Scorer: Giovanbattista Venditti
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Italy claimed a gritty 13-6 victory over Scotland on Saturday in a result that handed the visitors the Six Nations Championship Wooden Spoon.
It was apparent that this was a Wooden Spoon decider as both teams shut up shop and tried not to lose more than take the game by the scruff of the neck. Possibly that is doing a disservice to Jacques Brunel's outfit though, as they did enjoy spells of territory in which players ran straight.
But the first-half only managed to produce a grand total of six points as Mirco Bergamasco and Greig Laidlaw traded a penalty apiece in the sunshine. Italy reemerged in hot form though following the turnaround and enjoyed a purple patch that led to Giovanbattista Venditti going over for five points.
That converted try on 43 minutes proved to be the match-winner as only another shot from Laidlaw and then a late Kris Burton drop-goal troubled the scorers in the remaining 37 minutes in Rome.
Scotland end the 2012 Six Nations with no wins to their name in a campaign that has left the pressure mounting on coach Andy Robinson.
The Englishman was forced to make a late change to his side when prop Allan Jacobsen failed a fitness test before kick-off, with John Welsh starting. Meanwhile, the Italians were also without a first-choice player after hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini pulled out injured.
But it was the opposing hooker, Ross Ford, who was in the spotlight during the action at the Stadio Olimpico as the Scottish line-out struggled to fire throughout. That hurt their game.
As mentioned, the first 40 minutes struggled to excite as Bergamasco and Laidlaw kicked one penalty each. But then after the break Venditti found an opening as he burst through a Stuart Hogg tackle to touch down. Burton sent over the conversion from under the posts.
Scotland did answer in the 60th minute via another kick from Laidlaw but when Burton sent over a drop-goal three minutes from time, Scotland were beaten for the fifth time in 2012.
Man of the match: Back from a rib injury, prop Martin Castrogiovanni was superb for Italy while lock Quintin Geldenhuys and number eight David Denton also put in good shifts.
Moment of the match: No prizes for guessing this one. Italy wing Giovanbattista Venditti scoring on 43 minutes to send Rome wild. A key try that proved to be the difference.
Villain of the match: If we have to then it will be the yellow card trio at Stadio Olimpico.
The scorers:
For Italy:
Try: Venditti
Con: Burton
Pen: Bergamasco
Drop: Burton
For Scotland:
Pen: Laidlaw 2
Yellow cards: Nick de Luca - 39 mins; Jim Hamilton - 56 mins; Alessandro Zanni - 66 mins
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Gonzalo Canale, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Kris Burton, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Lorenzo Cittadini, 18 Joshua Furno, 19 Simone Favaro, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Tobias Botes, 22 Giulio Toniolatti.
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Max Evans, 13 Nick de Luca, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Greig Laidlaw, 9 Mike Blair, 8 David Denton, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 John Barclay, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford (captain), 1 John Welsh.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Euan Murray, 18 Alastair Kellock, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Chris Cusiter, 21 Ruaridh Jackson, 22 Jack Cuthbert.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Pascal Gauzere (France)
TMO: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Comments
senatore_virg says...
Poor, poor game. Any of the top 16 Heineken Cup teams would easily win with both Italy and Scotland. Useless domination for Italy and yet Italy maintained the Scots in the match. Brunel will have a lot to do, but even more Robinson or whoever in his place.
Then, the only thing left is a virtual hug to Ongaro who played his last international match today. Probably not the best italian hooker ever, but a big heart and committment, so to him goes my deepest respect like every long sport pro career deserves. Good to end with a victory. Thumbs up bravo Fabio.
Posted 16:08 17th March 2012
melkdave says...
Well the arrival of S.Johnson and M.Taylor cant come quick enough for me .Alot of established scottish players i feel will have played their last games imo.
My Scotland squad for the summer would be
1)Low /Walshe
2)Ford /Lawson
3)Dickinson /Cross
4)Grey /Ryder
5)Kellock /Hamilton
6)Brown /Stochkosh
7)Rennie /Barclay
8)Denton /Veron
9)Laidlaw /Lawson
10)Jackson /Weir
11Visser /S.Lamont
12)Ansbro/ De Luca
13)Grove /Evans
14 Cuthbert /Jones
15)Hogg /R.Lamont
And some of those players just by the skin of their teeth .I do hope that A.Robinson stays though as now the new coaches like the fabled cavalry are on the horizon i do expect Scotland to start fullfilling their potential
Posted 15:47 17th March 2012
stugur says...
I think at the very least Duncan Weir has to be given a chance at 10, I thought Laidlaw might have been the answer but he doesnt seem to have the strength required, some of his tackles have been one handed slaps and his kicking out of hand isnt quite international standard, I dont think.
Line outs were the worst i've ever seen, dont know what can be done about that being as they were one of Scotlands strengths.
I hope Scott Johnson has some new ideas.
Maybe Mr Visser will save us, unless he changes his mind after that game and wants to play for Holland.
Posted 15:22 17th March 2012
pierredelot1 says...
Oh dear, what a poor game. Congratulations to Italy for at least trying, but playing with a good pack, decent centres, wing and fullback is not helped by crap No 9 and No 10. Unless Italy find players for those positions they are just not going to progress. With Scotland however it's much easier to pick out the good ones as they are so few. Grey, Hogg, Denton with occasional contributions from Barclay but really they were poor. Ford didn't deserve to be on the pitch never mind captain, Blair wasn't given protection and was still poor, Laidlaw just can't tackle, Morrison has no pace at all, DeLuca yellow card again,no need to say more. Can't knock Evans too much as by the time he got the ball there was no space left but the speed at which the backs played ball in hand was ponderous.. Hogg didn't put a foot wrong.
Then we get to the final bit, dear old Mr Rolland, my nemesis I must admit, poor inconsistent and as usual stupidly pedantic, hopefully the retirement home beckons. Throughout the first half the Italian Loose head didn't bind once, did he spot it No way. Hamilton gets sin binned to be followed by similar indiscretion from the Italians, result penalty no yellow card. he lectured and talked but hammered Scotland whilst Italy seemed to get away with murder.
If I wasRobinson I would resign through embarressment, Scotland have been poor to terrible in their last two games, whats the point in carrying on. The Scottish Rugby authorities need to take a good look at how the game is coached and played from bottom to top, because if this carries on they will not survive the six nations. Horrible to watch. if I was Scots I'd be ashamed of them, but support goes deeper than that so lets hope somebody gets hold of it and they learn and develop.
Posted 14:52 17th March 2012
stugur says...
Worst game ever
Worst scottish performance ever
Almost worst refereeing ever
Posted 14:51 17th March 2012
TVaddict says...
Sad for Scotland considering some of the great players they have, but great result for Italy. What happened to Ford today? He was the form hooker of the tournament and he's fallen apart in the last two games.
On a separate note, did anyone else find the sound quality of the match really poor?
Posted 14:45 17th March 2012
Swiwi says...
Would like to see promotion-relegation match between the wooden spoon team and the next best European side (ie Georgia) - would rate Georgia as a good chance to eke out a win v this desperate Scottish side, and that Gorgodzilla is a decent player. When I started watching rugby, Scotland had the Hasting brothers, Finlay Calder etc..
Posted 14:27 17th March 2012
melkdave says...
A error stewan game by both sides .But Italy total deserved the win Scotland where very very bad and there has to be a huge clear out of players for Scotland imo alot just dont perform .No intensity or passion today by any Scotland player
Posted 14:23 17th March 2012