Match Report

Rampant Italy Under-20s run in six tries in win over Scotland

Lorenzo Pani celebrates scoring his side’s second try with teammates 1/7/2021
Italy stormed to their first win of the 2021 Six Nations Under-20s with a stunning six-try 43-3 victory over Scotland in Cardiff.

Italy stormed to their first win of the 2021 Six Nations Under-20s with a stunning six-try 43-3 victory over Scotland in Cardiff.

Winger Flavio Vaccari raced in to cap a length of the field move after just five minutes before fullback Lorenzo Pani dotted down from Simone Gesi’s grubber.

Prop Ion Neculai bundled over to put Italy 23-3 up at the break before skipper Luca Andreani secured the bonus point and No.9 Manfredi Albanese jinked his way over in the corner.

Prop Mirco Spagnolo also crashed over the whitewash with a sole Cameron Scott penalty all Scotland had to show from their efforts in Round 3.

ITALIANS SHOW THEIR FLAIR

Scotland were caught cold when Italy made full use of an early overlap in their own 22 with two scintillating offloads out of the back door, the first from centre Tommaso Menoncello who put in a huge fend before releasing Pani.

Pani followed suit by producing a gorgeous flick to set Vaccari away and the winger raced in from inside his own half to give Italy a 5-0 lead after just five minutes, capping a wonder move that started some 90 metres down field.

Just ten minutes later winger Gesi collected a loose ball from Scottish fly-half Scott’s up and under and dashed down field.

His perfectly weighted grubber kick was scooped up by the supporting Pani who dived over the line leaving No.10 Leonardo Marin with an easy kick to give his side a 12-0 lead with less than 20 minutes on the clock.

The sides exchanged penalties before Scottish fullback Elliot Gourlay kicked out on the full to gift the Italians promising field position.

Italy won a penalty which Marin kicked to the corner and a strong maul set the platform for tighthead prop Ion Neculai to burrow over from close range a few phases later to put his side 20-3 ahead.

More good work from the Italian back row – spearheaded by skipper Luca Andreani on the blindside – gave Marin another straightforward shot at goal which he duly slotted to earn his side a 20-point cushion at half-time.

ITALY CONTINUE TO SHINE

It was more of the same after the break and neat work down the short side set Vaccari away who popped the ball off the floor for captain Andreani to crash over in the corner after 52 minutes to secure the bonus point.

Rampant Italy added another when scrum-half Albanese’s glorious show and go off the back of a rolling maul saw him dive over in the corner with Marin’s conversion going over off the post to make it 35-3.

The tries kept coming with Italy spreading the ball rapidly from right to left and prop Mirco Spagnolo’s leg drive was too much to handle for a weary Scottish defence as the score ticked on to 40-3.

Scotland’s frustration grew and despite ringing the changes, Sean Lineen was unable to muster a significant response from his side as Italy kept coming at them.

A 74th minute penalty for replacement Nicolo Teneggi took Italy 40 points clear – a margin they fully merited.

Scotland threatened to get a consolation score late on but turned the ball over on the line right at the death.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Italy scrum-half Manfredi Albanese capped a phenomenal all-round display with a great individual try.

The No.9 had the better of opposite number Murray Redpath and was the heartbeat of a super Italian team display.