Italy 16 - 12 Scotland: Late try signals end of the honeymoon

Published on Saturday 27 February 2010 21:04

IT WAS great while it lasted but the honeymoon is well and truly over for coach Andy Robinson after Scotland lost to a limited but wonderfully dogged Italian team in Rome yesterday. Was that win over the Wallabies really just three short months ago? Because it feels like ancient history after this performance.

&#149 Luke McLean and Martin Castrogiovanni of Italy celebrate victory

With Scotland defending a narrow three-point advantage, and never looking comfortable doing so, Italian substitute scrum-half Paolo Canavosio proved the home hero by popping up with the only try of the match with just 11 minutes left on the clock. He had only been on the field for quarter of an hour. It followed a cracking break by centre Gonzalo Canale, who cut in on the angle and Jim Hamilton may not even have noticed the centre as he flew past his nose. Canale was stopped in his tracks but offloaded to Canavosio, who wrong-footed the defence to dot down under the posts. It was fitting that the only try of the match proved decisive.

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The Scots had their chances in those final six minutes and the referee even went upstairs when Allan Jacobsen rumbled over from short-range, the second time that the prop had cause to wake the television match official from his slumbers, but the video proved inconclusive both times. An attacking five-metres scrum crabbed sideways before the ball popped out the side. Italian flanker Josh Sole snaffled it and full-back Luke McLean cleared it to the halfway line to raise the siege. Rarely has a kick to touch been met with such a roar from the crowd except, of course, the very final one of the afternoon.

With the clock fast running down, the Scots were just running, desperately trying to do to Italy what Wales had done to them two weeks ago. Where is Shane Williams when you need him? It was all to no avail. The Scots were forced to attack from far too deep and their main strike runner was watching the match from the comfort of his home back in Glasgow where Thom Evans is currently recuperating.

At the very death, Italy were awarded an eminently kickable penalty, but they were not going to risk what they had with a shot at goal and instead the ball was hoofed into the stand to signal a start to the celebrations.

There were few positives from the afternoon, but Dan Parks was probably one of them. If the fly-half operated below the heights he reached in Cardiff, he was still brutally efficient in exposing the Italians' deep field defence and he got the man of the match award for his pains. Time and again the Aussie dropped the ball in behind the right winger Andrea Masi who, time and again, had wandered out of position. It got the Scots vital field position and Parks kicked three penalties plus a drop goal, but it didn't help them find their way to the tryline.

All the old issues were back to bite Scotland on the backside. They had their chances to win this match and another one besides, but they could not finish off what they started and they will rue several missed opportunities, especially in the second quarter of the match which they dominated. Two of those chances came courtesy of John Barclay.

The flanker enjoyed one of his best games in a dark blue shirt both in attack and defence and he was at the heart of two of Scotland's best chances. Twice, Barclay took advantage of Scotland's superiority at the sidelines to carry the ball right into the shadow of the Italian posts, but on neither occasion could the Scots apply the coup de grace.

The first time Barclay combined well with Chris Cusiter before the flanker was scragged just yards shy of the Italian line. When the ball was recycled, Euan Murray picked it up and drove for the line when the outside backs were screaming for it. On the second occasion, Barclay snaffled an Italian lineout throw that had been overcooked and showed dancing feet to leave Craig Gower for dead but, once again, he was stopped short of glory. This time, Sean Lamont mistimed his run a couple of plays later and Cusiter's pass to the wing was well forward.

Another chance created by another breakaway saw Johnnie Beattie butchered when the big No 8 got the ball on the right wing after good work by Simon Danielli. He took off like Usain Bolt, picking an infield line between the last two defenders. Just as Barclay had done before him, Beattie looked around in vain for support but the cavalry was over the hill and far away. If anyone had been on his shoulder, and Lamont was closest, it would have been try time.

As Italy had done all match, when they were faced with a threat in their red zone, someone killed the ball. In this instance, the task fell to the workaholic Sole, who threw his body all over the ruck that was just five yards short of his own tryline. Although Dave Pearson wagged an ineffectual finger in his face, the referee resisted any temptation to reach for the yellow card that the flanker's cynicism obviously deserved.

