The Azzurri took the wooden spoon in the 2005 RBS 6 Nations, failing to win a single game in a poor campaign that cost coach John Kirwan his job, but they showed great determination to claim a 30-29 over the Pumas.

The success, which squared the series at 1-1, was the first under the reign of Berbizier.

The boys have been absolutely outstanding. All the players fought to the end to win this game, he said.

I'm really happy because it was a team win with a super first-half display and in the second, we defended perfectly.

In the closing stages, Italy had to defend without Santiago Dellape who was sin-binned but still managed to hang on for a famous win.

Azzurri captain Marco Bortolami said he hopes his team-mates can build on the win.

I'm very happy, he said. Beating the Pumas in their country does not happen every day.

This is our first victory here, and it comes after a bad period for us. I believe after losing the first match mostly from our own mistakes, we went into the second more determined, believing we could win the game and so we did.

We were more aggressive than they were, especially when they had the ball.

We played an attacking game, and our three-quarters line was fantastic. We never gave up, even in the difficult moments and we really played all together.