Sat Feb 10th 16:00 Italy v England

PerrinV2

Anyone think Italy might take england in rome?

Fishooks12

I reckon this is their best shot in years. I was impressed with the Italians last week despite running out of steam towards the end they played a nicer brand of rugby

Very average English side too

stinkbomb

I'd love to see them do it. A win against england would be another step forward for italian rugby and would make it a successful six nations regardless of what happens in the subsequent games. One big win each year is enough to keep them going and believing in themselves from year to year. I think they've a decent chance. They performed pretty well last week and also think that they kept some of their powder dry knowing they were never going to win in france and that they will have targeted this weekend's game big time. 75,000 in the stadio olimpico will be a great occasion although they may have had a better chance in the tighter confines of stadio flaminio. I agree that this is not a vintage england team but they'll be hard to beat so it'll probably come down to the wire. Maybe Parisse rolling back the years with a massive performance or a bit of magic from Benvenuti will get them over the line. Forza Italia !!!

Digifriendly

stinkbomb wrote: »

I'd love to see them do it. A win against england would be another step forward for italian rugby and would make it a successful six nations regardless of what happens in the subsequent games. One big win each year is enough to keep them going and believing in themselves from year to year. I think they've a decent chance. They performed pretty well last week and also think that they kept some of their powder dry knowing they were never going to win in france and that they will have targeted this weekend's game big time. 75,000 in the stadio olimpico will be a great occasion although they may have had a better chance in the tighter confines of stadio flaminio. I agree that this is not a vintage england team but they'll be hard to beat so it'll probably come down to the wire. Maybe Parisse rolling back the years with a massive performance or a bit of magic from Benvenuti will get them over the line. Forza Italia !!!

I agree. This is a real banana skin for England and I'm tipping the Azurri to triumph.

PhatPiggins

PerrinV2 wrote: »

Anyone think Italy might take england in rome?

Everyone (including myself) was saying the same thing about Scotland last week. Thought England did ok considering they were essentially a scratch team. England will take a lot from last weeks win. I expect them to win a low scoring game.

molloyjh

PhatPiggins wrote: »

PerrinV2 wrote: »

Anyone think Italy might take england in rome?

Everyone (including myself) was saying the same thing about Scotland last week. Thought England did ok considering they were essentially a scratch team. England will take a lot from last weeks win. I expect them to win a low scoring game.

I expect an English win here too. I actually thought that given they are a new side with a new coach there was a lot for the English to build on last week. They'll only get better as the 6 Nations goes on.

Teferi

Huge chance for Italy to take a scalp. Would love for them to do it.

chris85

Odds on Paddy Power are 11/4 for Italian win. Very tempting!

OldRio

I have a couple of English friends who have gone over for the match.

First text arrived 15mins ago asking me if the game was still on !!!!!!!

Second text/mms showing the lads in winter overcoats and snowing like feck.



Forza Italia.

Superbus

stinkbomb wrote: »

Maybe Parisse rolling back the years with a massive performance

He's 28...

Badgermonkey

Chances are this'll be a start-stop affair where some of the English boys will get a first taste of the Italian love for contact.

Plenty of pick n'drive, big hits, heavy pitch and a perennially underestimated Italian back line mean the English will have to scrap this one out.

Won't be pretty but a compelling game awaits.

stinkbomb

Superbus wrote: »

He's 28...

Fair point. I thought he was a couple of years older than that. He's a lot of miles on the clock though and I don't think he's the force he was two or three years ago.

corny

stinkbomb wrote: »

Fair point. I thought he was a couple of years older than that. He's a lot of miles on the clock though and I don't think he's the force he was two or three years ago.

Could have fooled me. He was the best forward on display last week against the French and rarely does he disappoint when playing for the Italians.

OldRio

Looks cold.
Hope this works,

Cypher_sounds

Has this game been called off/inspection due?

Kayless

Cypher_sounds wrote: »

Has this game been called off/inspection due?

Snow settling but match on after inspection

tolosenc

Forza Ragazzi!

Judgement Day

England expects.......:D

Really looking forward to this regardless of the outcome.

.ak

C'mon Italy!

