Italy 16 Argentina 22:ARGENTINA PROVED too strong for a valiant Italy on Saturday by holding off a late fightback after the sides had scored a try each in the first of their November internationals in Verona.
With the scores locked 6-6 at half-time, fullback Martin Rodriguez scored 10 minutes into the second half and, although the Azzurri were awarded a late penalty try to set up a close finish, Felipe Contepomi’s five penalties to Mirco Bergamasco’s three made the difference.
“We should have made our pressure count in the first half,” Italy captain Sergio Parisse said after the final whistle. “I feel personally responsible because I had two great chances to score. Argentina are a strong side, as they showed in the second half, and you have to take those opportunities.”
After losing their previous four encounters at home against the 2007 World Cup semi-finalists, Italy began on the front foot with Parisse instrumental in their early forages forward.
One of three Argentina-born players in the Azzurri starting 15, the number eight twice broke clear in the opening minutes only to be stopped.
The home side were roared on by a near-full house in their debut international in Verona, and made their early pressure count when Mirco Bergamasco kicked a 45-metre penalty on 10 minutes.
Nick Mallett’s charges had begun the match throwing the ball around, but errors and indiscipline soon crept into both sides’ play.
ITALY: McLean; Benvenuti, Canale, Masi, M Bergamasco; Gower, Tebaldi; Perugini, Ghiraldini, Castrogiovanni, Del Fava, Geldenhuys, Zanni, Barbieri, Parisse. Replacements: Ongaro for Ghiraldini (58); Lo Cicero for Tebaldi, Canavosio for Perugini, Derbyshire for Zanni (all 62); Dellape for Del Fava (70); Orquera for Gower (73); Sgarbi for Benvenuti (75).
ARGENTINA: Rodriguez; Camacho, Tiesi, Fernandez, Gonzalez Amorosino; Contepomi, Vergallo; Roncero, Ledesma, Scelzo, Carizza, Galarza, Fessia, de Achaval, Fernandez Lobbe. Replacements: Galindo for Fernandez Lobbe (34); Lozada for Carizza (47); Figallo for Ledesma, Creevy for Scelzo (both 62). Not used: Ayerza, Lalanne, Agulla. Sinbin: Galarza (76).
