IT
ENThere was a phrase repeated like a mantra at full-time that says it all: in rugby, if you don’t tackle, you don’t win. Italy Under-20 opened their World Championship with a defeat to Scotland, 38-32, at the AIA Arena in Kutaisi. A loss that stings, because the talent was there — plenty of it — but only in flashes, never for the full eighty.
In rugby, if you don’t tackle, you don’t win
How did Italy v Scotland U20 finish? Scotland won 38-32 in the Pool B opener of the U20 World Championship, scoring six tries to Italy’s four. The Azzurrini at least walked away with a losing bonus point, secured by Casarin’s penalty at the death.
A game of swings
Italy started on the wrong foot: after two minutes Dan Kelly punished them down the right wing. But the Azzurrini deserve credit for hitting back and edging ahead: a brilliant run from David Luisato, beating a string of tackles, opened an overlap on the right that captain Riccardo Casarin turned into a try. Braga converted: 7-5 on 31 minutes.
From there, though, Scotland upped the tempo and struck three times before the break: Dalziel’s barging finish, a stunning try launched from their own 22 and finished by Rory McHaffie, and into the interval at 14-19, with hooker Valerio Pelli‘s try keeping the Azzurrini alive.
Italy’s moment, then the sucker punch
The second half brought Italy’s best rugby. Luisato conjured a try fit for a star, soaring to claim the ball straight from the kickoff — a house speciality — and moments later scrum-half Nikolaj Varotto raced clear from distance: 26-24, Italy back in front. Braga stretched it from the tee, 29-24.
That was the moment the game was there to be killed off. Instead Scotland, with plenty of fresh legs, found two huge tries: first McHaffie completed his brace, then Henry Kesterton sealed it on 73 minutes. Casarin’s late penalty was worth only the losing bonus: 32-38.
Luisato, the best and the worst of it
The Italy number 11 was the symbol of the day: two breaks, a highlight-reel try, the quality that makes the difference. But also a few defensive lapses in the moments that mattered — the flip side of the same coin, in DanPat’s reading. Alongside him, Casarin was the engine: work on the deck, an extra flanker among the centres, Italy’s best tackler. For DanPat he was the Azzurri’s standout; on the pitch, though, the man of the match was Scotland full-back McHaffie, with his brace.
And the talent isn’t lacking in and around this group: Varotto, Braga, Andretti off the bench, not to mention absentees like Malik Faissal. But — DanPat warns — this is no day for alibis: when you have the individuals and lack the collective, you betray the game a little.
Read also
- Italy U20 now face Japan and New Zealand: what’s left of their World Championship
- U20 World Championship 2026: five players to watch (and an Azzurro to dream on)
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DANPAT Rugby — rugby told with passion, analysis and a pinch of irony.