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Bergamasco: Match winning performance
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Teams
- Fiji
- Italy
Also see
- Minute-by-minute: How the Italians tamed the attacking Fijians
Italian winger Mirco Bergamasco kicked eight penalties from eight as the Azzurri beat Fiji 24-16 in Modena.
In a game that was riddled with handling errors and penalties, the power of the Italian pack in the second-half was enough to quell the attacking prowess of the Fijians in the first forty minutes.
The Fijians demonstrated great flair and power when going forward and opened the scoring in the eight minute when hooker Talemaitoga Taupati dived over after some good build up work from Napolioni Nalaga and Semisi Naevo.
The try sparked the Italians into life and Bergamasco and Fijian fly-half Seremaia Bai proceeded to trade penalties, with both sides serial penalty offenders in defence, with the players seemingly deciding that infringing was the only manner in which to halt an attack.
Nick Mallet must have been a worried man at the break having just seen prop Martin Castrogiovanni sin-binned on the stroke of half-time for continued infringements and his side trailing 9-16.
He need not have been though as the Islanders ran out of steam in the second forty minutes as the Italian pack began to stamp their authority on proceedings.
When Castrogiovanni returned from his ten minutes off the park, the Azzurri forwards stepped up a gear and with Fiji now conceding penalties at will, Bergamasco made the most of their indiscretions, with his pinpoint accuracy producing a world record-equalling performance of eight penalties from eight attempts.
Man of the match: Without a doubt Mirco Bergamasco. Italy didn't off much on attack, but Bergamasco made the most of every points scoring opportunity that was afforded to him.
Moment of the match: Italy and their players don't hold many records of a positive nature, but with Bergamasco equalling the record for the most successful attempts at goal, they certainly do now.
The scorers:
For Italy:
Pens: Bergamasco (8)
For Fiji:
Tries: Taupati
Cons: Bai
Pens: Bai (3)
Yellow cards: Castrogiovanni (Italy)
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Andrea Masi, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (C), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements:16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 Santiago Dellape, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Tommaso Benvenuti.
Fiji: 15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Vereniki Goneva , 13 Albert Vulivuli, 12 Gabriele Lovobalavu, 11 Napolioni Nalaga , 10 Seremaia Baļ, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Semisi Saukawa, 5 Jone Qovu, 4 Wame Lewaravu, 3 Deacon Manu (c), 2 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 1 Campese Ma'afu.
Replacements: 16 Viliame Veikoso, 17 Vesi Rarawa, 18 Sekonaia Kalou, 19 Jimilai Naikadawa, 20 Seveci Taka, 21 Seru Rabeni, 22 Taniela Rawaqa.
Date: Saturday, November 27
Venue: Stadio Braglia, Modena
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Christophe Berdos (France), James Jones (Wales)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
Comments
MarcoP says...
carpelone - I agree with your suggestion of a line-up, although I'd play Zanni at number 8 and Parisse on the flank.
Posted 09:32 29th November 2010
tagi26 says...
congrats to the italian team......waz like watching football.....8 kicks at goal and no tries....guess it waz the only thing they could do with the fijian defence holding them off the whole 80 minutes......so thanks to penalties u got through this one but wont be getting that many during the six nations.....wish the pacific island teams could get the quality games Italy get every year......Fiji, Samoa and Tonga would do way better
Posted 00:48 29th November 2010
carpelone says...
@ Nick Mallet.
Outcomes from november.
Front row outstanding, whoever plays. Perugini, Castrogiovanni, Cittadini and Lo Cicero are first class props, Ongaro and Festuccia better than Ghiraldini in the set piece.
Second row. Why do not you try Zanni? He was outstanding this year and last year as well, he could give extra options in the loose.
Third row. First class as well, Derbyshire is the pick of the last year. Parisse's leadership is questionable, too many wrong decisions taken (they costed Italy the game with Argentina). I do not know personally the guy, I feel that he would perform even better without the burden of the captaincy.
Half back / fly half combination. This is the weak point of Italy. What if Dan Carter were Italian? I am inclined to say that Italy would be in the first 5. Tebaldi was slow and ineffective, let's bet on Gori, who had two decent games. Orquera did well, I appreciated Bocchino's options even thought they were poorly executed.
Always difficultto judge Italian backs. They get so few balls that handling errors can happen. I would insist on Bergamasco / Masi on the wings (even though thay do not have Test Rugby pace, they do not make silly mistakes), while my choiche for the centres would go to Sgarbi/Benvenuti, although Canale did quite well. McLean was fine at full back, needs to show more personality and take more responsibility, especially in the tactical game.
Posted 23:23 27th November 2010
salvaitalia says...
Congratulations to the Italian team for this long awaited win but the post match comments made by Italian coach Nic Mallet will be remembered more than the actual result...Here's what he said when asked about the italian fans unhappiness with the autumn performances under his guidance....
"I am a great coach,i could get a coaching job anywhere in the world with any team,Italy are very lucky to have me,i've won the french championship in Paris,coached South Africa to a world record sequence of victories and in the last 4 years i've helped italy become a better team..If the italian supporters can't see the progress the team have made under me then they really do know nothing about rugby"
This was part of his post game interview on live Italian sky..
I've got one thing to say to you Nic,live in the present mate,maybe the supporters have got a point,in 31 tests you've won 5,you can put that along side your other great achievements as a coach..If you can't take the heat go sit on your couch and watch videos of the french championship win or test win sequence to remind yourself how good you are....Italy would be better without ya
Posted 23:07 27th November 2010
carpelone says...
Not an entertaing game. The crucial issues for italy is the 9-10 mix. The other are ready to win against Wales, Scotland and Ireland. After having seen the Italiam scrum today, doeas anybody still believe they are cheaters? Italy has undoubtedly one of the best three scrum in Test rugby.
Posted 22:28 27th November 2010