But the Scots will be clutching at straws if anyone blames the referee for this loss. They were out-fought at the breakdown, they conceded a record number of turnovers in open play with scarcely anyone escaping blame and, when they did get behind the Italian defence, they refused to finish it off.

Towards the end of the match, the Italians had their tails up while the Scots, as most beaten sides do, looked out on their feet. Admittedly the spring sunshine in Rome was several worlds, and at least 15 degrees, away from the current Scottish climate. It may be cold comfort for the Scots but it was the only comfort they were offered yesterday.

Italy: L McLean; A Masi, G Canale, G Garcia (K Robertson 68 min), M Begamasco; C Gower, T Tebaldi (P Canavosio 51); S Perugini )M Aguero), L Ghiraldini, M Castrogiovanni, Q Geldenhuys, M Bortolami, J Sole, M Bergamasco, A Zanni.

Scotland: H Southwell; S Danielli (N De Luca 64), M Evans, G Morrison, S Lamont; D Parks, C Cusiter (M Blair 66); A Jacobsen (Murray 72), R Ford, E Murray (A Dickinson 68), J Hamilton (N Hines 68), A Kellock, K Brown, J Barclay, J Beattie (A Strokosch 55).

Scorers: Italy – Try: Canavosio. Conv: Mirco Bergamsco. Pen: Mirco Bergamasco (3). Scotland – Pen: Parks (3) DG: Parks

Referee: D Pearson (RFU)

MAN BY MAN: ITALY

16

TRY: Canavosio

CONVERSION: Mirco Bergamsco

PENS: Mirco Bergamasco (3)

15 LUKE McLEAN

Safe under the high ball, the Italy full-back relieved pressure with sound clearance kicking and was generally comfortable.

6

14 ANDREA MASI

Was often caught out by Dan Parks' kicks in defence and had little chance to show his talents in attack.

5

13 GONZALO CANALE

Made a great break for the try, leaving several Scots in his wake then popping the ball up for Paolo Canavosio. Also tackled well to stifle Scots midfield.

6

12 GONZALA GARCIA

Solid in defence and great steal of ball in a ruck in a first half undone by errors, crucially a forward pass as Italy laid siege to Scots after restart.

6

11 MICRO BERGAMASCO

A lively danger on the left flank unlucky when chipping over Southwell, but his goal-kicking was crucial to keeping Italy in the game.

7

10 CRAIG GOWER

After a quiet first half, the Australian stand-off came into the game in the last half-hour and his pass released Canale in the lead-up to the Italian try.

6

9 TITO TEBALDI

A hard-working but quiet performance largely concerned with defensive chores around the fringes before being replaced in second half.

5

1 SALVATORE PERUGINI

The big Bayonne prop struggled under pressure from Euan Murray in the scrum and had no real presence in open play.

5

2 LEONARDO GHIRALDINI

The Italy captain and hooker worked hard in defence, but lost four lineouts and was rarely visible going forward.

5

3 MARTIN CASTROGIOVANNI

Never gained the control he likes at scrum-time, but was still a formidable threat and strong in defence.

5

4 QUINTIN GELDENHUYS

The South African-born lock was rarely spotted about the field, but put in tackles and supplied some good lineout balls.

5

5 MARCO BORTOLAMI

Still one of the tournament's best players, the lock was strong in defence, hard to stop with ball in hand and a major presence in the lineout.

7

6 JOSH SOLE

The flanker fought hard for ball throughout and was a regular thorn in Scotland's side, slowing ball well at rucks, but lucky to escape without yellow card.

6

7 MAURO BERGAMASCO

A typically rumbustious performance in the first half, leading well but being penalised at the ruck. Faded in second half.

7

8 ALESSANDRO ZANNI

Not as impressive as against England a fortnight ago, and outshone by Beattie, but still a skilful operator in attack and defence.

7

REPLACEMENTS

16 FABIO ONGARO (for Ghiraldini 72mins) Filled in well for skipper. 4. 17 MATIAS AGUERO (for Perugini 69mins) Prop stole crucial turnover in ruck close to end. 4. 18 CARLO ANTONIO DEL FAVA (for Bortolami 69mins) Powerful presence in finale, carrying ball well and making big tackles. 5. 20 PABLO CANAVOSIO (for Tebaldi 52mins). Stole the show with great try. 7. KAINE ROBERTSON (for Garcia 69mins). 5.

