The horrified looks on the faces of the GB curlers said more than words could about that appalling opening end.
Lying one as Mouat threw his final stone, they took a risk in an attempt to claim two, but could not have anticipated just how badly it would go. An unfortunate kiss left none of their red stones in the house but four yellow Italian ones in position.
That might have caused some rinks to unravel but this Scottish quartet are the world’s best, and soon righted themselves.
The sides traded singles before a fabulous final Mouat throw – aided by the intervention of the big compass to measure who was nearest the button – ensured GB claimed two to get back to 5-3.
Another splendid team shot – Mouat’s throw, Grant Hardie’s judgement, and the ferocious sweeping of Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie – forced a steal in the fourth and suddenly it was back to a one-point game at the break.
The Italians blanked the sixth, and claimed two in the seventh to open up a healthy advantage again. But Team GB roared back again with another two and remarkably levelled with one end to go after a steal.
It all came down to the final end but the Italians kept their nerve to edge to victory and cause a thunderous barrage of noise to roll down the wooden bleachers.
“It’s pretty surreal, pretty cool,” McMillan added. “It’s not a typical curling crowd – it’s more like a football one. But it’s an amazing atmosphere to play in and we’re going to have to get used to it and enjoy it.”
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