The conditions are mad. Painting the lines red to set them apart from the snow. Doesn't look like they'll get all the snow off the pitch. Mad.

CiaranMT

Anybody have a link?

EDIT: Never mind, it's not on Sky so I can watch it... Hangover won't leave me alone...

andrewdcs

That snow looks pretty compacted / iced over.... nasty to play on.


(holds lovely mug of tea and looks at roaring fire)


Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.


FORZA ITALIA!

Judgement Day

You've got to love the Italian anthem but it wears them out and is worth at least 5 points to the opposition!

Pudsy33

Forget all the football nonsense, this is where the real passion is! Love the Italy athem.

efb

Bring it! Italia!

yeraulone

I'm cold just watching this.

bbbbb

Did England forget to pack a second kit? Surely playing in all white is not a good idea with the snow?

SoulRock

Man as time goes on the more i hate RTE's Coverage, the Analysis is top notch but the coverage from the stadium is terrible, George hamilton is brutal for Rugby and RTE's sound is woeful, switch to BBC and its much more immersive, the mix between the sound of the crowd and the commentator is perfect, i think George hamilton is probably sitting in RTE somewhere pretending he's at the game, because it doesnt sound like he is..
Italy to Win!!

A-Train

Do they not have a orange rugby ball incase of snow?

England wearing camouflage... Sneaky, very sneaky...



Forza ragazzi!!!

andrewdcs

bbbbb wrote: »

Did England forget to pack a second kit? Surely playing in all white is not a good idea with the snow?

perhaps planning some kind of stealth attack, be tricky to number up against them!

A-Train

How does Hartley get away with scrumming standing up every match he plays in?

CiaranMT

A-Train wrote: »

How does Hartley get away with scrumming standing up every match he plays in?

Just about to say that.

Thank feck the RTÉ commentary is gone.

Judgement Day

RTE commentary just improved!

andrewdcs

This game has arm wrestle written on it every year, I think theres been 15 kicks in the first 10 mins, but could you really blame anyone?

England have no set piece. no scrum and no line out, on a day like this. .... iiinteresting.

coylerwhaa

Anyone else think the tv camerawork is brutal? Too many low level closeups, really annoying & very hard to see the patterns

nizo888

George must have had another heart attack

Minstrel27

nizo888 wrote: »

George must have had another heart attack

He quickly recovered if he did

chris85

coylerwhaa wrote: »

Anyone else think the tv camerawork is brutal? Too many low level closeups, really annoying & very hard to see the patterns

Agreed. Too much changing between them. Also the normal camera view is too far from the action.

RTE commentary brutal agreed. Swtiched over to BBC which dont like listening to when England play but better than RTE. Will see how it goes.

WeleaseWoderick

A-Train wrote: »

How does Hartley get away with scrumming standing up every match he plays in?

Was just logging on to say the same thing!

JustinDee

Those cameras in the face of the management area and almost up the coaches' noses have just got to f**king well go.

There are places the public have no business being around, and the coach area is one of them.

chupacabra

Italy shouldnt be kicking it away so much when they have good opportunities.

inbodwetrust

Anyone having a problem viewing this on the rte player, Advertisement loads up fine but then no match follows it

ScrubsfanChris

Burton is starting to annoy me (and most of Italy)

lologram

Italy's amount of kicking reminds me of another country with a similar flag

elefant

I'm no expert, but it seems daft for Burton to keep kicking the ball away every time Italy get into a decent position.

Fishooks12

Italy would be dangerous with an outhalf

crisco10

Bit harsh alright. But the Italian cover defence was in trouble so arguable that the ref did a favour blowing the whistle.

Italy' half backs are poor. Seems like we have been saying that for 10 years now.

BarackPyjama

Italy would be even more dangerous if there was a decent scrum ref on the pitch. Hartley is a chancer.

cityman 18

god this is an awful game. Why didn't i bet on a score of under 27.5 at the start of the game??

Narcissus

lologram wrote: »

Italy's amount of kicking reminds me of another country with a similar flag

Mexico? :pac:

Judgement Day

The loss of the hairy fellow is going to cost Italy dear.