Pacific Islanders defeat Italy for their first Test win
The Pacific Islanders recorded a historic first ever Test Match win on Saturday as they defeated Italy 25-17 at the Stadio Giglio to finish their tour on a high.
It was the first time in nine occasions that the Islanders had won against international opposition, sparking jubilant scenes at the final whistle.
After heavy defeats to both England and France in the past two weekends, the team made up of Fijians, Samoans, and Tongans has finally got the reward for all the hard work they’ve put in, not to mention the natural talent that they have in abundance.
Italian coach Nick Mallet has now lost three out of three autumn tests after back to back losses to Australia and Argentina. His side were poor in the first half, but dominated in the second, although they were not able to break through the visitors’ defence.
"We had the ball for 35 minutes after the restart and I'm just sorry that we didn't manage to score until it was too late," Mallet said afterwards, complimenting the Islanders’ effort.
New Zealand born Italian winger Kaine Robertson blamed his team’s mental approach for the defeat.
"We were in their 22 throughout the whole of the second half but we only managed to score one try," he said.
"We need to be more humble. We should beat this lot if we play to our true level, it's mental."
It was the Islanders who’s defence and temperament held firm though, as coach Quddus Fielea was full of praise for his side.
"I thank the guys for the fantastic match they've played today," he told reporters.
"The last 40 minutes were very hard and Italy made us sweat."
Time: 07:29
It was the first time in nine occasions that the Islanders had won against international opposition, sparking jubilant scenes at the final whistle.
After heavy defeats to both England and France in the past two weekends, the team made up of Fijians, Samoans, and Tongans has finally got the reward for all the hard work they’ve put in, not to mention the natural talent that they have in abundance.
Italian coach Nick Mallet has now lost three out of three autumn tests after back to back losses to Australia and Argentina. His side were poor in the first half, but dominated in the second, although they were not able to break through the visitors’ defence.
"We had the ball for 35 minutes after the restart and I'm just sorry that we didn't manage to score until it was too late," Mallet said afterwards, complimenting the Islanders’ effort.
New Zealand born Italian winger Kaine Robertson blamed his team’s mental approach for the defeat.
"We were in their 22 throughout the whole of the second half but we only managed to score one try," he said.
"We need to be more humble. We should beat this lot if we play to our true level, it's mental."
It was the Islanders who’s defence and temperament held firm though, as coach Quddus Fielea was full of praise for his side.
"I thank the guys for the fantastic match they've played today," he told reporters.
"The last 40 minutes were very hard and Italy made us sweat."
Time: 07:29
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16 Comments:
the pacific islanders would be better touring individually figi beat wales in the rwc 07 anf samoa and tonga would both beat italy themselves out with canada and islanders in with fiji samoa and tonga
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 3:51 pm
what an amazing pass from Parisse for the last tialian try! wow!
happy to see islanders win finally
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 4:16 pm
what a shame for us,ok the islander are good players,but we play so bad in the first half.
if we play in the 6nation as well as we have played against argentina and the islands the wooden spoon is sure!
robertson is right,in italy our team now is very popular,and they are becoming actractive for the media,I hope that they will turning focused only on the game and the federation let begin the famous provinces.
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 4:17 pm
That parisse pass: luck, outrageous skill or a pre-planned move?
Personally I reckon the latter.
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 4:39 pm
how come the eng/ire/sco/wal highlights arent up?
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 5:39 pm
I think parisse's pass was a player planned move, i doubt any coach would encourage such thing.. It was amazing anyway
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 5:48 pm
i was at the match, unfortunate for italy as they were in the pacific islander's 22 for the whole second half.
parisse's offload was simply superb.
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 5:49 pm
"how come the eng/ire/sco/wal highlights arent up?"
mediazone are copyright nazi's, that's why
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 5:57 pm
Parisse is th ebest no. 8 in the world at the moment. Best team?
Woodcock
Szarewski
Mtawarira
Matfield
Botha
Burger
McCaw
Parisse
Pienaar
Giteau
Habana
Jauzion
Nonu
Mitchell
Muliaina
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 6:35 pm
"how come the eng highlights arent up?"
There were no highlights in that game from an englishman's perspective :(
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 6:48 pm
That parisse pass: luck, outrageous skill or a pre-planned move?
Yeah, they would have practiced that. That kind of pass happens too often in the southern hemisphere for me to think that coaches frown upon it, and don't Italy still have an NZ coach?
Congratulations to the Islanders!
By Anarchangel, at November 26, 2008 6:55 pm
Italy has a SA coach, Nick Mallett
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 7:09 pm
parisses pass was amazing
and matt dawson i would pick Mr Shane "2008 irb player of the year" Williams over drew mitchell anyday
By Anonymous, at November 26, 2008 7:44 pm
did anyone else notice how crap the commentator is on those highlights? i dont think he knows whats going on!!!
By Anonymous, at November 27, 2008 2:01 pm
I'm sorry for saying this, but I hate how Italy plans its rugby, they just offer more money to people from other countries to fill their team. The only player who I look up to is Parisse, and he's argentinean too (god, he's got great handling), I understand their decisions but Italy can't keep going like this to develop rugby
By Anonymous, at November 27, 2008 3:11 pm
Parisse is not of argentinean blood; he was born there because his two italian parents moved there for a brief period of time.
His father was a wing for a famous italian side, L'Aquila Rugby.
By Anonymous, at November 27, 2008 10:35 pm
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