Six Nations: Fabio Ongaro ready to bow out but not before final effort

The 34-year-old, who has 80 caps and the memory of a crucial try against Scotland in a victory in Rome, was drafted into the team yesterday after Leonardo Ghiraldini failed to shake off a foot injury.

Ongaro said: “It has been a magnificent adventure and I will always have marvellous memories of all the moments I have worn the blue jersey. It wasn’t an easy decision to retire, but I am convinced that I’m doing the right thing at the right time. I’ve played in ten Six Nations tournaments, three World Cup competitions and I’ve certainly played more international games than I would have expected on the day of my Italy debut. I have experienced great moments and some not so good, but I am happy now about every moment I’ve had wearing this jersey.”

There is great excitement in the Italian capital ahead of this game, the close-run match with England [lost 19-15] in the first match in the Stadio Olimpico seeming to have set the stage for a finale that most Italian supporters, and media, believe the Italians are favourites to win.

This is their first season under new French coach Jacques Brunel and, like Scotland, they have been in every game for long spells, but skipper Sergio Parisse believes the lineout will be a key battleground, one that if dominated by Scotland could lead to an away win.

“Scotland have a great lineout, they have agile jumpers and they’re very mobile,” said the Stade Francais back row. “Our lineout wasn’t very good against Wales, so we’ve worked hard on it to find options that will allow us to keep our ball. Defensively we’ll try to put them under pressure but the main thing is to hold onto our ball. Throughout the Six Nations our lineout defence has been quite good but on our ball we’ve not performed very well and that will be the key.”

Pressure will fall on Ongaro, who has been suspect at times in the set-piece, but the aggressive front row has been a notable thorn in Scottish sides in the past. Parisse said: “It’s a special moment for him but also for us because as well as a team-mate he’s a friend and he’s given a lot to this team. He’s a vital player, and he’s one of the best hookers in Europe in my opinion.

“It will be a big loss but I’m confident Fabio will give his maximum until physically he can’t any more, and then Tommaso D’Apice will come on.”

He added: “The reality is that both Scotland and ourselves have played good matches in this Six Nations. We’ve both been close to getting good results but at the end we find ourselves in this last match playing [to avoid] last place.

“It’s not disappointing to play them for last place. It’s a match like all the others, and even more exciting because it’s at home and we have a responsibility to play well in front of our fans.

“Against England we were very bitter, so tomorrow we have the possibility to play Scotland, who are a great team, even if no-one says so.

“They have shown in this tournament that they can play great rugby and put others in trouble. They were very unlucky against England and deserved to beat them.

“For all the players and staff it is important to win. For us it is even more important because we will feel the pressure of playing in front of our home crowd.”

PAST ENCOUNTERS

Six Nations Championship results since Italy joined in 2000

2000 Italy 34 Scotland 20

2001 Scotland 23 Italy 19

2002 Italy 12 Scotland 29

2003 Scotland 33 Italy 25

2004 Italy 20 Scotland 14

2005 Scotland 18 Italy 10

2006 Italy 10 Scotland 13

2007 Scotland 17 Italy 37

2008 Italy 23 Scotland 20

2009 Scotland 26 Italy 6

2010 Italy 16 Scotland 12

2011 Scotland 21 Italy 8