Italy enjoyed their most memorable moment – so far – since they joined the Guinness Men’s Six Nations 26 years ago, when they struck late to beat England 23-18 and win against them for the first time after 32 defeats, a run that dates back to their pool stage meeting at the 1991 World Cup.
Menoncello (33'), Marin (71')
Tries
Freeman (25'), Roebuck (40+1')
Garbisi (34', 72')
Conversions
Smith (40+2')
Garbisi (20', 56', 60')
Penalties
Smith (44', 53')
Italy enjoyed their most memorable moment – so far – since they joined the Guinness Men’s Six Nations 26 years ago, when they struck late to beat England 23-18 and win against them for the first time after 32 defeats, a run that dates back to their pool stage meeting at the 1991 World Cup.
Leonardo Marin was their hero after he ran in a late try to complete a turnaround that looked unlikely at the hour mark. Their modern day gladiator Tommaso Menoncello scored in the first half, and Paolo Garbisi landed 13 points with his boot.
It appeared set for another day of disappointment as England led 18-10 after 56 minutes and with the Azzurri hooker Giacomo Nicotera sent to the sinbin. Two England yellows turned the tide and Italy responded in magnificent fashion.
Gonzalo Quesada’s team will now travel to Cardiff to take on Wales at the Principality Stadium knowing that another victory would equal their best Championship finish.
Here’s how ATR saw another noteworthy day in Rome…
Menoncello The Magnificent
When Toulouse come in for you, you know you’re an above average player, and Tommaso Menoncello certainly showed why.
His try in the first half was beautiful in its simplicity, a hard line at pace onto a popped pass that left Elliot Daly no chance of hauling him down. Then came his break to set up Marin for the winner, after he has raced over to help Monty Ioane out on the touchline.
The 23-year-old also made nine carries and seven tackles. It helped that he was back alongside Juan Ignacio Brex, but even when Marin came on with 30 to go and he moved to outside centre he didn’t break stride. Toulouse have spent well.
Backing The Bench
Marin’s half hour was the highlight, but there was little doubt that Quesada won the battle of the bench. Brex wasn’t likely to last a full 80 after missing the last few weeks, and Marin kept the momentum in their favour. The try was the cherry on top.
When Giacomo Nicotera was yellow carded on 51 minutes, he didn’t hesitate when it was time to go back to 15. Tommaso Di Bartolomeo came on at hooker. Fresh legs and a fresh head. Federico Ruzza came on for Andrea Zambonin with 49 minutes gone. He ensured their lineout didn’t wobble and he won the throw at the death.
Ruzza came on alongside Alessandro Fusco who kept England pinned back with his precise kicking and kept the pressure off Paolo Garbisi. Even Tommaso Allan’s late introduction for fullback Lorenzi Pani made sense in case his boot was needed, not to mention his canny ability to score against England.
Contrast that to England, who hesitated when they had the match in their hands. No backrow nor outside backs introduced until the last 10 minutes, when the match was gone.
Turning The Tables
With 27 minutes left, the match was England’s to win. Fin Smith had just knocked over a penalty to stretch their lead to 18-10, and Nicotera was in the bin. Italy were firing passes over heads, sending passes behind bodies and England were winning the kicking battle with Tom Roebuck and Cadan Murley playing well.
Two minutes later Sam Underhill sat down next to Nicotera in the sinbin, Paolo Garbisi landed two penalties to close the gap to two points, then England captain Maro Itoje’s yellow meant Italy were up against 13 players.
With Itoje gone, Italy grabbed hold of the match. They exploited gaps, controlled the wings, controlled the set pieces and loose play. Then came the try. Up to that point Paolo Garbisi hadn’t had his finest performance, but what his crosskick to Ioane showed was that he was relaxed and playing his natural game.
Ollie Chessum and Tommy Freeman nearly nicked it at the end, but as against Scotland, Italy’s defence scrambled and it was a victory for the team who kept their heads.
Fulltime Fiesta
When the final whistle went there was something curiously low-key about Italy’s celebrations. Yes, there were tears and a hug between Lorenzo and Niccolo Cannone that would have been felt up and down the peninsula but compared to the reaction when they ended their losing run in the Championship to Wales in 2022, there was a distinct lack of wailing, rolling on the pitch, and exultations to the heavens.
Add in Michele Lamaro’s reaction on tv and radio when he emphasised that Wales will be very hard to beat next Saturday, and you suspect that the Azzurri won’t quite be painting the town red, white and green. They have had a few ceremonies in Italy this year, and they won’t be thinking about another until business at the Principality Stadium is over.
Lamaro won’t have let celebrations get out of hand, nor will Quesada. All roads lead to Cardiff, and with a team as confident as Italy, you know that their party will wait.
