Italy Too Good for All-Stars

Italy coach John Kirwan oversaw a good workout for his side on Saturday ahead of next weekend’s RBS 6 Nations start as they defeated a team of foreign All-Stars 31-14 in Catania, Sicily.

International Friendly: Saturday, January 29
Italy 31 Italian All-Stars 14, Stadio Santa Maria Goretti, Catania
Scorers: Italy: Tries: Mauro Bergamasco, Ludovico Nitoglia 2, Roberto Pedrazzi, Andrea Scanavacca; Cons: Luciano Orquera 2, Scanavacca

The former All-Black winger watched his side warm up for next Sunday’s opener against Ireland at the Stadio Flaminio, as left wing Ludovico Nitoglia impressed with a brace of tries against the best that the Italian Super 10 foreigners had to offer.

Stade Francais flanker Mauro Bergamasco got the Azzurri off to the perfect start with a first minute try, and the good work was carried on as South African-born fullback Roland de Marigny set up Calvisano speedster Nitoglia for his first on 22 minutes.

He profited from turnover ball for his second soon after, and Italy built further on their 19-0 lead when substitute scrum-half Alessandro Troncon – returning from his long-term knee injury – laid off for centre Roberto Pedrazzi to touch down on 70 minutes.

Another replacement Andrea Scanavacca pocketed a late try. Georgian hooker Akvsenti Giorgadze and scrum-half Pablo Canavosio breached the Italy rearguard in either half for the All-Stars, whille Kirwan will be concerned over worrying knocks picked up by Fabio Ongaro, Salvatore Costanzo and Matteo Barbini in the wet conditions.

His 30-man squad have returned to Rome, where they train later today.

ITALY: R de Marigny; PK Robertson, W Pozzebon, M Barbini, L Nitoglia; L Orquera, P Griffen; A Lo Cicero, F Ongaro, M Castrogiovanni, CA Del Fava, M Bortolami (Capt), A Persico, Mauro Bergamasco, S Parisse.