 A barnstorming run from No.8 Wycliff Palu to create a Stirling Mortlock try 10 minutes from full-time has helped the Wallabies to a hard-earned 25-18 win over a stubborn Italy XV in Rome.
Australia scored three tries to nil in the physical encounter, but six penalty goals to Italian flyhalf Ramiro Pez kept the Azzurri in contention after an upset looked on the cards when the home team led 15-13 at half-time.
Some nice work from Larkham in the 29th minute put Mat Rogers in for a try before prop Guy Shepherdson scored an opportunist five-pointer when Italy's lineout spilled the ball near its own line early in the second half.
Mortlock's try 10 minutes from the end sealed the seven-point win for Australia but it wasn't the scoreline everyone expected after the Wallabies headed into the match expected to easily account for Italy.
The tourists made a number of errors on simple plays to put themselves under unnecessary pressure while the overworked whistle of the referee gave both teams plenty of penalty goal opportunities.
The penalty count finished at 8-6 in Italy's favour after being 8-3 deep into the second half which was tailor made for Italy's game plan as the Azzurri attack never really looked like threatening the Wallabies line for a try at any time in the match.
But with Pez slotting them from all over the field, Italy were able to stay in the match.
"Unfortunately tonight we were a little bit off our game," said Mortlock after the win.
"We only played for about 20 minutes at our top level and still came away with the win so we were a bit fortunate today.
"We will certainly have to review hard before our next match against Ireland but a Test -match win is a Test-match win and we will take it."
Australia got away to a horrible start when hooker Brendan Cannon was given a spell in the sin-bin in just the second minute after punching in the line out.
Pez missed the penalty attempt but was on target with his next three to hand Italy a 9-0 lead after 14 minutes.
Mortlock pulled back three points for the tourists after an Italian infringement in the scrum in the 21st minute before Pez restored the nine point lead with another penalty two minutes later.
Australia closed the gap when Rogers scored the opening try of the match 11 minutes out from half-time.
Larkham took on the Italian defence, attracting three players with a nice step before dishing off to Rogers who strolled into the gap and over for the try adjacent to the posts. Mortlock converted to bring the score back to 12-10.
Mortlock kicked another to hand Australia the lead for the first time in the match in the 34th minute before the magic left boot of Pez, kicking from out near the touch line and looking into the sun saw Italy surprisingly ahead 15-13 at the end of the first half.
A kicking duel gave Australia good territory early in the second stanza. And when the Italian line out spilled the ball just 10 metres out from their own line, young Brumbies prop Shepherdson got the lucky bounce on the run and was able to barge his way over for a try. Mortlock's conversion put the Wallabies out to a 20-15 lead.
The Australians looked a better unit in the second half and always threatened to bust the tiring Italians apart for the match winning try. But ill-discipline saw Pez bring the score back to 20-18 with a penalty in the 57th minute.
It wasn't until the 70th minute that the Australians could take breath when Palu crash and bashed his way up the middle on a 30-metre run and dished off to Mortlock who dragged two defenders across the line in scoring his try.
The skipper's conversion bounced off the right-hand upright to give Italy a slim chance at snaring a draw through a late converted try.
But even with Lote Tuqiri sinbinned two minutes from full-time for a professional foul, the home team was unable to penetrate the Australian defence as the Wallabies held out to register their first win on tour.
The experimental Wallabies backline will be grateful for putting together a patchy, but at times, strong showing in both attack and defence but coach John Connolly will have some major concerns over the Australian scrum which was too easily broken at times by Italy's pack. Sportal
Wallabies 25
Tries: Rogers, Shepherdson, Mortlock
Conversions: Mortlock 2
Penalties: Mortlock 2
Italy 18
Penalties: Pez 6 In Italian: Italia, impresa sfiorataGli azzurri al Flaminio cedono 25-18 all'Australia vicecampione del mondo. Tutte le segnature di Pez, che però ha sbagliato due facili piazzati. Sabato prossimo la sfida con l'Argentina. ROMA, 11 novembre 2006 - L’Italia ci ha creduto fino alla fine. Aggrappata ai calci di Pez e ad una mischia chiusa avanzante, nonostante i 30 kg in meno ha coltivato per 80’ il sogno di battere per la prima volta l’Australia vicecampione del mondo. Di fronte ai 25mila dell Flaminio è finita 18-25 (p.t. 15-13) e Berbizier può essere soddisfatto per i segnali di crescita degli azzurri, soprattutto nei raggruppamenti e in mischia, mentre il gioco dei trequarti ancora latita. I Wallabies hanno confermato di essere una squadra in cantiere, Giteau come mediano di mischia è un esperimento che per ora non convince, mentre Larkham, schierato centro ha dimostrato di essere più utile all’apertura. A fare la differenza la touche, controllata dagli australiani, e l’incapacità dei trequarti azzurri di trovare spazi contro una difesa ben attrezzata. Anche l’Italia ha difeso bene, ma ha pagato gli errori su Mortlock al 28’ del p.t., lasciato libero dai nostri centri di creare un buco nel mezzo del campo sfruttato da Rogers, e quello sul gigantesco Palu, che al 30’ ha perforato la difesa azzurra (sbagliato il placcaggio di Peens) servendo Mortlock con un magnifico sottomano per la meta che fatto svanire le speranze dell’Italia, ancora sul 18-20. Nonostante i 18 punti, Pez non è stato del tutto convincente, sia per aver sbagliato due piazzati facili e due drop che si potevano evitare, sia per un errore nella ricerca della touche in attacco nel momento chiave del match, quando l’Italia stava producendo il massimo sforzo alla ricerca di un risultato storico. Sabato prossimo sempre al Flaminio gli azzurri affronteranno l’Argentina, che a Twickenham ha battuto con lo stesso punteggio, 18-25, l’Inghilterra. Gazzetta |
