Kelly Haimona kicked four penalty goals and one conversion as Italy toppled Manu Samoa in a wretched match riddled with handling errors and average play. Casual observers needn’t have bothered with the first hour when next to nothing happened. It was an appalling display from both sides, with neither able to go more than two or three phases without dropping the ball or conceding a brainless penalty.
Italian coach Jacques Brunel was ecstatic that his side finally won a match after nine consecutive defeats dating back to last November’s horror show against Fiji. While he might well be pleased to have the monkey off his back, there was scant else to be celebrating given his side’s dull performance. Haimona, on debut, did well enough with the boot and put in a nice little chip over the top for Sergio Parisse to score, but the rest was dire watching.
Stephen Betham would be even less impressed with his charges. The Manu were totally out to lunch for the majority of proceedings. The number of lazy penalties given away was ridiculous, and time and again Kahn Fotuali’i found nobody running on to the ball or giving him any options at all. Tusi Pisi was ordinary at best and it’s saying something when Michael Stanley showed more in his 7 or 8 minutes on the park than Pisi did in the 74 before that.
Even referee Steve Walsh looked visibly frustrated with the lack of discipline on either side. There were a ridiculous number of scrum resets and while the field conditions were choppy, neither front row made much of an effort to keep their feet. The problems only got worse with the repeated knock-ons and forward passes, necessitating an endless barrage of ugly.
It was tremendously disappointing stuff from Samoa, who all of a sudden don’t look so menacing for Canada next week. It’s always tough with limited time together but the kind of mistakes being made out there were just inexcusable for players of that calibre. Italy host the Pumas on Saturday and based on this evidence it’s hard to see much excitement coming from that match either. For all concerned let’s hope going forward this match proves the exception rather than the rule.
ITALY 24 vs 13 SAMOA
Saturday, November 8, 14:00 GMT, Ascoli Piceno
SCORING
10 mins – K. Haimona pen 3-0
27 mins – T. Pisi pen 3-3
32 mins – P. Lam try 3-8
33 mins – T. Pisi con 3-10
43 mins – K. Haimona pen 6-10
48 mins – S. Favaro try 11-10
52 mins – T. Pisi pen 11-13
55 mins – K. Haimona pen 14-13
66 mins – S. Parisse try 19-13
67 mins – K. Haimona con 21-13
73 mins – K. Haimona pen 24-13
CARDS
80 mins – A. de Marchi yellow (repeat infringements)
ITALY
A. Masi; L. Sarto (G. Toniolatti 19-25), M. Campagnaro, L. Morisi, L. McLean; K. Haimona, E. Gori; M. Agüero (A. de Marchi 70), L. Ghiraldini (A. Manici 64), D. Chistolini (L. Cittadini 70); Q. Geldenhuys, J. Furno (M. Bortolami 64); A. Zanni, S. Favaro (R. Barbieri 69), S. Parisse (capt.).
SAMOA
F. Autagavaia (P. Cowley 80); K. Pisi, J. Leota (W. Stanley 74), A. Leiua, D. Lemi (capt.); T. Pisi (M. Stanley 74), K. Fotuali’i; S. Taulafo (V. Afatia 52), T. Paulo (O. Avei 52), A. Perenise (P. Toetu 75); F. Lemalu, K. Thompson (F. Paulo HT); P. Fa’asalele, J. Lam, T. Tuifu’a (M. Fa’asavalu 67).
Referee: S. Walsh (ARU)
Assistants: J. Lacey (IRFU) & G. Garner (RFU)
TMO: G. Simmonds (WRU)
