Parisse savours surprise success

Italy captain Sergio Parisse admitted he could scarcely believe his eyes after the Azzurri claimed only their second away victory in the history of the Six Nations on Saturday.

Parisse was charging towards the try line in the final minute of the clash against Scotland at Murrayfield, at the back of a rolling maul, when it was illegally dragged down referee George Clancy who awarded a penalty try.

The simple conversion of Tommaso Allan ended up being the final play of the game as Italy sealed a 22-19 victory over Scotland, only their second ever away win after victory on the same ground back in 2007.

And Parisse, whose side outscored Scotland three tries to one, admitted afterwards that no-one had given his side a chance in the build-up.

"No-one thought that we could win. Our friends, our fans, and even you journalists, no-one believed. On Friday, if I looked at it rationally, with such a young and inexperienced team with a couple of rookies, maybe I would not have believed it either.

"I laughed when the referee gave the penalty against us with the attacking scrum when we were towering over our opponents. I laughed because that's what I do when I am nervous, he said.