Ireland squeaks past Italy 13-11 on late drop goal
Updated: February 05, 2011, 12:49
ROME(AP) A last-gasp Ronan O'Gara drop goal allowed Ireland to win 13-11 in a Six Nations heartbreaker for Italy on Saturday.
Italy appeared on the verge of its first victory over Ireland since joining the rugby championship in 2000 after fullback Luke McLean scored a try in the left corner with five minutes to go for an 11-10 lead.
Winger Mirco Bergamasco couldn't convert from the sideline. Italy received the kickoff but turned over possession and after Ireland substitute back Paddy Wallace surged into the home 22, replacement flyhalf O'Gara received ruck ball 25 meters out and fired a clean drop goal. He'd turned around to run back into his own half before the ball flew between both posts in the 78th minute.
"It was a good team drop goal,'' Ireland coach Declan Kidney said. "Everybody knew what they were doing at the end and Ronan played his part, like he's done so before.
"We know we are far from the perfect article. Everyone has to do a lot more work to be a lot more clinical. But those last five minutes, you can't buy that, and I'm blessed to have a number of players who know how to handle those situations.''
Italy coach Nick Mallett rued his side's inability at the end to hold out the Irish.
"In the last three minutes Ireland's players managed things better than the Italian ones,'' Mallett said. "First there was the mistake at the restart then Ireland's players worked O'Gara into position for the drop goal.
"Ireland has a lot of players like O'Gara, with bags of experience, who know how to handle those type of three minutes.''
Italy was a rank underdog before the match, with Ireland coming in with a 14-win streak against the hosts since 1999.
But Italy showed stubborn composure, deserving a 6-3 lead at halftime. Even after conceding a converted try to Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll soon after halftime, Italy came back strong with fervent support from the home crowd, and again deserved to retake the lead.
But Ireland, often appearing the more dangerous but plagued by dropped passes, didn't let frustration get the better of it, even while it played the last six minutes without sinbinned flanker Denis Leamy.
"At times our shape was excellent,'' O'Driscoll said. "We created a lot and made chances, but because of poor handling or other mistakes we let Italy off the hook. We really should have been further away by the end.''
After a furious start Italy took the lead in the 6th when Bergamasco kicked his first penalty after Ireland was penalized for holding onto the ball in the tackle.
In the 10th though, Italy scrumhalf Edoardo Gori had to be replaced by Pablo Canavosio with a serious shoulder injury.
"Gori went off with a dislocated shoulder, the one he has done before,'' Mallett said. "He did it when tackling someone and I'm disappointed for him, because I had big hopes for him. Now we hope he comes back for the World Cup.''
Ireland gradually worked its way back into the match as No. 8 Sean O'Brien repeatedly broke the gainline. However, Ireland kept letting itself down with sloppy handling.
Italy midfielder Alberto Sgarbi had to make a try-saving tackle on Ireland flyhalf Jonathan Sexton in the 19th, and McLean then stopped O'Driscoll in the corner and midfield partner Gordon D'Arcy knocked on.
O'Driscoll wasted another promising move after McLean failed to clear to touch, but O'Driscoll knocked on with the line at his mercy.
Sexton kicked a penalty in the 28th to give Ireland its first points.
Bergamasco missed a second penalty and flyhalf Kristopher Burton hooked a drop goal attempt wide, but after Irish scrumhalf Tomas O'Leary failed to release Andrea Masi in the tackle, Bergamasco kicked his second penalty on the stroke of halftime for Italy to lead 6-3.
Early in the second half, Ireland winger Keith Earls was held up short of the line following a scrum, and the ball was quickly moved left for O'Driscoll to find a hole between two forwards to score his 23rd career Six Nations try, one short of tying Ian Smith's 78-year-old record.
A minute later Italy captain Sergio Parisse nearly intercepted a loose Sexton pass, but knocked on.
Ireland wasted a clear-cut chance to add a second try in the 56th when it attacked down the right, but D'Arcy's pass to the unmarked Fergus McFadden was too high.
In the 67th, Italy drove a maul from a Quintin Geldenhuys catch at the lineout. When it was collapsed, Parisse opted for a scrum and attacked from it. Gonzalo Canale was stopped close to the line, as was Geldenhuys, but when the ball came back from the breakdown Parisse knocked on.
Italy's try came after the forwards pounded the line without breaking through. Eventually, Canavosio sent it wide and replacement Gonzalo Garcia gave McLean the overlap pass to slide in.
Italy's joy lasted for only three minutes, however, as O'Gara ruined the occasion for the hosts.
Next weekend, Ireland hosts France, while Italy is away to England.
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Ireland 13 (Brian O'Driscoll try; Jonathan Sexton conversion, penalty, Ronan O'Gara drop goal), Italy 11 (Luke McLean try; Mirco Bergamasco 2 penalties). HT: 3-6.
