Scrum of the Earth /

Sergio Parisse: Si, si, si I fancy Spagetti Al Forno too

Italy 23-20 Scotland

Italy: Tries: Penalty G Canale Cons: A Marcato (2) Pens: A Marcato (2) Drops: A Marcato
Scotland: Tries: A Hogg M Blair Cons: C Paterson (2) Pens: C Paterson D Parks

It may not have been the championship or the aversion of the wooden spoon, but from the rapturous reception that celebrated Andrea Marcato’s match-winning drop-goal you could’ve been forgiven for thinking different.

The full-back’s last minute boot secured a teary Nick Mallett’s first Italian triumph since taking the reigns in 2008 while prop Salvatore Perugini decided the best way to display his emotion would be to strip down to his pants.

The draw would’ve probably been a fair result to a fiercely contested yet error strewn tussle, but no one could doubt Italy’s commitment and endeavour in this year’s tournament as if there was an award for biggest effort, then the Azzurri would have won themselves a first trophy by some distance.

Had it not been for Dan Parks wild and wayward skills with ball in hand then Scotland would’ve had the match wrapped up by 60 minutes, but the one-trick kicking pony may as well have been wearing white given the clinical distribution of the fly-half that assisted both of Italy’s tries.

Parks fizzed a hazy miss-pass into midfield that led to the penalty try after first some tidy work from Kaine Robertson and enforcing power from the Italian scrum.

Allister Hogg got on the end of a stunning string of passes to double Scotland’s tournament try tally and when Mike Blair skipped through a gaping hole in Italy’s tiring defence on the stroke of half-time, the tartan-army found themselves seven points ahead at the break.

But with Scotland in control and seemingly on the brink of recording back-to-back wins, Parks again showed Scotland’s fragility in attack as Sergio Parisse galloped onto his second interception. The Italian No.8 powered his way into Scottish territory and with Chris Paterson desperately trying to close him down, Parisse intelligently passed infield for Gonzalo Canale to gather and run in under the posts.

Paterson and Marcato traded penalties and with time running out the shaggy haired replacement prop Carlos Nieto burst up the middle leaving Italy deep in the Scotland twenty-two and Marcato the simplest of chances for his crowning moment as Italy’s most improved player.

The sobering thought is, Italy still finished bottom of the table and cursed wooden spoonists, not that Mallett or his squad will care because they have progressed since their awful September in France.