| MISSED CHANCES LEAVE SCOTS RUING DEFEAT IN ROME |
| Saturday, 27 February 2010 | |
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A tense encounter at Rome's Stadio Flaminio this afternoon (27 February) saw the home side defeat the Scots 16-12. Scotland had chances, and the bulk of the possession, but failed to capitalise as the Azzurri scored the only try of the game, all Scotland's points coming from the boot of man-of-the-match, Dan Parks. Two try attempts close to the line, both involving Allan Jacobsen, came just short of the whitewash. A questionable yellow-card offence by the Italians late in the first-half, however, saw the side retain full numbers in an overall nervy meeting.
Led out by 50-cappers Chris Cusiter and Hugo Southwell, Scotland lined up to vociferous travelling support in perfect playing conditions. As the teams went all out to test each other in the opening five minutes, the first scrum led to a penalty kick for Scotland, booted long upfield by Parks and into touch. Scotland then had the lineout, as the ball was touched in flight by Italy, another long kick from Parks landing in front of the posts. Scotland holding on in the tackle led to a penalty for the home side, on the halfway line, Mclean kicking into the Scots' 22. Three minutes later Scotland were penalised in the scrum, leading to Italy's first penatly attempt at goal and straightforward shot from Mirco Bergamasco sailing between the posts to put the Azzurri ahead, 3-0. Taking the lead, Italy then took the initiative to pile pressure on the Scots and force another penalty (14mins) inside the Italian 22, successfully taken again by Mirco Bergamasco in front of the posts; 6-0. A belter by Parks midway through the half, saw the ball land well into the Italian half and lineout success for the Scots, followed up by sustained pressure 10 metres from the line featuring Barclay, Murray, Parks and Morrison. Advantage then passed to the Scots with the penalty taken successfully by Parks (21mins); 6-3. Italy then won their third turnover ball in 23 minutes to take off into Scottish territory, a move countered by Barclay who then secured turnover for Parks to make another long kick upfield. As the action swung back and forth at the halfway line, a high tackle on Danielli gave the kick to Scotland, again landing well into Italian territory. The visitors sustained pressure over the next period to take the ball within metres of the opposition line, scrabbled away by a loose Italian defence, and ultimately to another penalty chance for the Scots. Taken again by Parks, the ball whizzed between the uprights to bring the scores level, 6-6 (32mins). With the travelling support finding its voice again, another long kick to touch from Parks saw the lineout ball go long to Barclay who served quick ball to Morrison and then Cusiter, bringing the Scots to within 5m of the line until a forward pass gave advantage to the Italians. Tebaldi cleared but the ball was scooped up by Southwell who delivered wide to Danielli then Parks and Beattie. An infirngement by the opposition, a questionable yellow-card offence from Sole, gave another penalty to Scotland. The attempt from Parks went wide, however, and two minutes later the whistle sounded for half time.
Half time: 6-6 Neither side made any changes during the break and both took to the field with renewed vigour. Italy were first to add points to the board, however, when they went ahead with an early penalty (43m) taken by Mirco Bergamasco. A frantic spell led to a break from Danielli to Morrison to Beattie, and a huge drive forward by Hamilton, Murray and Kellock with Jacobsen driven to the line by the pack. The TMO ruled no try and a scrum at 5m. Given a further penalty opportunity, Scotland opted to retake the scrum. A free kick to the Scots then saw Cusiter pass to Lamont as the dark blues closed in again on the line. Parks offloaded to Morrison whose pass to Barclay took them to within 2m of the line; Parks passed to Lamont then had the ball returned to him for a successful drop goal attempt (50min) to draw level; 9-9. The Italians immediately stepped on the gas as pressure heaped onto Scots at the other end of the field; a promising advance, however, came to nothing. A double subsitution for Scotland saw Blair on for Cusiter, to assume the captaincy, and Strokosch on for Beattie (55 mins). After a chip kick ahead, a push by Danielli on McLean gave the kick to Italy where McLean found touch. With the pendulum swinging back for Italy, an already tight game drew towards a nervier last 20 minutes. Sustained attacking, led by the Bergamasco brothers, came to nothing as the ball returned upfield to Scotland's advantage. As Italy went off their feet at the tackle, Scotland won the penalty, in front of the posts though at distance for Parks. Direction and distance were spot on, however, as the number 10 put Scotland ahead 9-12 (64mins). Italy immediately responded, however, with a line break from Canale, offloading smartly to Canavosio who scored between the posts. The try was successfully converted by Mirco Bergamasco to put the home side ahead 16-12 (67mins). As Kellock was taken in the air Scotland's penalty was kicked long upfield by Dan Parks. The subsequent lineout taken well by Scotland saw Ford and Kellock push Jacobsen towards the line again though the try attempt was ruled inconclusive. Injured in the process, Jacobsen was then replaced by Murray, returning to the field barely five minutes after his replacement by Dickinson. Lack of communication between the Scots heralded another penalty for the Italians; attempted by Gower from the halfway line, the kick had the direction but not the distance. The final five minutes saw Scotland mount a frenetic charge, two penalties for them in Italian territory not enough to lead to any last-minute points as McLean kicked the ball finally into touch, the clock having ticked well into the red. Final score: 16-12
RBS 6 Nations Man of the Match: Dan Parks (Scotland)
Scotland team (sponsor Murray) against Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Stadio Flaminio, Rome, on Saturday 27 February, kick-off 1.30pm GMT
15 Hugo Southwell (Stade Francais) 14 Simon Danielli (Ulster) 10 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors) 1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) Substitutes: Murray returned for Jacobsen (77min) Italy 15 Luke McLean (Treviso) 1 Salvatore Perugini (Bayonne) Substitutes:
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