Uruguay earn respect in loss against Italy

Uruguay earned respect in today’s loss against Italy. The South Americans pushed the Europeans in an away match played in Parma. The fixture was officially that of a Tier 2 side against a Tier 1 team. It was much more than this, however, as the teams will meet at RWC 2023 in France.

The RWC 2023 fixture is scheduled to be the fifth test match between Italy and Uruguay. The Italians’ win today retains the European’s unbeaten record. However, today’s game was the closest of the four matches thus far. Italy won 49-17 in L’Aquila in 1999, 14-3 in Montevideo in 2001 and 29-5 in Montevideo in 2007.

Early play went the way of Italy. The European country scored an early try, doing so after hard-work from the forwards and finesse from the backs. A long cut-out-pass went in to the arms of Pierre Bruno who planted it down in the try zone. The 12th minute score was converted by Paolo Garbisi from a wide angle.

As it turned out the early try was the difference between the teams. The remaining 68 minutes of the match saw Italy and Uruguay scoring 10 points each. The remainder of the first half saw the goal-kickers trading penalties. Garbisi landed a shot at goal just before half time while Uruguay’s Federico Favaro had opened his country’s account in the 19th minute.

The 12th minute mark of the second half mirrored that of the first. Italy’s second, and final, try of the match was scored following advancing play from the forwards. This time Hame Faiva broke off an advancing maul to score. The New Zealander did so on what was his test debut at the age of 27.

Faiva’s happiness at scoring was reversed seven minutes later. The replacement hooker was unable to stop Mateo Sanguinetti scoring from a pick-and-go. It set up a final quarter wherein Italy held a seven point lead and were largely on the defensive.

Neither side was able to score further points. As soon as the clock reached the 80 minute mark Faiva passed to Garbisi for the fly half to kick the ball out to bring the contest to a close. The Italian players are supporters breathed a with of relief. Los Teros were the beaten team, although their performance sent a warning to Italy ahead of RWC 2023.

 

SCORING

ITALY 17
Tries – P. Bruno (12′), H. Faiva (52′)
Cons – P. Garbisi 2/2 (13′, 53′)
Pens – P. Garbisi 1/2 (39′)
YC – D. Fischetti (75′)

URUGUAY 10
Tries – M. Sanguinetti (60′)
Cons – A. Ormaechea 1/1 (61′)
Pens – F. Favaro 1/2 (18′)
YC – T. Inciarte (36′)

 

TEAMS

ITALY
1 Danilo Fischetti (17 Cherif Traorè 50′-71′), 2 Luca Bigi (16 Hame Faiva 50′), 3 Ivan Nemer (18 Pietro Ceccarelli 50′), 4 Marco Fuser (19 David Sisi 56′), 5 Federico Ruzza, 6 Sebastian Negri (20 Giovanni Licata 62′), 7 Michele Lamaro (capt.), 8 Braam Steyn, 9 Callum Braley (21 Alessandro Fusco 62′), 10 Paolo Gabrisi, 11 Monty Ioane, 12 Luca Morisi, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 14 Pierre Bruno (23 Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara 74′), 15 Edoardo Padovani

Not used: 22 Carlo Canna

URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti (18 Matías Benítez 71′), 2 Germán Kessler (16 Facundo Gattas 64′), 3 Diego Arbelo (17 Ignacio Peculo 77′), 4 Eric Dosantos, 5 Manuel Leindekar (19 Diego Magno 68′), 6 Manuel Ardao (20 Franco Lamanna 71′), 7 Santiago Civetta, 8 Manuel Diana, 9 Tomás Inciarte, 10 Felipe Etcheverry, 11 Gastón Mieres (15 Rodrigo Silva 69′), 12 Nicolás Freitas (capt.), 13 Felipe Arcos Pérez (23 Juan Manuel Alonso 73′), 14 Federico Favaro (21 Agustín Ormaechea 56′), 15 Rodrigo Silva (22 Mateo Viñals 60′)

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistants: Ludovic Cayre (France) & Tual Trainini (France)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)