Italy 20-17 Georgia: Azzurri survive scare with wonderful comeback to edge previous guests in Autumn Nations Sequence conflict – Eurosport

Italy breathed a sigh of aid as they staged their greatest Check-match comeback to win 20-17 and keep away from a shock defeat to a powerful Georgia facet within the Autumn Nations Sequence.

The Azzurri trailed by 11 factors on the break after a few impressed scores from the Georgians and repeated wastefulness in assault from the hosts.

However a penalty strive bought Gonzalo Quesada’s facet again in it earlier than alternative scrum-half Alessandro Fusco lastly discovered a spot within the wall of purple shirts to dive over the road and put Italy in entrance inside the ultimate quarter.

It was a much-needed win for the Italians, who got here into the match with a degree to show on the again of final weekend’s thrashing by Argentina and needed to scrap exhausting to keep away from a second successive loss.

The guests’ head coach Richard Cockerill warned that “in the event that they don’t respect us, we’ll win” in a pre-match interview with TNT Sports activities, and his phrases seemed virtually prophetic after his facet’s very good begin.

Italy suffered a significant early blow when captain Michele Lamaro was compelled off wincing in ache with a shoulder harm, however Paolo Garbisi’s boot ultimately edged the hosts in entrance halfway by the half after a scrappy begin.

Georgia responded with scientific ability and effectivity, Akaki Tabutsadze flying over the road after a neat collection of offloads to place the guests in entrance, and issues bought even higher when a spectacular break from inside his personal half by full-back Davit Niniashvili arrange Vasil Lobzhanidze’s rating.

The guests’ scientific edge was in sharp distinction to the profligacy of the Azzurri, who made eight visits to the Georgian 22 within the first half with out crossing the whitewash, however a penalty strive – and yellow card to Tabutsadze for an intentional knock-on – swung the momentum of their favour after the break.

Wave after wave of Italian assault was repelled by the ferocious Georgian defence till Fusco lastly took the ball off a lineout and sniped across the again to discover a gap and dive over the road for the decisive rating.

Quesada will undoubtedly be comfortable by his facet’s second-half response and the best way they bullishly scrapped to victory, however questions will certainly be requested of the bluntness of their assault.

The Azzurri made go to after go to to the Georgian 22 and went by section after section of assault once they had been there, however they lacked the crafty, leading edge or creativity to make something of their possession and territory till Fusco’s rating.

Given his likelihood after an harm to Federico Ruzza, the Italian lock made a powerful affect together with his dominance on the lineout, defensive work and exhausting carrying within the open.

Italy: Gallagher 7, Trulla 7, Brex 6, Menoncello 6, Ioane 6, P. Garbisi 7, A. Garbisi 6; Fischetti 6, Nicotera 6, Ferrari 6, Cannone 6, Lamb 8, Negri 6, Lamaro 6, Vintcent 7

Replacements: Lucchesi 6, Spagnolo 6, Ceccarelli 6, Favretto 6, Zuliani 6, Fusco 8, Marin 6, Bertaccini 6

Georgia: Niniashvili 8, Tabutsadze 7, Kveseladze 6, Kakhoidze 6, Todua 6, Matkava 7, Lobzhanidze 8; Abuladze 6, Karkadze 6, Aptsiauri 6, Babunashvili 6, Javakhia 6, Spanderashvili 6, Tsutskiridze 6, Jalagonia 6

Replacements: Akhaladze 6, Japaridze 6, Chachanidze 6, Ivanishvili 6, Aprasidze 6, Abzhandadze 6, Tapladze 6

25’ TRY! ITALY 3-7 GEORGIA (TABUTSADZE, CON. MATKAVA) Beautiful from Georgia! An exquisite staff strive is completed by Tabutsadze after a flowing transfer to place the guests in entrance. A improbable collection of offloads carved open the Italian defence and the wing was there to fly over the road. Recreation on!

38’ TRY! ITALY 6-17 GEORGIA (LOBZHANIDZE, CON. MATKAVA) OUTSTANDING from Niniashvili! The Georgia full-back takes a kick inside his personal half and instantly units off on a weaving run by the Italian defence, beating three defenders earlier than offloading to Lobzhanidze to attain. Matkava converts, and Georgia are wanting good for a shock win right here.

54’ PENALTY TRY! ITALY 13-17 GEORGIA It is a penalty strive for Italy and a yellow card for Tabutsadze, who leapt out of the road to palm away a cross heading to the wing. The tables might have turned right here because the noise stage rises within the Luigi Ferraris, the place the Azzurri can have a person benefit for the subsequent 10 minutes.

65′ TRY! ITALY 20-17 GEORGIA (FUSCO, CON. GARBISI) They’ve lastly finished it! Italy make it throughout the strive line for the primary time as alternative scrum-half Fusco takes a lineout and squirms by a uncommon hole within the defence. Garbisi provides the extras and the Azzurri lead.

• Successful from 11 factors behind marked the most important comeback in Italy’s Check-match historical past