Enticed by the 13-13 draw against the Blues brought back from Lille 15 days ago, the 70,000 spectators at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome were eager to witness the victory of their Azzurri against Scotland this Saturday.
And how right they were.
Dominated and trailing by six points at the break, Italy turned things around in the second half to win 31-29.
This is the first Italian success in the Six Nations Tournament, since a victory in Cardiff on March 19, 2022. And the first for Gonzalo Quesada at the head of the Squadra azzura.
The statistics were more in their direction, Scotland being the nation that Italy has beaten the most since its entry into the Tournament, with eight victories now since 2000. Except that the XV du Chardon version 2024 is not there to make up the numbers, and he seemed set to methodically crush Italy this Saturday.
After successes in Wales (27-26) and England (30-21), Scotland, only defeated by France 20-16 a month ago, could dream of a final in Dublin on March 16 , in the event of a misstep by Ireland in England this Saturday later this Saturday (5:45 p.m.).
The afternoon started on a high note at the Olympic stadium, so much so that three tries were scored in the first quarter of an hour: two in favor of the Scots against one for the Transalpines.
After a game of billiards started from their camp, the visitors flattened for the first time by their right pillar Fagerson, after multiple periods of play (3-7, 7th).
Then, Steyn, the center, doubled the lead on the right side, after Van de Merwe made the difference on the left wing (3-14, 12th).
The fans' hopes were, however, kept alive by an azzurro try, Brex flattening a ball skilfully measured by Page-Relo over the opposing defense (10-14, 15th).
#SixNationsRugby |
🇮🇹⚡🏴 𝗟𝗮 𝗿𝗲́𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻 𝘀 💥
After this try by Juan Ignacio Brex, the Transalpines reduce the gap with Scotland (10-14) in this match which started very strong!
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At the half-hour mark, the Italians suffered the blow when the Scots scored a forward try through Schoeman, their left pillar (10-22, 28th).
But thanks to two penalties, the Quesada players were still in contact with their opponents at the break (16-22).
Just after returning from the locker room, the stadium first groaned with disappointment, after the Scottish break try by Horne, rightly refused for an empty charge from Schoeman (48th).
But the arena roared with pleasure when Louis Lynagh, 23, first selection, scored for Italy, exploiting a new foot pass, this one signed by Garbisi.
Born in Treviso to an Italian mother and father, Michael Lynagh, a 1991 World Cup winner with Australia, he first represented England in the youth teams, before recently switching for Italy.
A beautiful story in short, only tempered by Garbisi's transformation stopped by the left post (21-22, 44th).
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🇮🇹⚡🏴 𝗟'𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗮 𝟭𝗲̀𝗿𝗲 𝘃 𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗶 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲 𝟭 𝟵 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 👊
In a boiling Stadio Olimpico, the Transalpines came to spoil the hopes of the Scots (31-29).
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— francetvsport (@francetvsport) March 9, 2024
Then, a heroic breakthrough from Dempsey, the Italian “8”, led to a strong transalpine moment which Varney converted into a try, giving his team the advantage (28-22, 57th).
The Scots maintained the suspense, coming back to 2 points after a strong try from Skinner two minutes from time (31-29, 78th).
After which, courageously, the Azzurri held on and maintained their victory until the end.