SCOTLAND

12

PENS: Parks (3)

DROP GOAL: Parks

15 HUGO SOUTHWELL

Solid in defence and keen to provide the lead on his return to the side and the occasion of his 50th cap, but frustrated with turnovers.

6

14 SIMON DANIELLI

Good strong presence throughout, but the winger struggled to find any space to apply a finish and was replaced after 55 minutes.

6

13 MAX EVANS

Aggression in defence and attack, and good off-loading kept the Scots attack moving, but the Glasgow centre could not escape the Italian clutches.

6

12 GRAEME MORRISON

Was solid in defence and worked tirelessly, but found few opportunities to make ground in attack and faded as the game wore on.

5

11 SEAN LAMONT

Always hungry for the ball and to take the game to the Italians – hugely frustrated to be called back after "scoring" from quickly taken tap-penalty.

6

10 DAN PARKS

Mixed game from the stand-off: accurate kicking, greater confidence and conviction in first half than second as possession faded.

7

9 CHRIS CUSITER

Captain covered virtually every blade of grass on occasion of his 50th cap, but failed to find a spark for his side in the finishing department.

6

1 ALLAN JACOBSEN

Very unlucky to be suffer injury, in act of scoring "try" ruled out by TMO for second year in a row against Italy, after solid display on return to side.

7

2 ROSS FORD

Good battle in the set-piece, fine lineout throws and solid in defence, but the hooker made few inroads with the ball in hand.

6

3 EUAN MURRAY

Big talking point was when the tighthead was taken off for a scrum at Italians' line, which Scots then lost, but was strong presence in scrum and about field.

6

4 JIM HAMILTON

Worked well in the lineout, good in defence and powerful in first half, but faded as the game progressed and was eventually replaced.

5

5 ALASTAIR KELLOCK

Consistent in lineout, stole Italian ball, put in some big tackles and made ground with ball in hand – only blot was a ruck penalty early in second half.

7

6 KELLY BROWN

Another tireless performance from the flanker underlined his quality, with good work at the breakdown in defence and attack and an eagerness to lead.

7

7 JOHN BARCLAY

The openside flanker seemed to be everywhere in a very industrious display, tackling with conviction, stealing ball and attacking well with ball in hand.

8

8 JOHN BEATTIE

Quiet first half by his standards, but still a formidable presence all round – just getting going when he was taken off.

7

REPLACEMENTS

17 ALASDAIR DICKINSON (for Murray 69mins) Spent most time in defence. 5. 18 NATHAN HINES (for Hamilton 69mins) Couldn't lift team. 5. 19 ALASDAIR STROKOSCH (for Beattie 55mins) Powerful presence, but knocked on pass. 5. 20 MIKE BLAIR (for Cusiter 55mins) Struggled to find a spark. 5. 22 NICK DE LUCA for Danielli 64mins) Injected some life into backs. 5

DAVID FERGUSON

SCOTS' ROME RECORD

2000: Italy 34 Scotland 20

The Azzurri humbled the then reigning Five Nations champions with a ferocious display of forward firepower, marshalled well by the savvy half-back pairing of Diego Dominguez and Alessandro Troncon.

2002: Italy 12 Scotland 29

The Scots exacted sweet revenge on their second Roman incursion. Tries from Brendan Laney and Gregor Townsend set Scotland on their way.

2004: Italy 20 Scotland 14

In a season that eventually saw Scotland collect the wooden spoon for their efforts, Italy were in no mood to do them any favours as Roland de Marigny kicked the Italians to victory.

2006: Italy 10 Scotland 13

A late Chris Patterson penalty saw the Scots home in this bruising encounter to finish off their best Six Nations campaign.

2008: Italy 23 Scotland 20

Italy ended up with the wooden spoon but Andrea Marcato's last-minute drop goal consigned Scotland to their fourth defeat of the tournament.

2010: Italy 16 Scotland 12

Andy Robinson's men still seek their first Championship win this year as Pablo Canavosio's try breaks Scottish hearts.