Italians furious with ref
Nick Mallett and his Azzuri camp are furious after being denied potentially the biggest result in their rugby history when Quade Cooper scored what they believe was an illegal try in the dying minutes of Saturday's Test against Australia in Padova.
Nick Mallett and his Azzuri camp are furious after being denied potentially the biggest result in their rugby history when Quade Cooper scored what they believe was an illegal try in the dying minutes of Saturday's Test against Australia in Padova.
So close yet so far. With the scores locked at 20-all Italy saw their dreams of victory against the Wallabies evaporate in the 72nd minute as Cooper emerged clear to score, untouched by the Azzuri defence.
Another look at the video reply will clearly show how Italian skipper and star number eight Sergio Parisse is hindered from tackling Cooper as the Aussie replacement breaks the blue-clad defence.
“At 20-20 we were in the game and I'm disappointed by what happened in the move that resulted in the second Australian try,” said Head Coach Mallett after having watched the video a number of times.
“Sergio was blocked, he was held up when he didn't have the ball. The International Rugby Board should allow the ref to have a look at the video when someone is obstructed from making a tackle when there's a try. In a match like this, you don't want to lose because of something like that.”
Full-back Andrea Masi has no doubt that the home side were robbed by a refereeing error.
“That try was tainted by an enormous obstruction by Stirling Mortlock on Sergio Parisse, who couldn't defend against Cooper,” said the versatile Biarritz back.
“That try should not have been allowed. It denied us an huge result.”
After giving their visitors a real run for their money for most of the match, the last ten minutes proved to be a cruel deception for Mallett's troops. Just a few minutes before the incident in question, Italian replacement fly-half Luciano Orquera missed a penalty that would have put the home side three points ahead.
La Squadra will now have to lift themselves as they face a Argentina in Turin on Saturday. The Pumas are undefeated in Italy since 1998.