MATCH PREVIEW: Pasta ‘n’ Pizza vs Fush ‘n’ Chups, Rome, Sat 17 Nov, 2pm

Swiwi · 15-11-2012 7:13pm #1

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Victor Vito, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Dan Carter, 23 Cory Jane.

Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giovambattista Venditti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Francesco Minto, 4 Antonio Pavanello, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.

Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Quintin Geldenhuys, 20 Mauro Bergamasco, 21 Robert Barbieri, 22 Tobias Botes, 23 Luke McLean.

Some things in life are more endured than enjoyed. Italy vs NZ test matches is one such thing. The result – unfortunately - is a foregone conclusion, with the question being not will NZ win but by how much? Put it this way, if your Missus gave you a DVD of classic NZ v Italy test matches, you’d probably leave it in the wrapper and fob it off to some poor old sod for Chris Kindle. I mean you can find highlights of John Kirwan’s stunning 1987 RWC try on YouTube, and Italian fans, no doubt, have copies of Castrogiovanni pulverising the NZ scrum in 2009, but I struggle to think of much else. (On the other hand, if she gave you a calendar of rugby WAGs, and it included Mrs Parisse, you might think twice before giving it away).

On that rather downbeat opening note, how do I convince Irish rugby fans to watch this game, when England are playing Australia and Scotland South Africa at the same time? Well, firstly the NZ game kicks off at 2pm, so you can squeeze in half an hour before the other games get under way. Secondly, there might be delayed coverage, or a full replay on a dodgy internet site (of which I know nothing). Even Sky NZ was struggling to gets the rights for this game, and I suspect most Kiwis (if awake at 3am) will actually be watching - enjoying immensely, I mean - the English scrum having a go at the Aussie front row.

In terms of form, both sides come into the match on the back of a win. However, I can put my hand on my heart, and say I did not watch Italy play Tonga, honest! For the record, Italy won 28-23, and scored 3 tries in front of an apparently sold out Stadio Mario Rigamonti, so that is something.

NZ accounted for Scotland 51-22, but I don’t think will be overly happy with their performance. One early freebie intercept aside, Dan Carter was in imperious form, but Scotland otherwise were pretty decent, and managed 3 tries of their own, making a mockery of my pre-match prediction of a watertight NZ defence. In addition, Adam Thomson’s reckless use of the boot temporarily reduced NZ to 14 men, and Scotland briefly took advantage with their forwards making good headway - including a big hand-off by Dave Denton on Richie McCaw.

Looking at the sides this week, Ali Williams will be looking for a big game. At the moment, he is a bit like an iPod – pretty handy in the noughties, but SO limited nowadays compared to an iPhone (with apologies to Android fans). Relic, you could say, his scintillating Lions form of 2005 a (very) distant memory. Last chance saloon, to coin another cliché.

Sam Cane will look to back up his 3rd test performance against Ireland to show he is indeed the Next Big Thing, and the man to cover McCaw during his 6-month sabbatical.

Finally, Tawera Kerr-Barlow will want a big game off the bench. He was pretty terrible last week, and if Conor Murray had played like that for Ireland, boards.ie would surely have gone into meltdown. He doesn’t want to be showing the grandkids in a few years time his barely worn AIG jumper, and an autograph from Edoardo Gori.

Turning to Italy, there are not too many household names, but Sergio Parisse is a very good player. I wonder if he regrets having signed on for Italy, when he was actually born in La Plata, Argentina. What were you thinking, Sergio? Parisse and Lobbe would make a very handsome couple in my opinion!

Martin Castrogiovanni is a decent scrummager, and will hope to make inroads, but Tony Woodcock is a seasoned and wily campaigner.

To round up, many international teams nowadays have one (Ireland) or two (England) or - in the case of serial offenders Samoa - up to fifteen Kiwis in their sides. It is hard enough for NZ to compete on the international stage as it is, without the blatant pilfering of talent under the guise of Grandmother-here, Grandfather-there, or in the case of Shane Howarth, no grandparent of Welsh extraction at all. Italy did the honourable thing, and chose to raid the overflowing coffers across the ditch (that would be Australia, for those who don't speak Kiwi lingo), taking the highly rated Luke McLean.

In terms of tactics, NZ will continue to try and be the Harlem Globetrotters of world rugby, while Italy’s tactics were beautifully summed up by ex-Italian coach and AB legend Sir John Kirwan “The Italians will be saying let's slow them down, collapse the first two scrums, get over the ball and cheat”.

Prediction: It doesn’t take an expert to pick an AB win, so I’ll lay my cards on the table and say NZ by 30 – 50 points. Cheers!

Tox56 · 15-11-2012 7:28pm

Ridiculous how New Zealand can make 14 changes from a team that put 50 points on Scotland and still put out that side.

