Mallett's moment of joy
Sun, 16 Mar 2008 19:03
Italy's South African coach Nick Mallett declared himself happy with his team's Six Nations campaign, after they earned him his first win as coach in a 23-20 success over Scotland at Rome's Stadio Falminio at the weekend.
Fullback Andrea Marcato, who played the last part of the match at flyhalf after Andrea Masi left the fray, scored a last-minute drop-goal to snatch a victory that had looked improbable throughout most of the match as Scotland took the ascendancy.
Italy were first on the scoresheet with a penalty try, as the Scots were penalised for collapsing a scrum as a push-over try seemed inevitable. But thereafter Scotland were the better side and deservedly led 17-10 at the break.
But Italy stuck to their guns and Gonzalo Canale scored under the posts on the hour mark after a brilliant interception and break from captain Sergio Parisse to level the scores.
And with an excited crowd spurring them on, Italy secured a highly-satisfying - if ultimately fruitless - victory that nevertheless saw them finish last on the Six Nations standings.
Mallett, though, was pleased with what his team had achieved from limited resources.
"It's always difficult to select a squad for Italy, we don't have many players and it's the same 24 players that play every match," he said.
"It's difficult, We weren't great against Ireland but only lost by five points [11-16].
"We had a good second half against England and lost by four points [19-23]. We had a disastrous second half against Wales [lost 8-47], but played our best match against France [lost 13-24].
"We're happy to win [against Scotland], but after losing to Wales it was important to respond well and against France we were competitive.
"[Saturday] we were a bit lucky but I think in the five matches we did some good work."
Mallett may not be Italian but he got very emotional at the end of the game and was even seen shedding a tear.
His team celebrated as if they had won the World Cup, seemingly unconcerned that they would be rooted at the bottom of the standings for the sixth time in their nine seasons in the Six Nations.
"I was getting very emotional. It meant a lot to me. Maybe it was the fear of losing or simply the first win for me, but that's very important for me" said Mallett.
"We won this match with heart and lots of spirit and a great will to win. It's very important for the staff, not just for the players. In all five matches, the players never stopped working and that's very improtant for me.
"Despite all the difficulties we've had, to win this match was very emotional."
Undoubtedly the star of the Italian team was the captain Parisse, who embodies the spirit and desire in the camp.
He revealed that it was that character that had allowed the team to overturn a 10-17 half-time deficit.
"At half-time we were all together, encouraging each other, but the supporters also definitely spurred us on," he said.
"They never stopped encouraging us and that was very important."
AFP
