The opener: Sergio Parisse
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Italy secured a four-try 27-10 win over the USA at Trafalgar Park on Tuesday in a result that means Pool C will go right down to the wire on Sunday.
The five-point success sees the Azzurri go level on points with the Wallabies - who play Russia on Saturday - and just three behind Ireland.
It wasn't pretty from the Italians but they will not be losing sleep over that as it was a case of mission accomplished before they go down to Dunedin.
Captain and number eight Sergio Parisse opened the scoring after being handed a lovely offload from lock Cornelius van Zyl while further scores from Luciano Orquera, Martin Castrogiovanni and a penalty try saw them pick up a maximum haul.
The Eagles looked to have been offering stiff competition when Chris Wyles claimed ten points via a try, conversion and penalty inside the first half-hour, but the power of Italy eventually told as the States ended the 2011 Rugby World Cup with a solitary win.
On the back of Parisse's slick score, Tommaso Benvenuti almost got over on the right wing but failed to hang on after good defensive scrambling. And it was then the turn of the Eagles, who levelled after good initial line-breaking work from Paul Emerick seeing Wyles go in for a converted score.
Bergamasco and Wyles traded penalties in the next 10 minutes for the teams to remain locked together. But Orquera sliced through from close range for a 15-10 lead in the 30th minute after some adept mauling and pick-and-go work from his forwards.
Castrogiovanni was held up over the line not long before the break, but the bearded prop wasn't to be denied on the stroke of half-time. He ensured Italy's sustained pressure on the Eagles' line was rewarded by powering over to give his team a ten-point (20-10) half-time lead.
Italy couldn't make their considerable possession and territory advantage count as time slipped away after the break and the pressure mounted for the all-important fourth try.
America's blindside flanker Louis Stanfill was sin-binned for one scrummaging infringement too many, and still the Eagles held firm.
It couldn't last. One scrum too many went down, and referee George Clancy ran under the posts to signal the penalty try in the 66th minute that relieved the tension in Italy's camp.
Man of the match: USA centre Paul Emerick was impressive every time he touched the ball while Sergio Parisse was his usual destructive self. However, for his scrummaging and try-scoring effort we go with Martin Castrogiovanni. His clash with Cian Healy should be epic.
Moment of the match: Italy needed that bonus-point try and when it came on 66 minutes - via a penalty try - one could see the relief all around. Job done, mission accomplished.
Villain of the match: Another clean game at World Cup 2011.
The scorers:
For Italy:
Tries: Parisse, Orquera, Castrogiovanni, Penalty
Con: Bergamasco 2
Pen: Bergamasco
For USA:
Tries: Wyles
Con: Wyles
Pen: Wyles
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Cornelius van Zyl, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Edoardo Gori, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Giulio Toniolatti.
USA: 15 Chris Wyles, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Andrew Suniula, 11 James Paterson, 10 Roland Suniula, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Nic Johnson, 7 Todd Clever (c), 6 Louis Stanfill, 5 Hayden Smith, 4 John van der Giessen, 3 Matekitonga Moeakiola, 2 Chris Biller, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements: 16 Phil Thiel, 17 Shawn Pittman, 18 Scott LaValla, 19 Pat Danahy, 20 Tim Usasz, 21 Nese Malifa, 22 Blaine Scully.
Referee: George Clancy (IRE)
Comments
juntyman says...
Whats all this hype about players missing etc Pocock v Wallace at 7, Moore v Flannery at 2, Lets remember that Flannery is not the #1 hooker for Ireland Rory Best is and he showed exactly why against the Aussies. Ireland dominated the scrum the lineout and for most of the match prevented the Aussie backs from making any ground at all. Lets also remember that several of the Ireland players were just back from long term injuries and were just about match fit - Bowe, Ferris, Kearney, etc. The team can only play whats in front of them, take their chances whenever they come and ensure that every tackle is made. Ireland won it , and won it well - get over it !! see you Aussies in the Final !!
Posted 13:21 28th September 2011
blametheref says...
