Terrible performance by Quesada’s national team. For the Pumas it is the ninth victory in a row, signed by seven tries from Mallia, Bertranou, Sclavi, Albornoz, Cordero, Alemanno and Delguy. Technical effort and Nicotera’s effort make the score less heavy
The Autumn Nations League gets off to a terrible start for Italy: a much stronger Argentina beat 50-18 in Udine. Against an undoubtedly more experienced opponent, fresh from a great Championship in which they contested the title against South Africa until the last game, the Azzurri the coach Gonzalo Quesada played a game that was tough and disciplined for a long stretch, always will be focused on the game, but with different, inevitable inaccuracies that affect development. Unfortunately, a trend that has lasted 16 years now is confirmed, that is, those that separate Italy from the last victory over the Pumas, that of Cordoba 2008: today is therefore the ninth victory in a row for the Argentines. Argentina will continue their tour with challenges against Ireland and France, while Italy will face Georgia and the All Blacks.
stunned
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The beginning is not promising for the Azzurri, who suffer the initial attack of Argentina, which only exists thanks to an irregularity in front of the posts, with the place 3-0 on the least damage. Unfortunately, the game for the Italian goalkeeper Ange Capuozzo lasted only 5 minutes and, in an attempt to tackle the tight-headed prop Joel Slavi, he received a terrible knee in the head which left him literally stunned: the concussion would also keep him out against Georgia. The pace is very high, the Azzurri respond well, defend with order and do not give up on the play, always proactive, even from difficult positions on the field. But in the 11th minute a silly distraction saves the goal: Tommy Allan (instead of Capuozzo) and Federico Ruzza do not understand each other on the right in the attack, the ball falls to the ground, the Azzurri stop, not the goal Juan Cruz Mallia. who gathers and finds a wide open prairie for himself, misses Louis Lynagh’s desperate attempt and flies towards the goal (tomas Albornoz converts). A nice open attack on the right sends Monty Ioane flying, the winger offloads on Michele Lamaro, who however lets the ball slip out (which comes to him a bit too high and too far back). In the 18th minute, Mallia conceded a hold in midfield: scrumhalf Martin Page-Relo asked to go for the posts, but missed the target. A great 50-22 by Allan who was then wasted by the Azzurri, who tried poorly and senselessly with a smart shot from touch at 5 metres. And in the 29th minute the Azzurri were cut: an aerial duel won by Rodrigo Isgro on Allan, then
cruel
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Italy start well and force the Argentinians to defend themselves at the 22, until Franco Molina’s silly ruck in the ruck gives Allan the easy score of -4. But the response of the Pumas is very heavy: an offside allows them to touch 5 meters away, the ball is born and, despite an initial stop, which then leads the way, and the prop Joel Sclavi finds the open way (to irregular?) through Julian Montoya and dunks (Albornoz changes). In the 57th minute the trick ends in a decidedly cruel way: the Azzurri lay a decisive siege on the 22 until Giacomo Nicotera loses it forward, leading to a crazy counter-attack and, despite a couple of desperate defenses on the Azzurri in pursuit, it ends with the uncatchable. run under the posts by Albornoz, who then also changes it for 31-13. In the 66th minute Matias Moroni escapes from Lamaro’s tackle and opens a hole in the Azzurri defence, before serving substitute Santiago Cordero, who evades the defense of Tommaso Menoncello and Allan and dives into the goal (Albornoz converts it). Three minutes later Nicotera redeems himself from the previous mistake and the 5 meter touch, he queues up the queue until he finds the gap to slide into. In the 73rd minute, almost as if they wanted to show how it’s done, the Pumas play from the sideline 5 meters away the same trick that Italy did badly in the first half, with second line representative Matias Alemanno get low in the first half. channel, it turns and without opposition goes to the goal (conversion by Albornoz). In the 76th minute Lorenzo Cannone made a dangerous shoulder tackle on Gonzalo Garcia’s chin and received an inevitable yellow card. In the 78th minute the Azzurri inexplicably shoot the ball into the Argentinian half of the field, but a defensive line that is now broken (as well as demoralized) offers itself to the inevitable and predictable counterattack, which has great hands and runs Albronoz and Mallia. , it opens the way to the internal run by winger Bautista Delguy, who veers in, skips the players and dunks the last Italian (Albornoz changes). And luckily it ends here.
Time.news Editor: Good evening, and welcome to this special interview where we dissect the recent performance of Italy’s national rugby team in the Autumn Nations League. Joining us today is rugby expert, Dr. Maria Rossi, who has been following the trajectory of international rugby teams closely. Thank you for being here, Dr. Rossi.
Dr. Rossi: Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to discuss this exciting yet challenging sport.
Time.news Editor: Let’s dive right in. Italy faced Argentina recently and lost 50-18. That makes it nine consecutive victories for Argentina against Italy. From your perspective, what went wrong for the Azzurri?
Dr. Rossi: It was a tough match for Italy. While they started with a focused and disciplined approach, they were unfortunately unable to maintain that momentum. The early injury to their goalkeeper, Ange Capuozzo, definitely disrupted their rhythm. Losing a key player that early can shake a team’s confidence, and it seemed to impact their defensive structure significantly.
Time.news Editor: That’s a valuable point. Given that frustration often leads to mistakes on the field, did you notice any specific tactical errors that contributed to Argentina’s dominance?
Dr. Rossi: Absolutely. There were several pivotal moments in the match. For instance, a miscommunication between Tommy Allan and Federico Ruzza allowed Juan Cruz Mallia to score a try, which proved to be a significant momentum shift for Argentina. Italy showed moments of promise but struggled to convert possession into points, missing crucial opportunities that could have changed the match’s outcome.
Time.news Editor: Argentina came into this match with considerable momentum after a strong championship campaign. How do you think this experience impacted their performance?
Dr. Rossi: Experience plays a massive role in high-stakes games like this. Argentina’s players have faced top-tier competition in recent months, which enhances their confidence and composure under pressure. The Pumas were able to handle Italy’s early aggression and quickly regrouped to exploit the Azzurri’s weaknesses. This veteran experience allowed them to secure their ninth victory in a row without losing their focus.
Time.news Editor: Looking ahead, both teams have upcoming matches that could define their current season. What do you think Italy needs to focus on in their next games against Georgia and New Zealand to secure better results?
Dr. Rossi: Italy needs to improve its defensive communication and capitalize on scoring opportunities. They have to learn how to stay disciplined even when under pressure—there were moments against Argentina that showcased their potential, such as their proactive defense in the first minutes, which stalled the Pumas. Against teams like Georgia and New Zealand, they will need to ensure that every player is on the same page and that they play a more cohesive game throughout.
Time.news Editor: And what about Argentina’s upcoming matches against Ireland and France? What should they be wary of when facing these strong teams?
Dr. Rossi: Argentina will need to maintain their momentum, but both Ireland and France are formidable opponents with robust tactical plans and strong player stamina. The Pumas must be mindful of their defensive shape and avoid mistakes that could lead to quick counter-attacks, as both of these teams are exceptional at exploiting defensive lapses. Balancing aggressive offense while maintaining structured defense will be crucial.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Dr. Rossi. Your insights certainly shed light on the complexities of international rugby. It’s clear both teams have much at stake in their upcoming matches, and we’ll be excited to see how they respond.
Dr. Rossi: Thank you for having me! It’s always intriguing to analyze the shifts in performance and strategy within the rugby scene. I look forward to the upcoming games and seeing how these teams evolve!
