Italy fall to France as Parisse signs off with another defeat
CONOR O’Shea refused to point the blame at youngster Marco Zanon after the centre wasted a glorious try-scoring chance and ruined Italy’s bid for a memorable Six Nations win.
It also meant Sergio Parisse endured more despair on his final appearance in the tournament, as France held out for the victory in Rome.
It was Zanon’s inability to ground the ball six minutes from time for a try which would have put the Azzurri just a point behind their rivals, and with the conversion to come, that was the pivotal moment in a pulsating finish to this fierce battle.
French wing Damian Penaud managed to tackle and knock the ball from the 21-year-old Benetton man’s grasp as he dived across the line and spilled it forward. France responded with Penaud racing down the other end for his side’s third and decisive try to win the game.
It was France’s second victory of the tournament and left Italy facing another tournament whitewash and heartbroken on the Stadio Olimpico field.
But coach O’Shea insisted: “No one person is to blame for what happened out there. It was such a shame Marco did not finish the move off but it wasn’t just that one incident that cost us. There were several times in the first-half when it looked easier for us to score a try than not.
“The guys were superb. They gave it everything they had and deserved to win. Unfortunately, we were not clinical enough when it mattered and it was a big chance lost.”
Parisse, 35, Italy’s favourite and most capped rugby warrior, bowed out with another defeat – his side’s 22nd successive Six Nations loss. The captain and No.8 retires after the World Cup in Japan and admitted: “We did enough to win this game and it is devastating not to get over the line. We were the better side for most of the contest but you have to score tries. It’s so disappointing.”
But it was a feeling of relief for French boss Jacques Brunel whose job has come under pressure following a terrible run of form over the last year and who was desperate for a win here to end a miserable tournament.
Things certainly did not start well as two early Tomasso Allan penalties following indiscipline and poor handling by the visitors had the crowd cheering loudly.
France finally got a foothold in the contest when full-back Maxime Madard and Penaud combined to put the supporting scrum-half Antoine Dupont across for the opening try converted by Romain Ntamack.
Fly-half Ntamack kicked a penalty but France lost hooker and captain Guilhem Guirado to injury half way through the first half and he was replaced by Camille Chat. A mixture of bad luck and the inability to finish off strong forward play cost Italy at least two tries, as desperate French defending kept them at bay.
Centre Luca Morisi lost control of the ball in the tackle as he took it in his stride from Parisse’s pass and tried to force himself over the line from close range.
Penaud had the home fans up in arms with a late hit on wing Angelo Esposito. Referee Matt Carley was urged to study the video by the TMO and, after awarding a penalty, Allan’s decision to turn down the long range kick at goal backfired with Italy losing their line-out near the French line.
France’s 10-6 half-time lead was reduced to a single point by a third Allan penalty. But their defence failed to prevent wing Yoann Huget galloping over in the right hand corner and Ntamack converted.
Italy regrouped and began throwing everything at the visitors in a desperate bid to produce the win their crowd, and Parisse, so badly wanted. Scrum-half Tito Tebaldi found the key to unlock the French door, faking to pass from a ruck a yard from the line, and then diving over for a welltaken try.
Ntamack kicked a drop goal to increase the advantage but when hooker Chat was sent to the sin bin with ten minutes remaining, Italy were camped on the French line and doing everything possible to cross it with their rivals having to play for the remaining ten minutes a man short.
Then came the moment which broke Italian hearts. Zanon looked odds-on to dive over for the try which would have given Allan the chance to kick Italy into the lead. But he was tackled superbly by Penaud knocking the ball from his hands.
Penaud finished the hero for France. He darted over on the right for a try two minutes from time and the visitors could breathe a sigh of relief.