Carpelone, do agree Pocock's special and was missed and that Aus could go on and win this, I think the AB's are looking too good at the moment but an injury to Carter and McCaw and that could all change...This WC is only starting
Posted 12:08 28th September 2011
adamk says...
Trinats, have to agree with you for once - if Aus go through the SH route I think they have a very good chance of reaching the final. The enemy you know and all that...
Posted 11:02 28th September 2011
Carpelone says...
The key player in the Australian set-up is Ioane. Without him, adaptation from defence to attack is difficult for Australia. In case of no Ioane, they should get rid of Cooper. Ireland was the better team on the day, but they had just that bit of luck which always supports the brave. It was not entertaining, but very competent and professional.
However, blametheref, you must admit that, owing to the game structure of the two teams, Pocock (one of the three best Openside flankers in business) and Moore (not as good overall, but instrumental to stabilise Oz scrum) were missed more than Ireland missed Flannery and Wallace (who was not sure to start anyway).
But this is not Ireland fault, it is the lack of depth of Oz in key roles.
Posted 08:32 28th September 2011
blametheref says...
Australia must be "rooing" the fact they left Mortlock at home. Have to say I was delighted when I saw he wasn't selected for the squad. Ireland need another quality centre, any chance we could have him?
Posted 08:29 28th September 2011
blametheref says...
@Walaroo
Pocock and Moore were missing against Ireland, well Ireland were missing Flannery and David Wallace in the same positions so that cancels that arguement out. Some Australians just didn't get it that Ireland even without Wallace had an awsome back row and a number of other players that are Europe's best.
I made a point months ago on these boards that Super 15 rugby was fine to look at but was flawed because of the mad scorelines which was down to an attitude of "we'll let you score one but we have the attacking power to get two tries back for every one you score on us". My point was that Super 15 had forgot about pressure defence and intensity in this department. With players standing off, looking for intercepts and counter attacking opportunities instead of doing the hard work etc. Fine if both teams are of that mindset.
Did some Australians miss the point that Munster beat a 2nd string Australia team during the autumn series? The fact that was missed was that Munster was a 2nd string Munster team too.
Most Australians have said fair is fair they were beaten by a better team on the day...but I cannot forget the bitter comments of two icons of the game, Horan and Kearns, two players with Irish blood in their veins, who led your nation in the most disrespectful tirade of the Australian version of the Haka, the blame game, worse, that we cheated!
Posted 08:17 28th September 2011
luvleinster says...
@ Wallaroo not denying any of what you said...still one long list of excuses though from a team who thought they had the game won before kick off.
o conner and qc are both average kickers anyway at the best of times....lest you forget though that sexton has had an awful tournament with the boot
your backrow argument fails to impress - blown off the park by a far superior outfit and your failure to mention pocock being injured?? clearly you dont understand the game as well as you like to let on
steven moore is great in the scrum no doubt however your props have regressed since our last game prior to the world cup, ours have improved. this is a battle you would have lost regardless
refering to AAC, gordon darcy should not be playing and BOD is nursing an injury to his sholder....excuses, excuses, excuses
never was there a mention of beale being injured by a anyone in the aussie camp (as far as i know mind), still he was by a mile your best player.
your team lacks leaders on the park, an outhalf who plays for the team and not himself, a pack who can boss the opposition, a scrum....all these are vital elements for winning a world cup. you will not win...my money is on SA giving you a lesson in cup rugby come the quarters
Posted 03:22 28th September 2011
luvleinster says...
@ Wallaroo
not denying any of what you said...still one long list of excuses though from a team who thought they had the game won before kick off. no mention of pocock being out?? clearly you dont understand the g
Posted 03:09 28th September 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@Chinstan, It should be obvious to you that the the USA had a better match against Ireland because it was the first game of the tournament for both teams (on the 10th anniv. of 9/11 mind you) whereas Italy had a couple under their belt before facing the Eagles. Also the Eagles would've been more fatigued at this point of the tournament than they were during their first game. Credit to Italy, they won the match against the Eagles but I think they'll find a win against and Irish team that has to make up for a poor showing at RWC '07 harder to come by.
Posted 02:56 28th September 2011
luvleinster says...
