Chaos ensues as off-field substitute is caught up in try scoring opportunity

There has been a lot of discussions in recent times surrounding the impact that substitutions are expected to have. One such discussion currently is surrounding the 7-1 split that the Springboks are once again looking to utilise against Ireland this weekend. Well, tactical substitutions aside, there’s been a very different style of impact from the bench in the Italy vs Uruguay match.

Clearly unaware of the game around him, Italian player Alessandro Fusco found himself caught up in the midst of a try-scoring opportunity as he absent-mindedly warmed up on the Uruguayan try line.

Facing the opposite direction, he found himself on the receiving end of a delicate through ball from Ange Capuozzo; a ball that would have made Italian football player, Andrea Pirlo proud.

One thing you don’t expect to see on the pitch!

Giovanni Pettinelli in the wrong place at the wrong time!
😂#RWC2023 | #ITAvURU pic.twitter.com/FYaB8Vz7cl

— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 20, 2023

Lineups:

Italy
15 Capuozzo
14 Pani
13 Ignacio
12 Garbisi
11 Ioane
10 Allan
9 Garbisi
1 Fischetti
2 Nicotera
3 Riccioni
4 Cannone
5 Ruzza
6 Negri
7 Lamaro
8 Cannone

Substitutes
16 Zani
17 Nemer
18 Ceccarelli
19 Lamb
20 Zuliani
21 Pettinelli
22 Fusco
23 Odogwu

Uruguay:
15 Amaya
14 Mieres
13 Inciarte
12 Vilaseca
11 Freitas
10 Etcheverry
9 Arata
1 Sanguinetti
2 Kessler
3 Peculo
4 Aliaga
5 Leindekar
6 Ardao
7 Civetta
8 Diana

Substitutes
16 Pujadas
17 Gattas
18 Arbelo
19 Dotti
20 Deus
21 Ormaechea
22 Berchesi
23 Basso