Wallabies hold on to edge Italy

Updated November 25, 2012 08:43:25

A spirited and expansive Italy piled the pressure back on Wallabies coach Robbie Deans even though Australia limped away with a victory against the Azzurri in Florence on Sunday morning (AEDT).

Australia prevailed 22-19 to avoid a first loss to Italy despite being kept scoreless in the second half by the world number 11-ranked side.

Italy trailed 22-6 at half-time and looked outclassed after a 19th minute try to Nick Cummins on the right edge earned the hard-running winger and the Wallabies only the second five-pointer of the European tour.

But they fought back immediately after the break with a try to flanker Robert Barbieri after Wallabies lock Sitaleki Timani spilled a pass deep in Australia's half.

Replacement prop Michele Rizzo kicked the loose ball and Barbieri dived on it to score with five-eighth Luciano Orquera converting to edge closer at 22-13.

Orquera then kicked two penalties over the next 12 minutes to continue Italy's comeback and momentum, possession and territory were with the home side.

But the diminutive playmaker's only missed kick attempt came in the final minute of the match as his 40-metre penalty shot to tie the match up passed the right-hand upright.

Deans was disappointed by his side's poor execution in the second half where their handling let them down badly.

"It's frustrating that we are creating chances but we're not finishing them," the Wallabies coach said.

"It was a very good start by the lads. We didn't quite get the return we were hoping for. It was very stop-start in the second half and Italy brought a lot of pressure to bare. They played well."

Deans denies Australia simply switched off in the second half.

"I don't think that was a big part of it. You can't fault the physical effort of our blokes. Clearly we weren't accurate," he said

Italy, who are eight places below Australia in the world rankings, came into the match having never beaten the Wallabies in 14 attempts going back to 1983.

But they had plenty of chances to snatch the game late at Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Orquera, who scored 14 points, produced a lovely chip kick for captain Sergio Parisse but the No.8 couldn't control the ball to miss a golden opportunity.

"Luciano's chip kick was perfect and the ball was on my hands and in the end I lost it. It's disappointing because it was a nice chance to score," Parisse said.

The hosts did a great job to stay in the contest after number seven Barbieri was given a yellow card about 10 minutes from half-time.

Australia's defence was stoic in the second half but they put themselves under plenty of pressure with poor kicking, handling and option taking.

There were several injuries from the torrid contest with Italian winger Mirco Bergamasco dislocating his knee while Australian half-back Brett Sheehan was forced off the ground in the 31st minute with an ankle injury.

Sheehan's condition will become clearer on Sunday but Deans said the signs were promising that the Western Force number nine had not suffered a serious injury.

Prop Benn Robinson took a knock in the first half and had to be replaced but is said to be fine too.

The Wallabies were reduced to 14 men for the final two minutes after winger Digby Ioane, who replaced Cummins in the 72nd minute, was yellow-carded for taking out a man in the air after catching a Beale chip-kick.

AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, italy, australia

First posted November 25, 2012 08:32:43

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England beat Scotland, France down Italy in Six Nations

Updated February 05, 2012 08:42:52

England made a winning start under new acting coach Stuart Lancaster defeating Scotland 13-6, while France eased to a 30-12 win over Italy in its Six Nations opener.

England's first victory at Murrayfield since 2004 saw a side featuring three debutants and a new captain in Chris Robshaw score the only try of the match when recalled fly-half Charlie Hodgson charged down rival stand-off Dan Parks's attempted clearance kick early in the second half.

Owen Farrell, the 20-year-old Saracens centre, kicked the remainder of England's points on his Test debut, with both of Scotland's scores coming courtesy of two first half Parks penalties.

Scotland threatened from deep and had their chances but a side coached by former England flanker and boss Andy Robinson were undone by a series of handling errors.

"To get your first win away on the road is special, especially with a lot of new players," Robshaw, winning just his second cap, told the BBC.

"I can't speak highly enough of all the guys, it was a great team effort and a very proud day," the Harlequins flanker added.

Meanwhile Hodgson, one of five players from English Premiership champions Saracens in the England side, said: "One of the things we work on at Saracens is putting pressure on kickers and I got lucky with the try."

This was Scotland's fourth successive Test without a try and Robinson said: "It's very frustrating. We created some great opportunities and it's just that last pass. The game is about small margins and you have to be able to execute under pressure."

Scotland led 6-3 at half-time but within seconds of the restart, England caught Scotland cold with a try from Hodgson, making his first Test start for four years in the absence of retired England great Jonny Wilkinson and the unfit Toby Flood.

Farrell kicked the tricky conversion from out on the left between the posts and England were 10-6 in front.

Hodgson's try was the first by either side in a Murrayfield Calcutta Cup clash since 2004.

Scotland's best chance to retake the lead came when replacement Greig Laidlaw, chipped over the top of the England defence in the 63rd minute was involved in a race for the touchdown with visiting scrum-half Ben Youngs.

But Welsh replay official Nigel Whitehouse, after several minutes' study, denied Scotland a try to the audible disappointment of a capacity crowd.

With six minutes remaining Farrell, son of assistant coach Andy, converted an easy penalty leaving Scotland needing to score a converted try just to draw level - a task that proved beyond them.

The defence-driven pragmatism that saw France reach the World Cup final resurfaced in their opening Six Nations victory over Italy on Saturday.

Led magnificently by captain Thierry Dusautoir and indefatigable No 8 Louis Picamoles, France offered up stout defence without ever straying offside, content to play the waiting game as the Italians slowly unravelled.

When the Italians infringed, the unerring boot of Dimitri Yachvili was on call to keep the scoreboard ticking along for the home side.

Tries were also scored by Aurelien Rougerie, Julien Malzieu, Vincent Clerc and impressive debutant Wesley Fofana, as Italy failed to convert their early domination of territory and possession into points.

"It's a first victory. You have to have a smile," said coach Philippe Saint-Andre, who was installed after Marc Lievremont was stripped of the job following the World Cup, where the French lost 8-7 to New Zealand in the final.

"As a coach, you seek perfection but today you saw a great defence, a good discipline and we even scored four tries.

AFP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, united-kingdom, france

First posted February 05, 2012 07:21:13

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