Italy XV and Chile play out competitive battle in L’Aquila

Four months on from the first-ever test match between Italy and Chile, the Italy XV played host to Chile in L’Aquila. The match proved to be a competitive battle with both teams able to attack and defend well. Both teams took plenty away from what was a 33-26 Italian victory.

Los Cóndores started well. With Italy conceding a number of early penalties, Chile came away with the first points. A lineout to maul saw prop Iñaki Gurruchaga scoring. Fullback Matías Garafulic converted for a 7-0 lead.

The Italy XV responded swiftly. From an attacking scrum, the Italians gained advantage and Marco Scalabrin used it to create an opportunity which was taken with center Damiano Mazza scoring. Simone Brisighella converted to level the scores.

The 7-7 scoreline lasted until the second quarter. However, the Italy XV found themselves in trouble as N8 Giacomo Ferrari was yellow carded after his side gave away too many penalties. Chile was unable to capitalize; instead, Simone Brisighella scored five minutes from half-time to give the Italy XV a 14-7 lead.

Los Cóndores were frustrated by having been defending so well only to concede a soft try. They made up for it at the close of the half with Rodrigo Yoyo Fernández scoring in the left corner. His try went unconverted which meant the home side led 14-12 at half-time.

The Italy XV extended their lead on 44 minutes. Hooker Nicholas Gasperini scored from a lineout to maul. It was followed by a bad period for Chile as hooker Augusto Bóhme was yellow carded on 50 minutes.

Chile were next to score. Tight Head Iñaki Gurruchaga scored his second of the evening, this time scoring following pick-and-go raids from the South Americans. Garafulic converted to make it a 21-19 match late in the third quarter.

With both teams unloading replacements, it was the Italy XV had gained momentum. Replacement fly half, Giovanni Montenauri sent an accurate cross-kick for Argentine winger Fabrizio Ciardullo-Oro to score in the left corner. Fullback Mirko Belloni scored two minutes later to put the Italy XV in a commanding 33-19 lead.

The South Americans ended on a high. With the Chileans camped inside the Italian 22, phases were played out before debutant, Federico Kennedy got the ball down the left, from Garafulic, and scored in the corner.

 

SCORING

ITALY XV (33)
Try – D Mazza (14′); S Brisighella (34′); N Gasperini (44′); F Fabrizio Ciardullo-Oro (69′); M Belloni (71′)
Con – S Brisighella 3 (15′, 35′, 45′); G Montemauri (72′)
YC – G Ferrari (22′)

CHILE (26)
Try – I Gurruchaga 2 (10′, 55′); R Fernández (40′); F Kennedy (80′)
Con – M Garafulic 2 (11′, 56′); JC Reyes (80′)
YC – A Böhme (50′)

 

ITALY XV

1 Destiny Ugiagbe Aminu (Benetton)
2 Nicholas Gasperini (Benetton)
3 Marcos Francesco Gallorini (Benetton)
4 Matteo Canali  (Zebre Parma)
5 Alex Mattioli (Racing 92, FR)
6 Giulio Marini (Benetton)
7 Jacopo Botturi (Petrarca)
8 Giacomo Ferrari (Zebre Parma)
9 Lorenzo Citton (Petrarca)
10 Simone Brisighella (Valorugby Emilia)
11 Fabrizio Daniel Ciardullo-Oro  (Viadana 1970)
12 Damiano Mazza (Zebre Parma)
13 Marco Zanon (Zebre Parma)
14 Marco Scalabrin (Petrarca)
15 Mirko Belloni (Zebre Parma)

Replacements:
16 Valerio Siciliano (Brive, FR)
17 Luca Franceschetto  (Zebre Parma)
18 Paolo Buonfiglio (Zebre Parma)
19 Pietro Turrisi (Racing 92, FR)
20 Alessandro Ortombina  (Zebre Parma)
21 Nicolo’ Casilio (Valorugby Emilia)
22 Giovanni Montemauri (Zebre Parma)
23 François Carlo Mey (Soyaux Angoulême, FR)

CHILE

1 Salvador Lues (Selknam)
2 Augusto Bohme (Selknam)
3 Iñaki Gurruchaga (Selknam)
4 Santiago Pedrero (Selknam)
5 Bruno Sáez (Selknam)
6 Clemente Saavedra (Selknam)
7 Alfonso Escobar (Selknam)
8 Ernesto Tchimino (Selknam)
9 Marcelo Torrealba (Selknam)
10 Rodrigo Fernández (Selknam)
11 Clemente Armstrong (Selknam)
12 Domingo Saavedra (Selknam)
13 Nicolás Saab (Selknam)
14 Cristóbal Game (Selknam)
15 Matías Garafulic (Selknam)

Replacements:
16 Normán Aguayo (Selknam)
17 Emilio Shea (Selknam)
18 Baltazar Gurruchaga (Selknam)
19 Santiago Valenzuela (Selknam)
20 José Miguel Contreras (Issoire, FR)
21 Sebastián Bianchi (Selknam)
22 Juan Cruz Reyes (Selknam)
23 Federico Kennedy (Selknam)

 

NOTES

• The match was uncapped.
• Federico Kennedy and Emilio Shea will play for Chile for the first-time.
• Federico Kennedy was a try-scorer on debut for Chile.

 

MATCH VIDEO

 

MATCH INFO

Date: Friday, March 06
Venue: Stadio Tommaso Fattori, L’Aquila (IT)
Kickoff: 5:00pm (Italy); 1:00pm (Chile)
Weather Forecast: Cloudy; 12°C; Wind: 10 km/h
Broadcasts: TVN Youtube