[2014 Mid-Year Test] Japan vs. Italy. 21/06/14

[LittleGuy]

Japan vs. Italy. 21/06/14, 14:00 JST, Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo, Japan.

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Lineups: TBA

 

[Big Ewis]

For......*sighhhhhhhh*...................forza itaaaaaaliaaaaaa.....

 

[Rhys4Wales]

Beautiful game Japan

 

[RWC2011Fan]

26-23 the final score.

Didn't see the game, but it sounds like Japan are on their way up big time. I absolutely can not wait for Pool B in 2015; South Africa, Scotland, Samoa, Japan, and USA.

Little bit concerning for Italy, 0 from 3 this June. Not sure if they're significantly understrength, but from what I've heard Parisse's been missing.

 

[Sirfroman]

Japan now 12th in rankings, Italy 14th. I was surprised but not so now.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

oh dear... tier 2 for italy ?

 

[Big Ewis]

I'm very sorry for Italy...it's all over. They'll have a hard time again in November against Samoa, Argentina and then will get annihilated by the Boks. And won't survive the next 6N, another spoon for them. No miracle for them at the World Cup either...they'll just have to wait for this new generation to develop, but I'm not sure what direction that'll take or if they'll even improve that much.

They were showing such progress around 2012/early 2013. Remember, they were one penalty kick away from tying with Australia, played a very good game against the Blacks at home and only started conceding tries at the end. They beat France to start 2013 off and convincingly, it wasn't a fluke, and ended up beating Ireland too that tournament for the first time in the 6N.

Then BAM. Nightmare summer tournament in South Africa. Terrible home series in November highlighted by 50 at home from Aus, another Spoon to start 2014, where their form got exponentially worse, conceding 46 then 52(this one at home) in the last two games. And now this 2014 summer tour, losing all 3 tests to Tier 2 nations...

Yes they're Tier 2 now, it's official. The way things are going, I can't imagine what scorelines they'll show against the Boks in Nov. or at Twickenham next year in the 6N.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

i think after that they should have a european tournament containing teams like Georgia, Russia, Italy and Romania maybe Spain/Portugal/Germany as now i think they wouldn't be favourites to win as its a toss between Georgia and italy

 

[Big Ewis]

actually that's not a completely insane idea...there's not point at all in having Italy get screwed by 20points in every game in the 6N...although they did almost beat Scotland last Feb....
But I do think if they keep this up, they should be "relegated" to the 6N B tournament. I bet Georgia at home could beat them right now.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

actually that's not a completely insane idea...there's not point at all in having Italy get screwed by 20points in every game in the 6N...although they did almost beat Scotland last Feb....
But I do think if they keep this up, they should be "relegated" to the 6N B tournament. I bet Georgia at home could beat them right now.

yeah being honest i thought we were very lucky to have won that and i do like georgian rugby they were pretty impressive in the world cup. yeah would think georgia could win at home maybe a lucky win away as well. but what i do worry about italy is what will happen when Parisse and Castrogiovanni retire, and Bergamasco and Bortolami. they aren't going to cope they even need a scottish player to come play for them and that is saying something

 

[Big Ewis]

haha. Well indeed people have been asking that question about Italy, and right now the report is even more catastrophic than what those same people had anticipated. But this young generation will develop though, but into what, that's the question. How good will they become, or rather how "not bad" can they get ? It's too early to know right now, we'll have to see how the record progresses from now til after the World Cup. At the moment though, it's deteriorating at the speed of light. From 2012 til now, it's been a scary slope..

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

here does anyone have the highlights to this game ? wanted to see how italy played

 

[Big Ewis]

here does anyone have the highlights to this game ? wanted to see how italy played

no highlights to be found yet, and still nothing from the Samoa game either. Of course, there is always a way... but I guess you're not interested.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

no highlights to be found yet, and still nothing from the Samoa game either. Of course, there is always a way... but I guess you're not interested.

yeah....

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

i found the full game off Samoa vs Italy here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE3_cZz0P1s

 

[Big Ewis]

yeah, love that account. He's the new TTRugbyVid. I really thought - had all the reason to believe - this match wasn't televised at all, or possibly not filmed

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

yeah, love that account. He's the new TTRugbyVid. I really thought - had all the reason to believe - this match wasn't televised at all, or possibly not filmed

im sure it was streamed somewhere. or televised in samoa ? but wasn't an interesting game anyway it was all kicks anyway Japan vs Italy will be more off an interesting game

 

[Big Ewis]

im sure it was streamed somewhere. or televised in samoa ? but wasn't an interesting game anyway it was all kicks anyway Japan vs Italy will be more off an interesting game

do they...have tv in Sam.......? Yeah so it was all home side penalties who gives a shiit. But Italy got a penalty try on Japan I see, and 2 tries each overall. This is a good win for Japan, they seem to be going somewhere. Hey, they're in the same pool as Scotland next year you know...what ?! I'm not saying anything....