Italia v Manu Samoa La Thread di Partita Sky Sports 2 RED BUTTON 7/11/14

Morf

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01. Matias Aguero|01. Zak Taulafo
02. Leonardo Ghiraldini|02. Ti'i Paulo
03. Dario Chistolini|03. Anthony Perenise
04. Quintin Geldenhuys|04. Kane Thompson
05. Joshua Furno|05. Fa'atiga Lamalu
06. Alessandro Zanni|06. Piula Faasalele
07. Simone Favaro|07. Jack Lam
08. Sergio Parisse|08. Tai Tu'ifua
|
09. Edoardo Gori|09. Kahn Fotuali'i
10. Kelly Haimona|10. Tusi Pisi
11. Leonardo Sarto|11. David Lemi
12. Luca Morisi|12. Alapati Leiua
13. Michele Campagnaro|13. Johnny Leota
14. Luke McLean|14. Ken Pisi
15. Andrea Masi|15. Fa'atoin Autagavaia
|
16. Andrea Manici|16. Ole Avei
17. Alberto di Marchi|17. Patrick-Albert Toetu
18. Lorenzo Cittadini|18. Viliamu Afatia
19. Marco Bortolami|19. Filo Paulo
20. Robert Barbieri|20. Maurie Fa'asavalu
21. Gugliermo Palazzani|21. Pete Cowley
22. Luciano Orquera|22. Michael Stanley
23. Giulio Tonioletti|23. Winston Stanley


The Azzurri receive Manu Samoa coming off 6 straight losses and one pretty hefty one to Samoa themselves. Very much a mix of grizzled veterans like Aguero, Gendinhuys and Masi mixed with a lot of green players like Gori, Morisi (minus a spleen), Campagnaro and Sarto. There's Furno who looked good last 6N, Zanni and Parisse in the BR and McLean at wing offering reasonably old heads too. Expect Kelly Haimona (down as a centre for Zebre) to have an interesting game.

Typically strong in FR on bench with Bortolami there for a wise head I reckon. Barbieri will be a good impact with inexperienced scrum half and Orquera to be a massive bullseye for every Samoan player.

Manu Samoa will be pretty confident. Taulofa going well with Stade Francais, Paulo the regular 2nd choice hooker at Clermont and Perenise possibly a slighter reputation at Bristol but doing well at that level.. The SR of Thompson and Lemalu won't be a strong point for Samoa I'd imagine. Lam at Championship level doing well and Tu'ifua at UBB the team to watch in Top 14 in contrast to Faasalele sitting at the bottom of Top 14. Fotoali'i will control very well at 9 with Pisi (T) solid at 10. Lemi and Pisi (K) both flyers on the wings with Leiua coming with a great rep from Super rugby with Chiefs. Leota in a middle prem team and the FB who I shan't bother to type again with a French time I've not heard a monkeys about.

Very much a mixed bag on the bench for Samoa. Two UBB front rowers and a young Agen chap. Filo Paulo fairly journeyman player. Fa'asavalu offering experience off the bench and virtually no high level experience at 21, 22 or 23.

TIME!

Ghiraldini v Paulo

I'd have to go for a tough nut Italian at a tough nut club in Tigers, not that Paolo has it easy in the Massif Central.

Battle of back-rows

I think Parisse and Zanni (and Favoro) with have too much for their counterparts if they turn up on the day. The 6 is in a poor Castres team this year, the 7 in the championship but the 8 with a high-flying UBB team but all but very few 8s > Parisse.

Half backs:

and Tusi will have the other two for breakfast, elevenses and possibly brunch. Big advantage here.

Outside backs:

I think it'll be relatively even. Lemi a bit past it. G Pisi going well. Leiua a fine player but Leota possibly a limiting factor and the FB not one I'd heard of or have the will to trawl French Div 2 sites for info.

Sarto is a good player going well this year and last. Quick physical player. Hope Morisi and Campagnaro will push on from the former's injury and the latter's early promise. McLean will be solid and hopefully Masi will offer strike options from deep.

Forecast: Samoans will be large units on and off the field. Italians will wear far too many blue Kappa rugby hoodies, sunglasses and use hand gestures. Pretty Italian ladies in crowd.

Samoa by 7+ I think.

sydneybound

Hold on here how isn't Alofa Alofa playing or not even on the bench?!

Awkward Badger

Think you have the date wrong there. As far as I know its on at 2pm tomorrow the 8th.

Morf

Oh yeah, thanks.

Can a mod amend that please?

sydneybound

Going to watch this for the first 15 minutes on the red button.

Funny looking stadium but looks like a great crowd.

sydneybound

3-0 Italy

sydneybound

Italy 14 samoa 13 after 60 minutes

CatFromHue

It'd be a good win for Italy if they can do it.

I'd have thought Samoa would be favourites for this one.

Bridge93

Very good Italy performance in the second half. Thats a decent win for them.

sydneybound

Immense result for the Italians fair dues to them.

They are playing these autumn internationals around the country and had a crowd of around 20,000 which is great going for them.