@Stevester
nah mate, you got that all wrong. australia weren't allowed play their game because ireland were the better team. but you keep making your excuses all you want......
oh, and btw
ireland 15 australia 6
Posted 23:39 27th September 2011
antmjr says...
we are not able to kick, sad but true - it will be very hard to succeed in beating Ireland, let's hope for the best obviously, but please let's not forget what Ireland were and are.
Posted 18:10 27th September 2011
chinstan says...
@5Lock4ward interesting comment seeing as Ireland beat the US by less than Italy
Posted 16:42 27th September 2011
blametheref says...
@Lorenz78
Great win for you today, USA were good bar their scrum. Castro was immense. Orquero today made a good few breaks and was nippy from what I saw being a quasi neutral. I realize Italy don't have what we have in the out half department but I think Ireland are going to have to bring their A game to beat you next Sunday. I think we have the goods to do the job but it'll be like a cup final so anything can happen...
Posted 16:22 27th September 2011
blametheref says...
@Greyprop
If you haven't seen an Irish 12 or 13 play like proper centres as I describe you must not follow the Irish game. O' Driscoll and D'Arcy fit that bill but PW doesn't. Your point about leaving everything to the selectors and coaches and that idiots like me shouldn't comment on boards like Planet Rugby's is really saying that Planet Rugby should close their comment boards down or open a forum where only true vetted professionals can comment...A bit Stalinistic of an attitude to say the least! The joy of these boards is that one can say virtually what they want about rugby, even Thatllbeme who insults everyone from pole to pole, NH and SH!
Finally, I've never claimed to be a ref on these boards, ever!
Posted 16:12 27th September 2011
Lorenz78 says...
@blametheref
"a nippy fly half who makes a lot of breaks" is Orquera? As an Italian who desperately tries to be optimistic I cannot see that. I still think Bocchino is the better of the two (not up to international standards, but no Italian fly-half is now)
Posted 14:11 27th September 2011
Danatthecorner says...
Some people on here make me laugh trying to write Italy off on the back of today. Italy knew they had USA up front and so they hammered them in the tight until they broke. At no stage of the game were they in any real danger of losing and they took 5 points off them which is more than Ireland managed.
Clancy is known for being awful at the scrum and today he was at his worst. His incompetence probably cost Italy a further 2 tries just from scrums as Castro had MacDonald whenever he wanted him. He did miss a forward pass for the 1st try but in balance he helped USA keep the score down to what it was.
And I will say now that if Cian Healy is made to stay up and bind correctly then Castro will have him in as much trouble as he had MacDonald in today. MacDonald is a good prop but he just got annihilated.
Posted 13:48 27th September 2011
greyprop says...
@blametheref
I haven't seen any Ireland player either PW or any of the others @ 12 or 13 achieving any of the of the standards you listed. Its time a lot of folk on these pages discard their blinkers and prejudices and support all the Irish panel. They have after all been selected by people who know their rugby and their players, not by armchair pundits who apparently know more than international selectors and are more knowledgable than international referees selected by their peers.
As a matter of interest btref what level do you referee at?
Posted 13:46 27th September 2011
5Lock4ward says...
@Carpelone, It's exactly like I predicted; if not for Castrogiovanni and Parisse then they're just about even. And Clever did a great deal to negate Parisse. Also the Eagles stole half of Italy's line-out ball. So really none of the terms you used were accurate. Scrumming on the international stage comes with experience and Italy probably plays twice as many games per year as the US and against better competition. Good for your team, they barely beat a 2nd tier team that they were supposed to beat. Good luck against Ireland, you'll need it.
Posted 13:08 27th September 2011
lele says...
"reado15 says...
What a woeful snorefest the second half was. Shows how crap the italians are when they have to resort to scrum after scrum after scrum to try and score a penalty try"
I was always taught to put my strong against the weak opponent ...
if I'm stronger in the scrum, i use it and force you to the foul play ...
If you do not like the scrum and how it's used by the Italians go to play rugby league!
Posted 13:03 27th September 2011
Carpelone says...
DaveJ, you should not be so worried....
Posted 13:01 27th September 2011