San Siro - The Scrum

How do you get 80,018 people (yes, you read that right, EIGHTY THOUSAND AND EIGHTEEN) into San Siro during the international break? No Inter, no football, but still a ball, albeit an oval one for a change. On 14 November 2009, the All Blacks, New Zealand's legendary national rugby team, arrived at the Meazza to face Italy in a test match that made Italian sporting history. And what better stage than San Siro for an unforgettable Saturday?

For the first time, the Meazza opened its doors for a rugby match that went far beyond sport. Italy was taking on New Zealand, the All Blacks, perhaps the most recognisable team in the world, even among those who don't follow rugby. It’s one of the most successful teams, with a remarkable 77% winning record. It was no ordinary Saturday in Milano. The city was filled with the familiar sea of black-clad New Zealand supporters, but above all with rugby fans from across Italy, eager to witness the day Italian rugby dreamed of making history. Kick-off was scheduled for 14:30 CET, making for a packed house not only at the stadium but also in Milano's bars from early in the morning. New Zealand fans had another important fixture to follow: at 8:00 CET, the All Whites, the national football team, were playing Bahrain for a place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after a goalless first leg. Mission accomplished, thanks to a header from Rory Fallon, a midfielder then playing for Plymouth in England's second tier. It was New Zealand's first World Cup qualification since 1982, sparking celebrations among supporters back home and in Milano. Just a few months later, New Zealand would face Italy in South Africa and secure a historic draw. It was exactly the kind of miraculous result Italy was hoping to achieve at San Siro.

The Meazza erupts as the national anthem rings out, setting the stage for a special afternoon. The crowd can hardly believe its eyes when Italy takes a 3-0 lead through a perfectly struck penalty by Craig Gower. But Luke McAlister's kicks and a try from hooker Corey Flynn put the All Blacks ahead 14-3 at halftime. Everyone expects New Zealand to run riot in the second half. Instead, the All Blacks struggle to break through against an outstanding Italy side that keeps them on edge until the very end. This is the Italy squad which included captain Sergio Parisse, Martin Castrogiovanni and Totò Perugini, Mauro Bergamasco and so many other rugby stars. A team whose strength lies in its formidable scrum, the aspect of the game that perhaps best embodies the spirit of rugby. With eight minutes remaining, Italy pins the All Blacks back in a scrum near the corner between the Curva Sud and the red stand. The Azzurri are more stable, more disciplined, and more united than their opponents. Italy's forwards overpower the New Zealand pack, but the referee, seemingly at a loss, repeatedly orders the scrum to be reset without penalizing the All Blacks for their infringements. It goes on for more than ten minutes. Twelve times, the Italian scrum wins the battle, yet the referee refuses to award the penalty try that all 80,000 spectators at San Siro are demanding. It is as though the entire stadium is pushing alongside Italy's eight forwards. New Zealand eventually wins 20-6, and that penalty try never comes. But on that day, 80,018 spectators witness Italy's finest-ever performance against the All Blacks, who are left exhausted and visibly shaken by the Azzurri's extraordinary scrum.