Saturday, 26 November, 2005

Italian forwards earn win

A strong effort from the Italy pack set the platform for a 23-8 victory over Fiji in Monza on Saturday. Second-half tries from hooker Fabio Ongaro and centre Mirco Bergamasco complemented 13 points from the boot of Ramiro Pez.

Fiji hit back with a try from wing Mosese Luveitasau after a clever chip through from Seremaia Bai, but the visitors were unable to cope with the power and organisation of the Italian forwards in snowy conditions.

A heavy snowfall in the morning meant that the lines had to be cleared, then painted red. And for some of the Fijians, it was their first time to see snow.

As with the Test against Wales two weeks earlier, the Fiji pack failed to gel together and were pushed back at nearly every scrum, thus making clean ball for the backs a rare commodity.

The Fiji scrum outweighed the Italians by some 60kg, so it was the technique that was lacking. Until this fundamental part of the game is addressed properly, Fiji will continue to struggle against opponents they should be looking to defeat.

And because the Fiji forwards were continuously on the backfoot, the backline had little space to work and we saw precious few passing movements.

Skipper and halfback Moses Rauluni had two cherry kicks charged down, while fly-half Nicky Little frequently chose to kick downfield instead of keep the ball in hand.

Second five-eighth Seremaia Bai had another solid game, as did fullback Norman Ligairi; while young Kameli Ratuvou on the left wing produced a couple of moments of brilliance to show why he got the nod over the more experienced Sireli Bobo.

Ratuvou also has a pretty decent tactical kick on him. And his speed saw him scoot 50 metres down the touchline to set up Fiji’s try. The Tailevu utility lost his footing in the snow a few metres from the Italian line, but Fiji scored in the corner from the resulting scrum.

Italy also ruled the line-out roost, winning all of their own throws bar one wonky one, and stealing several of Fiji’s.

The teams were locked at 3-3 at half-time with Fiji keeping their heads under sustained pressure.

Early in the second half, Sisa Koyamaibole gave away a needless penalty when Fiji had possession in their own 22. Italy kicked for touch then drove over with embarrassing ease from the line-out.

Within the next few minutes, Ramiro Pez converted two simple penalty goals for Italy to take a 16-3 lead, and Italy looked good to accelerate away.

But Fiji replied with their try on the hour, though TV match official Eric Darrière took a full three minutes before deciding that Luveitasau had grounded the ball correctly, while Bai tried to keep warm before attempting the conversion.

Bergamasco’s try in the 68^th minute finished off Fiji’s challenge. Pressure on the line led to quick ball through the backs and a grubber kick through to the line for Bergamasco as the Fijians rushed up and left a gaping hole behind them.

Overall, this was not a match that the Fijians will remember fondly. The conditions were the polar opposite to those in Nadi, where the Fijians had camped for 10 days before flying out.

This tour has given the coaches plenty to think about – two narrow losses and one narrow win. It has highlighted some serious questions in the scrum and maul, the two key areas coach Wayne Pivac now needs to concentrate on in order to allow the backline to use its abundant flair.


Saturday, 26 November 2005
Italy 23 Fiji 8
Stadio Brianteo, Monza
Half-time: 3-3
Referee: Tappe Henning (South Africa)
Touch judges: Joël Jutge (France), Daniel Jabase (Argentina)
TV match official: Eric Darrière (France)
Att: 12,000

ITALY: 15 Ezio Galon (Rima Wakarua 29), 14 Samuele Pace, 13 Mirco Bergamasco, 12 Gonzalo Canale, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Ramiro Pez, 9 Paul Griffen (Pablo Canavosio 74), 8 Sergio Parisse (yellow card 39-48), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni (Maurizio Zaffiri 62), 5 Marco Bortolami (capt), 4 Carlo Del Fava (Valerio Bernabò 72), 3 Martin Leandro Castrogiovanni, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Matias Aguero (Carlos Nieto 62).
Not used: Carlo Festuccia, Luciano Orquera.
Coach: Pierre Berbezier
Tries: Ongaro, Mirco Bergamasco; Conversions: Pez (2); Penalty goals: Pez (3).

FIJI: 15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Mosese Luveitasau, 13 Epeli Ruivadra, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Kameli Ratuvou, 10 Nicky Little (Maleli Kunavore 70), 9 Mosese Rauluni (capt) (Aporosa Vata 74), 8 Sisa Koyamaibole (Kiniviliame Salabogi 62), 7 Aca Ratuva (Mosese Volavola 74), 6 Alifereti Doviverata, 5 Kelemete Leawere (Jone Qovu 52), 4 Ifereimi Rawaqa (yellow card 39-48), 3 Apisai Nagi, 2 Sunia Koto (Viliame Gadolo 52), 1 Josese Bale (Sikeli Gavidi 77).
Coach: Wayne Pivac
Try: Luveitasau; Penalty goal: Bai.

Scoring sequence (Italy’s points shown first):
6min – PEN GOAL ITALY, Pez – 3-0
13min – PEN GOAL FIJI, Bai – 3-3
26min – PEN GOAL ITALY, Pez (missed)
39min – Yellow card FIJI, Rawaqa
39min – Yellow card ITALY, Parisse
Half-time
43min – TRY ITALY, Ongaro; conversion Pez – 10-3
49min – PEN GOAL ITALY, Pez – 13-3
52min – PEN GOAL ITALY, Pez – 16-3
61min – TRY FIJI, Luveitasau; conversion Bai (missed) – 16-8
68min – TRY ITALY, Mirco Bergamasco; conversion Paz – 23-8
Full-time

Kicking success:
Italy – Pez 5/6
Fiji – Bai – 1/2


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