Italian victories are rare in the men’s six nations rugby tournament, so obviously Paolo Garbisi’s disappointment was great on Sunday February 25, when the transalpine kicker missed the winning penalty by a few centimeters against France (match draw 13-13 at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, near Lille).
Two weeks later, the joy is immense for all the Italian players at the final whistle of the match against Scotland, at the opening of the fourth day of the competition, Saturday March 9. At the end of their strength, after a final interminable action of 24 phases of play, Gonzalo Quesada’s men exulted when a final forward from a Scottish player allowed them to win 31-29, at the Olympic stadium in Rome.
“We need people to believe in us and [today] they show that they believe in us,” said Italian center Ignacio Brex, interviewed by British channel ITV, in reference to the ecstatic atmosphere in the Olympic stadium in Rome.
“I fully believe that this team can deliver performances like this, we proved it two weeks ago [against France] and we proved it again today,” continued the third row and Captain Michele Lamaro. “We are hungry, we want to take this team to the next level,” he added.
Since their integration into the tournament in 2000, the Italians have subscribed to the wooden spoon, the virtual “reward” obtained by the team which loses all its matches (thirteen spoons to their credit).
Between their success against Scotland in 2015 in Edinburgh and that against Wales in Cardiff in 2022, seven years of drought have passed. The last victory for the Italians at home dates back to March 2013, against Ireland. Another era for the XV of Clover.
Spectacular match, seven tries scored
Victorious over England on the previous day of this 2024 edition, Scotland lived up to its reputation as an offensive team on Sunday on the Roman lawn, by scoring three tries in the first act. But at the break, the gap of only six points (16-22) still gave the Italians hope. A little less after the visitors’ fourth try, concluded by scrum-half George Horne…
But this was finally canceled by the referee, after video analysis, for an obstruction by the front row Pierre Schoeman. A minute later, winger Louis Lynagh turned the tide by throwing himself into the goal to flatten a try after a low and clever kick from Garbisi. There is then only one point difference (21-22) on the scoreboard.
A good scrum half, Stephen Varney then allowed Italy to take the lead with a fake pass and a dive between two defenders. In the 72nd minute, the tension was at its peak, when Paolo Garbisi – whose winning penalty had hit the post in Lille – rushed to give his team a nine-point lead. And it happens. A decisive advantage, the last Scottish try not being enough to prevent the Italian victory. Final score 31-29, for a total of seven tries scored (three on the Italian side, four on the Scottish side).
This is the first victory for Italy’s new Argentinian coach, Gonzalo Quesada, who took charge of the Nazionale after the World Cup.
A memorable day for all Italian players, in particular for Louis Lynagh – son of Australian world champion Michael Lynagh and an Italian mother – who honored his first cap in the azure jersey.
