Italy secured their biggest ever win as they came from behind to beat France for the first time in the Six Nations in Rome on Saturday a momentous day for all Italian supporters.
Mirco Bergamasco gave Italy an early lead but a Vincent Clerc try and Morgan Parra penalty made it 8-3 to France. A second Bergamasco penalty cut the gap to 6-8, and this score stood at half-time.
The second period and Parra added his second penalty and converted his own try to make it 18-6, it was looking like Frances day as Bergamasco missed a couple of penalties but to be sure France did not look very organised. The excitement racked up as Italy hit back through an Andrea Masi try and Bergamasco’s boot, and although Parra landed a third kick, two more Bergamasco penalties saw Italy home. Giving us the final score of:
Italy 22-21 France
Scorers
Italy
Try: Masi Con: Bergamasco Pens: Bergamasco 5
France
Tries: Clerc, Parra Con: Parra Pens: Parra 3
Teams
Italy: Masi; Benvenuti, Canale, Garcia, Bergamasco; Orquera, Semenzato; Lo Cicero, Festuccia, Castrogiovanni, Dellape, Del Fava, Zanni, Barbieri, Parisse.
Replacements: Burton for Orquera (57), Perugini for Lo Cicero (47), Ghiraldini for Festuccia (47), Geldenhuys for Dellape (53), Derbyshire for Barbieri (57).
Not Used: Canavosio, McLean.
France: Medard; Huget, Rougerie, Jauzion, Clerc; Trinh-Duc, Parra; Marconnet, Servat, Mas, Pierre, Nallet, Dusautoir, Bonnaire, Chabal.
Replacements: Traille for Jauzion (70), Guirado for Servat (61), Ducalcon for Mas (40), Thion for Nallet (56), Harinordoquy for Chabal (56).
Not Used: Tomas, Poitrenaud.
Att: 28,000
Ref: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand).