The fight to avoid the 'Wooden Spoon' got under way in Rome with the early exchanges producing little of note. The Italians nade the first impression with a penalty on half-way but Scotland gaoned a penalty for themselves whrn the referee reversed a second decision. Although heavier by 3 or 4kg per man, the Scottish scrum came inder repeated pressure and, with the crowd behind them, the Italians began to look the more dangerous side. After 9 minutes the home side won a penalty which Bergamasco converted with ease.
Scotland continued to be more on the back foot than the front though neither side achieved much. A pretty uninspiring game saw the Italians win awarded another kickable penalty but, this time Bergamasco missed and the score stayed a 3-0 after 23 minutes. Scotland had no fluency and the Italians made too many mistakes as the game wore on; Italy threatened the Scottish line a couple of times but failed to get much closer than 5 yards out. Scottish desperation was exemplified after 34 minutes by a penalty kicked from half-way by Laidlaw but rewarded with 3 points; the Scots had done little to deserve being level. Italy continued to provide most of the forward momentum and De Luca found himself sin-binned for a silly infringement; the Scots escaped any further punishment as Bergamasco again missed his kicked and the half ended with the score all square at 3-3.
With Scotland down to 14 for the first 8 minutes, the second half saw Italy surge forward and Venditti got the try they deserved after just 3 minutes; Burton converted and Italy led 10-3. Scotland then gained a penalty on the Italian 22, but very close to the touch-line, and Laidlaw missed narrowly. After 55 minutes Scotland were again down to 14 as Hamilton was shown the yellow card for an offence in the line-out. However, this time it was Scotland who scored with a penalty taken by Laidlaw, after a line-out offence by the Italians seemingly identical to that for which Hamilton was sin-binned. Ital still held sway and continued to produce what little fluency and threat there was from either side until the Italians had Zanni binned after 65 minutes. Scotland still had trouble making real progress into the Italian half, and they failed to add to their score even with the man-advantage. Back to full strength the Italians prerssed forward again and, with 3 minutes left, Burton nailed a dropped goal and the game was almost over for the Scots; when the final whistle came, it was a deserved win, 13-6, to the home side, and Scotland had not only the wooden spoon, but also 5 straight defeats.
In Cardiff, Wales took on France, searching for a thir Grand Slam in 7 years. On a wet surface, the game started with plenty of urgency from both sides and Wales showed loads of early promise, deep in the French half. Much kicking saw France eventually move to the Welsh 22 after a penalty, and then a second penalty allowed Yachvili to put the visitors ahead. Welsh pressure against stern French defence won a penalty but Priestland hit a post from 35+ yards and the French remained ahead after 16 minutes. A Welsh turnover just inside the French half resulted in a quick move and brilliant run from Cuthbert who scored under the posts, with Halfpenny adding the conversion to put Wales ahead 7-3 after 22 minutes. France then conceded a penalty on their 22 and Halfpenny extended the Welsh lead to 10-3 after 32 minutes. More exciting Welsh play produced another penalty, but this time it was Halfpenny who hit a post, and Wales went in at half-time with a 10-3 advantage and one hand on the Grand Slam.
The second half started with immediate Welsh pressure although they'd last their captain, Warburton, to an injury. France, though, had a swift breakaway that almost led to a try but they were no doubt happy to get a penalty kicked by Beauxis. France now produced more pressure of their own and Beauxis narrowly missed a dropped goal attempt from distance. The game now had tremendous speed and energy as the sides hurled themselves at each other; a penalty for Wales just inside their own half allowed Halfpenny to score from 52 yards and Wales were again 7 points ahead at 13-6, though France were the dominant party in this half so far. Wales had more possession but the French defence was terrific and the Welsh were gradually forced back to halfway where France won a penalty; quick thinking saw them race into the Welsh 22 and only fine defensive work kept them out. Wales came back again as the game moved into the final 20 minutes and the tension mounted; play was mostly in the French half but Wales still had real problems breaking through the French defence.
A penalty and suddenly France were deep in the Welsh 22 and only desperate defence get them from scoring. After more frantic play, France had a penalty in front of the posts and Yachvili closed the gap to 4 points with just 7 minutes remaining. Now Wales came back and France were caught offside before Trin Dhuc gave away a stupid penalty for throwing the ball away; Halfpenny restored the Welsh lead to 7 points with 4 minutes left. As the roars of the crowd mounted, Wales gained another penalty that Priestland put to touch; from the lineout, Wales first lost but then regained possession and then Priestland missed his dropped goal attempt. Wales were still deep in French territory as the clock ticked down. More hard play and a last second penalty saw the ball kicked to touch and Wales had the Grand Slam.
This was a match of real skill and passion, immeasurably better than the dreary and error-strewn encounter in Rome. Wales came throgh a bruising e
No comments:
Post a Comment