I don't think Italy are as bad as you make out but it should be a comfortable enough win for the AB's.

Conrad Smith is pure class, I'll never pass up a chance to watch him.

freyners · 15-11-2012 7:48pm

I enjoy readin your reviews Swiwi, entertaining to say the least and there is some good analysis there.

I half watched the Italy Tonga game myself. Error strewn was my immediate reaction. Italys pack was the difference. Have the potential to cause problems at scrum time for NZ. Outside that however NZ have dominance7

Oh and on us "pilfering talent", ye're hardly saints now either :P

http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/bornoverseas.asp?

Swiwi · 15-11-2012 7:57pm

freyners wrote: »

I enjoy readin your reviews Swiwi, entertaining to say the least and there is some good analysis there.

I half watched the Italy Tonga game myself. Error strewn was my immediate reaction. Italys pack was the difference. Have the potential to cause problems at scrum time for NZ. Outside that however NZ have dominance7

Oh and on us "pilfering talent", ye're hardly saints now either :P

http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/bornoverseas.asp?

There was fair bit of tongue-in-cheek in my preview

freyners · 15-11-2012 8:03pm

Swiwi wrote: »

There was fair bit of tongue-in-cheek in my preview

aye the Mcclean thing gave it away, although I that article surprised me with the some of names on there

Ill probably keep half an eye on this match with the other eye on the Eng aus match. Ill be interested to see how cane plays and how the NZ front row perform. Woodcock is a solid LH but Castro is one of the best THs in the world.

Just wondering what was the reaction in NZ to Kerr-Barlows performance in comparison to whats here re Murray, worse/better?

Swiwi · 15-11-2012 8:08pm

Tox56 wrote: »

Ridiculous how New Zealand can make 14 changes from a team that put 50 points on Scotland and still put out that side.

I don't think Italy are as bad as you make out but it should be a comfortable enough win for the AB's.

Conrad Smith is pure class, I'll never pass up a chance to watch him.

Yeah, it was a magical day when NZ finally realised that they didn't need Ma'a Nonu I and Ma'a Nonu II at 12 & 13, but that a Guscott or Sella style player at 13 would compliment Nonu (or SBW) perfectly. It is now ironic that Ben Smith looks like he is being eyed up as the successor, as he is the same lithe sort of a player.

Swiwi · 15-11-2012 8:11pm

freyners wrote: »

aye the Mcclean thing gave it away, although I that article surprised me with the some of names on there

Ill probably keep half an eye on this match with the other eye on the Eng aus match. Ill be interested to see how cane plays and how the NZ front row perform. Woodcock is a solid LH but Castro is one of the best THs in the world.

Just wondering what was the reaction in NZ to Kerr-Barlows performance in comparison to whats here re Murray, worse/better?

TBH, he didn't get much of mention, other than the odd comment that he would want to do better. Most of the talk was around DC, who I must admit had one of those games when he could no wrong, early intercept aside. Aaron Smith is now firmly No. 1, and Weepu (the slimmed down version) actually had a pretty good game too. A LOT of people rate TJ Perenara, who unfortunately is currently out of action recovering from a broken ankle/leg. Andy Ellis has also been in great domestic form, although has never really made the step up. S15 2013 will be a great battle between the NZ scrumhalves.

errlloyd · 15-11-2012 8:30pm

Well done Swiwi, good preview, it is actually an interesting game.

tolosenc · 15-11-2012 8:53pm

Italy by less than a score.

freyners · 15-11-2012 8:56pm

tolosnec wrote:

Italy by less than a score.

20/1 on pp if your confident:p

Klunk_NZ · 15-11-2012 10:25pm

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10847764

The NZ herald has really come up winners in the article title stakes.

PhatPiggins · 15-11-2012 10:38pm

Best poll thats ever graced this forum

Swiwi · 17-11-2012 4:18am

freyners wrote: »

I enjoy readin your reviews Swiwi, entertaining to say the least and there is some good analysis there.

I half watched the Italy Tonga game myself. Error strewn was my immediate reaction. Italys pack was the difference. Have the potential to cause problems at scrum time for NZ. Outside that however NZ have dominance7

Oh and on us "pilfering talent", ye're hardly saints now either :P

http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/bornoverseas.asp?

Of the players I recognize in that list, Andrew Mehrtens is probably the pick of the bunch. Back in the day when the IRB would still let players freely country hop, I remember a rumour broke out that Mehrts was switching allegiance to SA. Went down like a lead balloon. Mehrts was always a bit of a joker, so it wouldn't surprise me if he started it!

I guess the most famous AB of Irish extraction is Dave Gallagher, from Donegal I believe, and one of the "Originals". Never saw him play, of course...