Match preview & thread: ITA vs ENG (Sunday, February 4th)

Dave_The_Sheep

Italia vs Inghilterra

|

15: Matteo Minozzi |15: Mike Brown
14: Tommaso Benvenuti |14: Anthony Watson
13: Tommaso Boni |13: Ben Te'o
12: Tommaso Castello |12: Owen Farrell
11: Mattia Bellini |11: Jonny May
10: Tommaso Allan |10: George Ford
9: Marcello Violi |9: Ben Youngs
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1: Andrea Lovotti |1: Mako Vunipola
2: Leonardo Ghiraldini |2: Dylan Hartley (C)
3: Simone Ferrari |3: Dan Cole
4: Alessandro Zanni |4: Joe Launchbury
5: Dean Budd |5: Maro Itoje
6: Sebastian Negri |6: Courtney Lawes
7: Renato Giammarioli |7: Chris Robshaw
8: Sergio Parisse (C)|8: Sam Simmonds
|
16: Luca Bigi |16: Jamie George
17: Nicola Quaglio |17: Alec Hepburn
18: Tiziano Pasquali |18: Harry Williams
19: George Biagi |19: George Kruis
20: Maxime Mbanda |20: Sam Underhill
21: Edoardo Gori |21: TJ Danny Care
22: Carlo Canna |22: Jonathan Joseph
23: Jayden Hayward |23: Jack Nowell

Date: Sunday, 4th February

Kick-off: 15.00 Irish time

Venue:Stadio Olimpico

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Assistant Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

Assistant Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Broadcasters: TV3, ITV, FR2, DMAX, NBC

By 3PM Sunday afternoon, celebratory/commiseratory hangovers should be clearing up and the last game of the weekend (not counting the Superbowl) takes place - what looks to be the most one-sided of the three games, between Eddie Jones' England and Conor O'Shea's Italy.

Last year, Italy caused England all sorts of problems, and caused much hilarity for the rest of the world with their "not proper rugby" tactics at the breakdown. Sadly, Italy succumbed 36-15 in Twickenham, but the scoreline flattered England - indeed there were only two points in it with ten minutes to go - such was England's inability to deal with Italy's 'smart rugby'. Three tries for England in the last ten minutes finished Italy off and provided a nice scoreline for the men in white. Happily for Dylan Hartley, World Rugby have changed the rules so Italy can't use the same tactic again, and unless O'Shea has something else up his sleep, we won't get to see confused faces in the ref cam.

ENGLAND
Back-to-back Six Nations Champions England (vomit) arrive in Rome in the midst of a shocking #injuryCRISIS, and as such have fielded a very weak side in their opening game. Ah, who am I kidding, it's a very strong side from Jones, props aside, who will be favourites for many for the competition. Getting their easiest game out of the way is a nice way to gear up for touger opposition in the weeks to come. The big losses for England in terms of injury are to forwards Billy Vunipola, Kyle Sinckler and Joe Marler with Elliot Daly also missing out, with no massive step down in terms of quality for most of those. Mind you, the relative newcomer Sam Simmonds at 8 is as different to Big Billy as can be - he's got pace, some decent feet and doesn't try to just mash through the opposition. He's having a great season or two at Exeter, scoring tries for fun apparently, 17 in 36 appearances according to the Exeter stats.

From speaking to some English rugby mates, they're not overly concerned by this game - unsurprisingly given England's perfect record against Italy - though have somewhat mixed reactions to the teamsheet. It's seen as a little conservative, perhaps expecting a bit more new blood to be used in the first 15 was hopeful rather than expected - Italy may be the weakest side in the competition, but it's still the first game of the year and England need to get up a head of steam for the Welsh and Scottish games. There's some concern for the prop replacements (Sinckler, Genge and Marler being unavailable) and their inexperience - indeed it's a debut for Alec Hepburn on the bench, but the replacements are possibly 4th/5th choice in prop territory. General happiness to see Lawes back on the flank, between Simmonds and Lawes they should be up in Allan's face all day. Overall, much the same for England on the first team scene and will look to power over the Italian pack in the loose.

ITALY
Overall, Italy will be looking to improve on last year's debut season for Conor O'Shea - with a grand total of 0 wins last year, it's badly needed. It's hard to see where they'll get their victory though - away to Ireland, France and Wales. Scotland at home will be one they'll target, but with Scotland perhaps resurgent, that'll be tough. They've gone up against a poor South Africa and Argentine sides, both losses though did beat Fiji in last Autumn's internationals. I'm not sure I can see them getting one this Six Nations.

I won't pretend to know a whole lot about this Italian side, it's a young enough inexperienced team, with 8 of the first 15 having less than 10 caps (12/23) and only 5 players out of the 23 have more than 40 caps. Congrats to him, it's Zanni's 100th cap on Sunday. Between him, Ghiraldini (89) and the ever-present Parisse (129), they'll have a job on their hands leading their team against this English side... if things start to go against them, heads could drop and it could get very ugly for Italy. I'm a little surprised to see Allan starting ahead of Canna, given what I've seen of him for Zebre.

