Rabodirect PRO12
Aironi 23-26 Scarlets
This game was always going to be interesting given the events at Aironi in the week leading up to it and it was clear to see from the off that supporters and players alike were fired up and ready to make a point. I think this was the best I’ve ever seen Aironi play. Sinoti had his dancing shoes on as usual and made an awesome partnership with Toniolatti. Tebaldi did a solid job at full back in the absence of Masi. I can’t really remember seeing many rucks without Pratichetti in them - and he even ended up in a scrum after Favaro was binned! Sole had a great game which I hope Great Uncle Jacques was paying attention to. Ultimately, it was sad to see Aironi lose by such a small margin - but I think they made their point loud and clear.
Rabodirect PRO12
Newport Gwent Dragons 32-33 Benetton Treviso
What. A. Game.
Thrilling stuff from kick off to full time at Rodney Parade on Friday night. Yes, Treviso! This is what you’re capable of! Keep doing THIS! All my favourites were on fine form - great to see Zanni and McLean go over (and Sgarbi!) and of course man of the match Kris Burton who, not content with scoring a (completely bloody awesome) try of his own, also added an additional 13 points to the Treviso scorecard with two conversions, two penalties and a drop goal. Good show, that man.
The Lions need to rein in the discipline issues… but, yeah. Even down to 13 men at one point, they held on and it paid off!
Random Aironi!
Top: Simone Favaro is named Man of the Match against Leinster (March 2012),
Centre: Matteo Pratichetti’s Model Hair lives up to its promise (Heineken Cup 2011/12), Aironi mascot Rino.
And beneath: inside the Aironi scrum!
Aironi moments
Top-bottom: Andrea Masi signs (June 2010), Josh Furno’s Hilarious Face (alongside Nick Williams) launches the 2011/12 kit, Marco Bortolami becomes captain, the Aironi boys of the 2011 Rugby World Cup Italy squad, Mauro Bergamasco signs (December 2011).
Aironi victories
Top row, left-right: boys celebrating their Heineken Cup win over Biarritz (28-27 December 2010), Danwel Demas helps secure Aironi’s first PRO12 win as they beat Connacht (25-13, March 2011), and Nicola Cattina bossing it in the line out against Edinburgh (25-19, September 2011).
Bottom row, left-right: Alberto De Marchi fights off Lorenzo Cittadini as Aironi give Treviso a Christmas ass-kicking (27-13, December 2011), Sinoti Sinoti (so good they named him twice) touches down as Connacht fall foul of Aironi again (20-6, January 2012), and Tito Tebaldi and his Beard of Power have a showdown with Munster (21-17, March 2012)
So I have a few days offline and Aironi get their license revoked?! My loyalties may lie in the Veneto, but I was really sad to hear about this! It seemed like Aironi were finally starting to break beyond foundation laying and I think that they could have really made their mark going into a third season.
Obviously it’s not a straightforward process, but it seems like it would make more sense for the powers that be to work at saving this team rather than starting from scratch with another. I just hope it won’t drive more players away from Italy and completely defeat the point of breaking Italian teams into the PRO12.
Hopefully all the boys from the squad will find happy new homes to continue playing in the 2012/13 season.
