Rugby: Italy Stuns Scotland in Historic Manner 37-17

I never thought of Italy and Rugby. Yes, rugby is a cousin to Soccer, and Soccer is Italy's passion, but I have not
seen that much Italian interest.

But Italy ROCKED the Rugby world with it's victory over Scotland, AND did it in such a historic manner.
Italy scored 3 times in the first seven minutes!!!!!!

The Scots, and English press were unusual in their gracious attitude toward Italy, were suitably impressed, and made No excuses.

The Scotland Courier describes the Italian Team, PRIOR to the Italian Victory:

Italy made it extremely awkward for everyone they played against in the Six Nations last year and they’re on the verge of doing something special.
Everyone is aware of how powerful their scrummaging is and they are improving the quality of their attacking play all the time. Italy’s forwards remain their outstanding strength and their abrasive style has been unsettling for opponents.
In the scrummage they are particularly formidable,their lineout is sound, have a good centre partnership in Mirko Bergamasco, possibly the best player in his position in last year’s championship, and Gonzalo Canale. However, Italy’s fatal weakness lies inside them.
Italy still have a real problem at half-back. That Italy had to rely on veteran Allesando Troncon for the match against England was an admission that Italy still have a real problem at half-back.
The latest incumbent at stand-off is Andrea Scanavacca, but he doesn’t look like the answer.
In addition, Italy have problems on both sides of the crucial kicking game; they don’t have the reliable placekicker which is essential in modern international rugby, and they give away far too many penalty chances to teams that do.
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2007/02/24/sportstory9345412t0.asp

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Rugby: Italy stun Scotland
New Zealand Herald
Sunday February 25, 2007By Alan Lorimer
Italy 37 Scotland 17
EDINBURGH - Italy made an historic breakthrough by achieving their first away win in the Six Nations championship after defeating Scotland 37-17 in an amazing game...
In a bizarre match Scotland were 21 points down after only seven minutes after Italy ruthlessly cashed in on a series of Scots blunders.Thereafter the Scots were hopelessly chasing the game
Halfback Alessandro Troncon rounded off the Italian scoring with their fourth try late on and told the BBC: "It's the result of our hard work. "We were focussed and we played well and today I think is the start of a new era for us.
Scotland tried desperately to get back on terms but were three times thwarted by determined Italian defence... Scotland continued to try everything to break down the Italian defence but It was to little avail.
A historic win for Italy and a decidedly disastrous day for Scotland
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10425686

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Scots rocked by Italy trouncing

Rugby World
IC Wales
Saturday 24th February 2007

SCOTLAND were tonight reeling from a 37-17 defeat by Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship which wing Sean Lamont described as “gutting”.
Italy’s first away win since entering the competition in 2000 was achieved on the back of tries from Mauro Bergamasco, Andrea Scanavacca and Kaine Robertson in the first six minutes.
The home side handed Pierre Berbizier’s side an astonishing 21-0 lead, and although Scotland hit back with tries from Rob Dewey and captain Chris Paterson, another Italian try from Alessandro Troncon ensured the home side ended empty-handed and resoundingly beaten.
Lamont told BBC Radio Scotland: “It’s beyond comprehension. It’s gutting. We gave them too much of a start with three interceptions in the first five minutes. That killed us.
“It was a nightmare start. That is unacceptable really and we couldn’t recover.”...
Scotland head coach Frank Hadden... offered no excuses, and added: “We were absolutely shellshocked in the changing room".....
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0500rugbyunion/0200news/tm_headline=scots-rocked-by-italy-trouncing&method=full&objectid=18671187&siteid=50082-name_page.html

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Italy's show on the road at last
Planet Ruby
Saturday 24th February 2007

It has taken 33 matches and some heart-breaking close failures, but Italy finally have claimed an away win in the Six Nations, beating Scotland 37-17 in Edinburgh on Saturday. Scotland presented their visitors with a 21-point head start within the first seven minutes! But after nearly forty minutes of rock-like defence as the Azzurri fought off the Scottish comeback, the Italians dominated the final ten minutes to make the game safe. Rome, the Eternal City, is history. There is history at every turn. The whole of Italy is one great miracle of history. But today Italy made history in Scotland. Hadrian built a wall to keep the Picts out, for the Romans had no stomach to invade Caledonia stern and wild. Today Marco Bortolami went where Hadrian did not go. He went to the heart of Scotland and made history. For the first time Italy won a Six nations match abroad and won it well. Afterwards exhausted and exhilarated Alessandro Troncon, heaving for breath, announced that this was "the start of anew era for Italian rugby". What a day, what a victory - and what a muzzle for those who have been preaching Italy out of the Six Nations. Three tries in six minutes! It must be a unique situation in the annals of the International Championship however many nations were playing. Murrayfield was stunned. Scotland got lots of referee assistance. They had eight penalties before Italy had one, 10-4 in the first half, 20-10 in the match as a whole. Just as Italy had started so brilliantly, so they finished the stronger of the two as they throttled the life out of Scotland keeping them pinned in their own territory till the match was lost and won.
Imagine the overflowing of joy at this most famous victory. Moment of the Match: Of course, those three tries in six minutes. But there was a touching moment at a break in play after 60 minutes when Chris Cusiter stood there looking downhearted and bewildered and Alessandro Troncon gave him a comforting pat on the head. Cheering up was not possible but it was a decent moment.

http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3551_1940653,00.html

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