Much like France-Ireland, it's a case of a tight disciplined side against one very much in a building phase - hopefully Italy manage to play with a bit of freedom, watching Treviso this year makes me feel they're a bit more free-scoring than before.

No sign of Ian McKinley by the way, and I can't seem to find if he's injured or it's just a form decision. If someone knows, let me know!

PREDICTION
I can't see past a fairly resouding England win here. Scrums should be interesting, Italy will be targeting England's scrum in this one you feel, given England's prop situation. Unless Italy can really do a number there and force lots of scrums, the rest of England's game (lineout particularly) should be enough to overpower them. Italy will have to play smart (cliche alert) and while they may be able to keep it tight in the first half, England should power clear in the second half.

Stheno

For some reason I can't get a signal for it on my sky box despite it being tuned in

BBDBB

Jonny Wilkinson, sponsored by Just for Men

awec

England to win by a lot.

Didactic Ninja

I never understand the mocking of Hartley and Haskell in the incident referenced by OP’s pic from last year

They were dead right to talk to the ref and get him to explain what way he was interpreting what was going on.

Even this weekend the crooked feed was reffed differently by Owens and Gauzere for example.

McCaw, Johnson O Driscoll etc would have done the same.

Didactic Ninja

Hopefully Italy get a right good hiding here

chatticusfinch

Hartley always looks like such a goon.

bloodless_coup

Italy to lose by no more than 10

mojesius

Cmon Italy!

Bazzo

That was very easy.

OldRio

Dear me. I might take the dogs for a walk.

laugh

What's with the Jimmy McGee style useless facts McIntyre.

mojesius

Ah feck it anyway

razorblunt

Coles off his feet at that ruck, went flying in.

Italians really need to get the ref breaks.

Burkie1203

The screams from ben youngs

Buer

Looks like Youngs tournament is over.

Squidgy Black

Burkie1203 wrote: »

The screams from ben youngs

Sounded horrible.

Buer

Never good when you see the doctor holding the hand of the injured player and trying to comfort him.

razorblunt

Oooft huge shout from Young’s, looks nasty. I initially thought it was the Italian close down that was shouting it was that loud.

chatticusfinch

Poor Youngs, that looks nasty.

OldRio

Dear me.

Squidgy Black

Any idea who will come into the squad in place of Youngs?

sydthebeat

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Any idea who will come into the squad in place of Youngs?

Wigglesworth?

LuckyGent88

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Any idea who will come into the squad in place of Youngs?

Dan Robson from Wasps I think

awec

I spent 5 mins yesterday trying to decide whether to put Watson or May in my fantasy team ffs.

razorblunt

For goodness sake, Italians aren’t doing themselves any favours. Should be yellow for Benvenuti

Clegg

The pure speed of Watson is frightening. It's something Ireland lacked in the outside backs for a long time. We've quick players now but still not on the level of Watson or even May.

mangobob

This could be grim for Italy.

baas baa

The Italian 13 was hopeless for that try.

ScrubsfanChris

Great pass by Allen

bloodless_coup

More like it

dublinman1990

Jaysus. Italy scored. Nice one.

Squidgy Black

Some response by the Italians.

Stheno

Lovely try there !!

ednwireland

might make a game of it yet !

whatawaster

Great stuff by Italy. Can see this championship coming down to points difference so the closer this is the better

chatticusfinch

Belter of a try there, nice.

NollagShona

Scottish pub here erupted!

gooch2k9

Farrell gets his late hit in!

razorblunt

Tommy Allen, with a perfect play.

Sephiral

Italy playing fairly well.

I thought Watson was comfortably the best outside back on the Lions tour and he has been sensational every time I've seen him since at every level.

dublinman1990

Farrell responds.

bloodless_coup

Stupid hand signals after trys and conversions.

mangobob

Normal service resumes.

NollagShona

doylefe wrote: »

Stupid hand signals after trys and conversions.

It’s in memory of a young child that died from Cancer tbf

razorblunt

Hartley is squint on line outs, he stands in the English side of it and the ball goes straight from his hands. That camera angle really showed it.

v6e5qzawyrc3jn

This post has been deleted.

ScrubsfanChris

NollagShona wrote: »

It’s in memory of a young child that died from Cancer tbf

Muscular dystrophy. And it's for the charity he helps as well as the young boy.

razorblunt

ITV calling Italy out on shuffling at the line out.

CurryFlavoured

Italy have a lot of territory and possession, the problem is that England have cut through them like a hot knife through butter any time they've had a sniff.

ScrubsfanChris

No way England were back on the line from the quick tap penalty. Missed by ref and TJ