The forwards of Italy U20 dominate Spain, the warm-up test ends 36-5

In the first outing of Roberto Santamaria’s Italy U20s, and the only one before the start of the category World Cup, the Azzurrini beat Spain in the warm-up test in San Benedetto del Tronto 36-5.

After a goal found early on, the hosts suffered from their opponents’ initiatives for several minutes. Starting from the end of the first half, and then during the second half, Italy decidedly relied on its best weapon: the forward package, which between scrums and mauls scored five tries out of the six overall. The mechanisms in touch and in midfield need to be improved, and coach Santamaria and his staff will focus on this in the next few days before leaving for South Africa.

The news of Italy U20-Spain U20

The match opens with the Azzurrini persistently attacking with their forwards. Italy gains several advantages, but stubbornly continues to go into touch, looking for important points; these arrive in the 7th minute, thanks to the maul that outclasses the opposing defense and Siciliano who crushes the oval. From an angled position, with the wind annoying, Pucciariello fails to convert. In the following minutes the teams study each other and clash in midfield, with the Italians aggressive in the meeting points but a little more imprecise at the foot.

Only in the 15th minute did the Spaniards have the first real attacking platform at their disposal and they immediately took advantage of it: from a free kick they arrived inside the 22, the touch was not clean but the oval still managed to reach the number 9 Infer, who found a gap that brings his team close to the goal line. At this point, after some charges from the forwards who tighten the Italian defense line, the ball travels quickly out wide to winger Guillermo, who smashes at the height of the flag.

Richardis’ miss from the pitch leaves the teams tied at 5-5. The goal, however, gives the Spaniards greater confidence, and it is they who have the greatest chance of scoring points in the following minutes: first in the 21st minute with the attempted free kick – still not easy and imprecise – then in the 26th minute with two charges from Rizzo and Infer, who arrive one step away from the goal line. Despite everything, Italy’s defense holds up but is unable to push Spain away from their own half; it was an opponent’s obstruction foul in the 30th minute that finally allowed the Azzurrini to chase away the threat.

The turnaround gives oxygen to coach Santamaria’s Italy, which in fact maintains control of the game for the last 10 minutes of the first half and relies on its best weapon: the scrum. Thanks to the superiority of the package, two photocopy scores arrived: first in the 32nd minute and then in the 40th minute the Azzurri forwards broke through, winning two technical tries that brought the score to half-time at 19-5.

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The first minutes of the second half were difficult for Italy U20: Spain settled in their half of the field and for a few minutes also in the 22, reaching over the goal line with the center Fernandez. Luckily for the home team the last pass is forward, and the marking is not validated. From the 46th minute the Azzurrini managed to free themselves from the opposition’s pressure and take the game away from their own red zone.

Several changes were made, in the 54th minute Italy entered the Spanish red zone, but a knock-on canceled everything. However, the scoring came a few minutes later, with substitute Gasperini picking up the ball from the meeting point and smashing it. Brisighella, another substitute who led the action well, scored the first and only conversion of the match.

Entering the last quarter of the match the score was 26-5 in favor of Italy U20. The match is divided into several actions, but one certainty remains: the superiority of the Italian pack. In the 71st minute the fifth try comes from the touchline thanks to the forwards: the maul takes off and there is also glory for the hooker Padoan, who in turn came on for Gasperini.

The game is now settled at 31-5 and in the 76th minute the Azzurri’s three-quarters also enter the scoreboard. This time from touchline he charges centrally with the forwards, then opening the front until reaching the center Zanandrea, who scores the sixth goal for Italy U20. The score now stands at 36-5 which concludes the warm-up test with Spain.

Matteo Salmoiraghi

Italy U20-Spain U20: the lineups and the scoreboard

Italy U20: Imberti; Scalabrin, Zanandrea, Bozzo, Belloni L.; Pucciariello, Casilio; Botturi, Bellucci, Zucconi; Redondi, Midena; Ascari, Sicilian, Gentile.
Available: Padoan, Pisani, Bolognini, Gasperini, Milano, Jimenez, Sari, De Villiers, Bettini, Casartelli, Belloni M., Brisighella, Mirenzi, Fusari, Bini.

Italy U20 scorers
Goals: Siciliano (7′), technique (34′, 40′), Gasperini (57′), Padoan (71′), Zanandrea (76′)
Transformations: Brisighella (58′)
Punishments:

Spain U20: Ponce, Burguillos, Carmona, Fernandez, Guillermo, Richardis, Infer, Rizzo, Zolezzi, Moleti, Ariceta, Serrano, Franch, Gallego, H. Gonzalez.
Available: Gomez, Massoni, Reyes, Gamez, Linares, Ofojetu, Velasco, De Haro, Gali, Zuriarrain, Rocaries, D. Gonzalez.

Spain U20 scorers
Goals: Ponce (16′)
Transformations:
Punishments:

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