Italy will surely finish bottom of this year's Six Nations after a 26-6 defeat to Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday, and questions must surely be asked at FIR headquarters over the continued tenure of Nick Mallett as Head Coach.
Once again the Italians looked restricted by their game-plan and were full of unforced errors as well as forced ones. They still lack a game-breaker though; Sergio Parisse may be able to do it all from number eight, even landing a drop goal in this match, but he can't win matches on his own.
That is something you can't blame Mallett for. When the FIR chiefs do get together and review their team's performance, they might also do well to review how many journeymen are playing their trade in Italy's Super 10 at the moment. Italy's inclusion into the Magners League must be on a self-imposed proviso that none but Italians and maybe one or two real global stars are allowed in the teams. Italy may be suffering from an uncomfortable marriage with Mallett's methods, but the non-emergence of the needed quality for so long is not the coach's fault at all.
This could be a catapult to better things for Scotland. Yes, we've heard that before, but there was more than just fighting spirit about this victory, there was a cutting edge, glimmers of inspiration through the dour belligerence of recent years' triumphs. But there's still an absent ruthlessness.
Simon Danielli scored one of the tries of the tournament so far in the first half and helped to set up Scott Gray for a decisive score midway through the second period.
But for long periods the home side laboured horribly against the Azzurri, who have won just two of their last thirteen matches -- one of those last year in Rome against Hadden's men.
The three wins enjoyed during the heady days of Hadden's debut campaign in the Six Nations of 2006 seemed a distant memory, Scotland managing only fleeting moments of impressive rugby against Italy.
They will have to raise their performance if they are to trouble Ireland's potent mixture of youth and experience when the sides meet in Edinburgh in a fortnight's time.
Scotland were forced into an early change when stand-off Phil Godman went off with a facial injury, to be replaced in a blood-bin substitution by Chris Paterson.
It was another piece of misfortune against Italy for the Edinburgh playmaker, who was at fault for the first of these opponents' three tries in six minutes when the sides last met at Murrayfield two years ago.
Paterson -- who scored all Scotland's points in their last win over Italy at the 2007 World Cup -- was immediately into the action, slotting a penalty seconds after he entered the fray in the sixth minute to put his country 3-0 ahead.
Italy, who replaced Garcia with Andrea Bacchetti as Scotland carried out their reshuffle, conceded another penalty six minutes later -- and Paterson made no mistake to double his side's lead before making way fo Godman.
The return of their playmaker did nothing to improve Scotland's play as they continued to labour, a woeful interception pass thrown by Hugo Southwell to Italy flanker Alessandro Zanni summing up their dismal initial efforts.
Unlike in 2007, Scotland managed to scramble back to stop the try. But Italy did get on the board from the subsequent recycled ball when number eight Sergio Parisse emulated great All Black back-rower Zinzan Brooke by landing a drop goal in the 22nd minute.
Godman failed with a simple penalty attempt but did move his side 9-3 ahead with a straightforward kick just after the half-hour.
Scotland were still by no means playing fluent rugby but were at least enjoying a greater amount of possession and territory -- and they turned that improved field position into a try of rare ingenuity and class four minutes from the break.
Mike Blair and John Barclay fed Graeme Morrison in midfield, and the Glasgow centre popped the ball inside for Danielli to hit the line at pace.
The Ulster winger scorched past Matteo Pratichetti and sauntered round under the posts for one of the tries of the tournament -- and Danielli's first for his country since 2004.
Godman converted to stretch his side's lead to 16-3 -- and with Marcato missing a long-range penalty attempt just before the break, Scotland went to half-time with a significant advantage which probably flattered them.
Less than 10 minutes had elapsed in the second period when both sides coincidentally decided to change their full-backs, Paterson coming on permanently for Hugo Southwell and Marcato replaced by Giulio Rubini.
Hadden also brought on Dougie Hall at hooker in place of Ross Ford and Chris Cusiter for captain Mike Blair.
Italy were the next to score, stand-off Luke McLean slotting a simple penalty in the 55th minute to bring his side to within a converted try and a penalty of the hosts.
However, Hadden's latest replacement did have the desired impact when Gray touched down in the 63rd minute after more good work from Danielli.
The former Bath and Borders star cut in from the left and fed fellow winger Thom Evans, who showed a welcome piece of composure to find Gray when he was stopped short of the line to allow the Zimbabwe-born flanker to dive over for his first try for Scotland.
Paterson converted to put Scotland out of sight at 23-6 and ask further questions of Italy's stamina in Test matches.
Scotland made most of the running in the latter stages, and only a fumble on the line denied Cusiter a try -- after a wonderful burst from replacement prop Alasdair Dickinson -- in the last notable piece of action.
The scorers:
For Scotland:
Tries: Danielli, Gray
Cons: Godman, Paterson
Pens: Paterson 2, Godman 2
For Italy:
Pen: McLean
Drop goal: Parisse
Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell, 14 Simon Danielli, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair, (captain), 8 Simon Taylor, 7 John Barclay, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Jason White, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Kelly Brown, 19 Scott Gray, 20 Chris Cusiter, 21 Chris Paterson, 22 Nick De Luca.
Italy: 15 Andrea Marcato, 14 Mirco Bergamasco, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Matteo Pratichetti, 10 Luke McLean, 9 Paul Griffen, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Santiago Dellape, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Franco Sbaraglini, 17 Carlos Nieto, 18 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 19 Josh Sole, 20 Pablo Canovosio, 21 Andrea Bacchetti, 22 Giulio Rubini.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch-judges: George Clancy (Ireland) and Romain Poite (France)
No comments:
Post a Comment