IT
ENTwo matches, two faces of the same team. Italy Under-20s wrapped up their World Championship build-up with two completely different wins: a rout and a battle. And put together they say more than a simple “two from two”.
Spain swept aside 55-27 in Gubbio
At the Stadio Barbetti the spectacular version of this Italy took the stage: an open game, high tempo, nine tries on the sheet. And above all plenty of different scorers — David Luisato with a hat-trick, then Salvanti, Dinarte (a brace), Dene, Bavaresco and Germanò, with Celi and Braga on the conversions. Spain played open rugby and that inflated the score. But seeing half the team cross the line, for a youth side, is worth more than the 55 points.
England beaten 24-19 in Calvisano
The last test before departure, a completely different tune. Italy threw their weight around in the scrum and went 12-0 up with a Luisato brace: first a gap in broken play, then a ball lost by England and punished without appeal. England, though, have their maul, came back and at one point even went in front. And that’s where the most precious detail comes: the young Azzurri didn’t fall apart. They took the game back in hand with tries from Braga and Casarin and closed it out 24-19, four tries to three. A win worth double, because built on a comeback.
What these two tests tell us
They tell of two teams inside the same team: one that runs and scores in bursts, one that suffers and reacts. At the World Championship both will be needed, and knowing how to be one or the other depending on the opponent can make the difference between getting out of the pool and not.
The two friendlies we watched showed us two different Italys.
Read also:
- Italia U20 al Mondiale: quanto vale questa generazione?
- I protagonisti da seguire: Luisato e Ragusi le rivelazioni
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