Pacific Islanders win their first match
Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:56
Savouring victory: Vilimoni Delasau
The Pacific Islanders have broken their international duck, four years after their inception. They beat Italy 25-17 at Stadio Giglio, in the northern city of Reggio Emilio, on Saturday.
It was a the perfect end for the men from the South Pacific, who concluded their November tour in great fashion.
Following heavy defeats to England (13-39) and France (17-42) in previous weekends this result was a welcome boost for the team made up of Fijians, Samoans and Tongans.
However, it is back to the drawing board for Italy and their South African coach Nick Mallett, who lost three out of three year-end Tests after also going down at home to Australia (20-30) and Argentina (14-22).
The Islanders got off to a terrific start as Vilimoni Delasau went over in the right hand corner following a slick move in the backs.
Seremaia Bai kicked over the defence and Samoan Sailosi Tagicakibau picked up the ball before off-loading in the tackle to Fijian Delasau to score after just four minutes.
Bai kicked the conversion before minutes later Italy's Andrea Marcato kicked a penalty to bring the scores back to 7-3.
That was a rare penalty attempt from the hosts who otherwise kicked to the corners in an attempt to go for a push-over try.
That tactic worked as Italy worked the ball from right to left and back again before great, quick hands from captain Sergio Parisse in their line created the space for Leonardo Ghiraldini to sneak over in the corner.
Marcato landed the conversion and then Bai levelled matters with a successful penalty on 19 minutes.
But the Fijian flyhalf soon found himself in the sin bin after pole-axing Mirco Bergamasco with a high tackle.
Yet despite playing a man down the Islanders pinned Italy back in their 22 and Delasau burrowed over from close range for his second score of the game.
Samoan Seilala Mapusua missed the conversion, but Italy then suffered another setback just before the break as Kaine Robertson also saw yellow.
Now with a man advantage the Islanders capitalised and fullback Kameli Ratuvou picked the ball up from a break down and skipped through a gaping hole in the Italy backline.
Bai converted to give the tourists a 22-10 lead at the break and soon after the restart he added a penalty.
Italy then started to take control and pin the Islanders down inside their own half.
But the hosts suffered from over elaboration as they seemed desperate to score and often negated their own good work with poor decisions and poor handling.
Yet with 15 minutes to go their pressure finally told as a flicked pass from Parisse sent Mauro Bergamasco over for the score, with Marcato converting.
But after that the Islanders' defence held firm and Italy slumped to a fourth successive defeat.
Man of the match: It is probably a debatable decision, but we are going for Vilimoni Delasau for his two tries.
Moment of the match: This one is much easier, it goes to fullback Kameli Ratuvou's 39th minute try - which sealed the deal for the Islanders.
Villain of the match: We hate these incessant high tackles by the South Pacific players. Somebody is still going to get seriously injured, or even killed, by one of these dangerous hits. This goes to Seremaia Bai, who got yellow carded in the 29th minute for a high hit. Kaine Robertson made a brave attempt to win a share of the award with his yellow card.
The scorers:
For Italy:
Tries: Ghiraldini, Marcato
Cons: Marcato 2
Pen: Marcato
For the Pacific Islanders:
Tries: Delasau 2, Ratuvou
Con: Bai 2
Pens: Bai 2
Yellow cards: Seremaia Bai (Pacific Islanders, 29), Kaine Robertson (Italy, 38)
Teams:
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Mirco Bergamasco, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Matteo Pratichetti, 10 Andrea Marcato, 9 Pietro Travagli, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Tommaso Reato, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 Salvatore Perugini, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Pablo Canavosio/Giulio Toniolatti, 21 Luke McLean, 22 Riccardo Pavan.
Pacific Islanders: 15 Kameli Ratuvou, 14 Sailosi Tagicakibau, 13 Seilala Mapusua, 12 Epi Taione, 11 Vilimoni Delasau, 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Sililo Martens, 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Nili Latu (captain), 6 Viliami Vaki, 5 Paino Hehea, 4 Filipo Levi, 3 Kisi Pulu, 2 Taniela Fuga, 1 Justin Va'a.
Replacements: 16 Sunia Koto, 17 Tonga
Lea'aetoa, 18 Semisi Naevo, 19 Hale Pole, 20 Mosese Rauluni, 21 Seru Rabeni, 22 Gavin Williams.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch judges: Christophe Berdos, Hugh Watkins (Wales)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)
