Italy at the Six Nations Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scotland

Italy made the perfect start to their time in the Six Nations with a 34-20 victory over Scotland at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome. The first try-scorer for Italy was Giampiero de Carli and Diego Dominguez scored 29 points with the boot (conversion, 6 x penalties, 3 x field goals).

Answer: 80-23

Italy were generally competitive during the 2001 tournament, but lost 80-23 against a rampant England side at Twickenham. England scored 11 tries to the 2 tries for Italy with Wilkinson also adding 29 points with 9 conversions and 4 field-goals. Italy's points were the result of two converted tries and three penalties.

Answer: Wales

Italy suffered some heavy defeats in the 2001 and 2002 tournaments, which saw the sacking of the coaching staff prior to the 2003 tournament. Italy made the best possible start with a 30-22 victory over Wales at the Stadio Flaminio in the 2003 Six Nations, scoring three tries and the boot of Diego Dominguez proving the difference between the two sides.

Italy would finish above Wales after five games in 5th place, the first time Italy would not finish bottom of the table.

Answer: Wales

Continuing their improving form, it took a 63rd minute penalty from Simon Jones for Wales to prevent Italy taking their first every away win in the Six Nations. Italy were competitive in all five games, losing only by 10 to Ireland (away), 15 to England (home), 25 to France (away) and 3 to Scotland (home). Italy's Mirco Bergamasco finished equal top try scorer with 3 tries.

Answer: 2007

With all other teams competing for various silverware during the Six Nations (Triple Crown, Calcutta Cup, Millennium Trophy, Centenary Quaich), the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy was first awarded during the 2007 Six Nations Championship, which was won 39-3 by France. Garibaldi was born in Nice in 1807, which at the time was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia.

He is regarded as one of the fathers of Italian unification while also fought in the French Army during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.

Answer: False

Despite their poor start against France in 2007, losing 39-3, Italy would then lose only 20-7 against England at Twickenham with a very competitive and creditable performance. Italy then scored their first ever away win in the Six Nations with a 37-17 victory against Scotland at Murrayfield, and followed this with their first ever consecutive win in a close-fought 23-20 victory over Wales at the Stadio Flaminio.

Italy then lost heavily against Ireland in the final game, 51-24. However, Italy had done enough to finish fourth overall on four points, above both Wales and Scotland.

Answer: 5

Once again Italy were competitive throughout the tournament, but lost their first four games against Ireland (16-11 away), England (23-19 home), Wales (47-8 away) and France (25-13 away). Italy, playing at home, needed to beat Scotland by five or more points to finish fifth in the table. However, Italy could only manage a 23-20 victory which resulted in another sixth placed finish.

Answer: Pablo Canavosio

In what was dubbed 'Battle for the Wooden Spoon', Italy recorded another victory over Scotland at the Stadio Flaminio. Canavosio scored the only try of the game in the 64th minute. Mirco Bergamasco also scored 11 points, converting the Canavosio try and kicking three penalties.

However, this victory was not enough to prevent Italy finishing bottom. Scotland drew with England in their fourth game then beat Ireland in their final game to finish on 3 points and fifth overall.

Answer: 22-21

For the first 65 minutes, it appeared France would win a fourth consecutive trophy as two tries (one converted) and three penalties had France leading 21-16 going into the final 15 minutes. But two penalties from Mirco Bergamasco in the 70th and 75th minutes handed Italy a famous first victory over the French and their first Garibaldi trophy.

However, Italy still finished bottom of the table after losing their final game against Scotland.

Answer: Stadio Olimpico

Italy played all their matches between 2000-2011 at the Stadio Flaminio, but with a capacity of only 32,000 and rugby getting ever more popular in Italy, the stadium was considered too small to continue to host international rugby. After much deliberation, Italy stayed in Rome but moved to the Stadio Olimpico for the 2012 Six Nations Championship. Once renovations are completed, increasing capacity to 42,000, there are plans for the Italian rugby team to return to the Stadio Flaminio.