Italy 16 Argentina 23: Argentina staged a superb second-half comeback to claim a victory in Rome on Saturday. Marcelo Loffreda's side, who beat England at Twickenham last weekend, scored two tries to one in the second period to edge their hosts at the Stadio Flaminio, after the Azzurri had led 9-3 at the break.
Four minutes into the second half, Federico Todeschini's second penalty pulled the score back to 9-6. The Pumas then went in front with a try scored on the counter-attack by Todeschini, who converted the extras after 54 minutes to give the tourists a 13-9 lead, an advantage they never surrendered. Just after the hour mark Argentina sealed victory with another counter-attack try, scored by Miguel Avramovic, with Todeschini again slotting the two points for a 20-9 lead.
Italy scrumhalf Paul Griffen was booed by the Roman crowd as coach Pierre Berbizier withdrew him after 66 minutes. There were more jeers when Italy fullback David Bortolussi missed a chance to reduce arrears with a penalty two minutes later.
However, the hosts set up a tense finale when they scored a try two minutes from the end. Winger Marko Stanojevic touched down and this time Bortolussi was unerring with his kick. Todeschini's injury-time penalty sealed the win, giving him an 18-point haul for the match.
Todeschini put over a penalty after 14 minutes but the Azzurri hit back and scored all the remaining points in the first half. Bortolussi landed his first penalty after 25 minutes and Bortolussi landed two more penalties, in the 33rd and 40th minutes, to earn the Azzurri a 9-3 interval lead.
ITALY: Bortolussi; Canavosio, Canale, M Bergamasco, Stanojevic; Pez, Griffen; Lo Cicero, Festuccia, Castrogiovanni, Dellape, Bortolami, Zanni, M. Bergamasco, Parisse. Replacements: Pozzebon for Pez (67 mins), Picone for Griffen (67 mins), Ongaro for Festuccia (65 mins), Nieto for Castrogiovanni (54 mins), Sole for Zanni (56 mins).
ARGENTINA: Martin Hernandez, Corleto, Avramovic, M. Contepomi, Agulla, Todeschini, Fernandez Miranda, Ivan Ayerza, Ledesma, Scelzo, Lozada, Albacete, Durand, J. Fernandez Lobbe, Longo-Elia. Replacements: Francisco Gomez for Ivan Ayerza (67 mins), Basualdo for Ledesma (74 mins), Leguizamon for Durand (73 mins).
Referee: C Joubert (South Africa).
