal of injured captain Sergio Parisse, Italy ended a 13-match losing run by beating Samoa 24-6 in rugby yesterday.
Italy hadn't won since June 2008 against Argentina. The Azzurri had never beaten Samoa in three previous tests.
"I'm happy, it was a good win," winger Mirco Bergamasco said. "We had to win. It was something we had to do. Whether we won well, or won badly, we had to win."
Coach Nick Mallett made six changes after the 32-10 loss to South Africa last weekend, including for Parisse, regarded as the world's best No. 8. He tore right knee ligaments in training in front of the whole team on Thursday and could be out for up to four months.
Urged by Mallett to win for Parisse, Italy was determined from the outset when midfielder Gonzalo Garcia cut down opposite Seilala Mapasua. Italy's pack ruled the afternoon, and the defense gave no leeway to Samoa's vaunted backs.
"It has been a long time," Italy coach Nick Mallett said. "today, we were better than Samoa were and that was the main thing. I think our team had a good game, scoring 24 points, though it should have been 10 or 15 more.
"We kept the ball in their half, stayed disciplined and didn't do anything stupid, but we made mistakes that we won't be able to get away with in the Six Nations."
With Italy up 17-6, Samoa winger Henry Fa'afili was sent off for a high tackle on fullback Luke McLean with just over a quarter to go, but the home side struggled to launch backline attacks and could add only a penalty try in the last minutes, when referee Christophe Berdos tired of Samoa continually fringing at scrums on its tryline.
"Without a doubt, we need to work on getting our backs going," Italy captain Leonardo Ghiraldini said. "We have been concentrating hard on our defense and trying to stay organized. Maybe now we can start to look at working on our attack."
McLean scored the first try, and his first for Italy, cutting through Samoa's broken defense in the seventh minute.
Mirco Bergamasco converted and added two penalties, Craig Gower kicked a penalty, and scrumhalf Tito Tebaldi, named man of the match, slotted a second-half drop goal from just inside his half. But Italy nailed only four of seven goalkicks.
"Mirco was kicking well in training this week, so we thought it would be worth trying him today," Mallett said. "But everyone, Tito Tebaldi, Craig Gower, Luke McLean must work on their kicking to get it to international level."
Fullback Titi Esau's second penalty cut Samoa's deficit to 14-6 right on halftime, and he missed two more kicks. Samoa ended its tour without a win, after earlier losses to Wales and France.
Italy hadn't won since June 2008 against Argentina. The Azzurri had never beaten Samoa in three previous tests.
"I'm happy, it was a good win," winger Mirco Bergamasco said. "We had to win. It was something we had to do. Whether we won well, or won badly, we had to win."
Coach Nick Mallett made six changes after the 32-10 loss to South Africa last weekend, including for Parisse, regarded as the world's best No. 8. He tore right knee ligaments in training in front of the whole team on Thursday and could be out for up to four months.
Urged by Mallett to win for Parisse, Italy was determined from the outset when midfielder Gonzalo Garcia cut down opposite Seilala Mapasua. Italy's pack ruled the afternoon, and the defense gave no leeway to Samoa's vaunted backs.
"It has been a long time," Italy coach Nick Mallett said. "today, we were better than Samoa were and that was the main thing. I think our team had a good game, scoring 24 points, though it should have been 10 or 15 more.
"We kept the ball in their half, stayed disciplined and didn't do anything stupid, but we made mistakes that we won't be able to get away with in the Six Nations."
With Italy up 17-6, Samoa winger Henry Fa'afili was sent off for a high tackle on fullback Luke McLean with just over a quarter to go, but the home side struggled to launch backline attacks and could add only a penalty try in the last minutes, when referee Christophe Berdos tired of Samoa continually fringing at scrums on its tryline.
"Without a doubt, we need to work on getting our backs going," Italy captain Leonardo Ghiraldini said. "We have been concentrating hard on our defense and trying to stay organized. Maybe now we can start to look at working on our attack."
McLean scored the first try, and his first for Italy, cutting through Samoa's broken defense in the seventh minute.
Mirco Bergamasco converted and added two penalties, Craig Gower kicked a penalty, and scrumhalf Tito Tebaldi, named man of the match, slotted a second-half drop goal from just inside his half. But Italy nailed only four of seven goalkicks.
"Mirco was kicking well in training this week, so we thought it would be worth trying him today," Mallett said. "But everyone, Tito Tebaldi, Craig Gower, Luke McLean must work on their kicking to get it to international level."
Fullback Titi Esau's second penalty cut Samoa's deficit to 14-6 right on halftime, and he missed two more kicks. Samoa ended its tour without a win, after earlier losses to Wales and France.
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