[2015 Six Nations] Scotland vs Italy (Round 3)

[Tony Manx]

I will take Italy to be there or thereabouts and a win for them would not come as a huge surprise particularly after Scotland's injuries!!!

 

[oldprussians]

If Italy attack with the same intensity they attacked England, Scotland are in for a shock

 

[SharksFan86]

Scotland really should win this but Italy are a good strong outfit now but they do get tired as game goes on ! So as long as Scotland play well and limit chances for Italy then it should be a comfy win.

 

[Hap]

Castro out is not a big concern, in my opinion. I think, at the moment, he doesn't even deserve to be on the bench. Our best tightheads are Chistolini and Cittadini. Castro has a huge influence in the locker room and mediatic "power" and this is why he plays almost every game even if he's not fit. I hope he'll recover and get really in shape for the Wales match in Rome, the only one I think we could maybe win.

The real problem is that Masi will be out too, just after his appearence at 12, where he can show truly his abilities. So this opens a thread about who is going to wear the 12 and with Campagnaro out too we are running out of centres.
Brunel called up Bacchin from Treviso, a youngster who I'm almost sure will follow Masi's footsteps. He remembers a lot Masi to me, same physical strenght and will be the future of italian midfield along with Campagnaro, Morisi, Bisegni and, hopefully, Benvenuti.
Anyway Brunel won't go for him, the most probable choice is Allan at 10, Haimona 12 and Morisi 13.
I really don't know what to expect from them, they've never played togheter.
For Allan will be a special match, I suppose, we will see how's his mental attitude. He played well in the last 2 games but we can't ignore that he came in at garbage time, with less pressure on him, when basically the games were over. This will be a real test match for Tommy.

Even if Scotland lost 2 games as we did, there's no doubt they're a better side than us so I really can't see an italian victory at Murrayfield. But we are a bit crazy team and Scotland should close the game the earlier they can to beat us, not let us stay close in the score because if we start really to believe we could win, well, that's when we get interesting.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Those injury news for italy is unfortunate for them, And it doesn't sound much better for them as Scotland include 5 new players to the squad, who are Chris Cusiter, Adam Ashe, Moraw Low, Alex Allan and David Denton come's in. The only player Scotland are really going to miss in this game is Finn Russell which is a real shame as I think he could really shine in this game. For Injured Richie Gray I don't really mind who gets in as long as its not Jim Hamilton starting then its all good. But the team would be interesting Who will start 10 for Scotland ? well they have 3 options. One is simply adding Greig Tonks at 10. Or they can move Hogg to 10 and have Maitland (If fit) at fullback. Or even have Greig Laidlaw at 10 and play Sam Hidalgo-Clyne at 9. But i would go for a team like this:
1.) Al Dickinson
2.) Ross Ford
3.) Euan Murray
4.) Tim Swinson
5.) Jonny Gray
6.) Rob Harley
7.) Blair Cowan
8.) David Denton
9.) Greig Laidlaw
10.) Greig Tonks
11.) Tommy Seymour (if fit)
12.) Alex Dunbar
13.) Mark Bennett
14.) Sean Maitland (If fit)
15.) Stuart Hogg

16.) Fraser Brown
17.) Alex Allan
18.) Geoff Cross
19.) Ben Toolis (really good player and deserves a chance)
20.) Hamish Watson (again good player and deserves a chance)
21.) Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22.) Peter Horne
23.) Tim Visser

Tommy Seymour and Sean Maitland are still injured currently atm. but are expected to be fit for the game.

 

[Ossau]

Maybe by calling Chris Cusiter, Cotter's intention is to make Laidlaw play at 10. He has the choice with Hidalgo-Clyne and Cusiter to play scrum-half.
I would go for Hidalgo-Clyne at scrum-half and Laidlaw at 10.

 

[oldprussians]

Castro out is not a big concern, in my opinion. I think, at the moment, he doesn't even deserve to be on the bench. Our best tightheads are Chistolini and Cittadini. Castro has a huge influence in the locker room and mediatic "power" and this is why he plays almost every game even if he's not fit. I hope he'll recover and get really in shape for the Wales match in Rome, the only one I think we could maybe win.

The real problem is that Masi will be out too, just after his appearence at 12, where he can show truly his abilities. So this opens a thread about who is going to wear the 12 and with Campagnaro out too we are running out of centres.
Brunel called up Bacchin from Treviso, a youngster who I'm almost sure will follow Masi's footsteps. He remembers a lot Masi to me, same physical strenght and will be the future of italian midfield along with Campagnaro, Morisi, Bisegni and, hopefully, Benvenuti.
Anyway Brunel won't go for him, the most probable choice is Allan at 10, Haimona 12 and Morisi 13.
I really don't know what to expect from them, they've never played togheter.
For Allan will be a special match, I suppose, we will see how's his mental attitude. He played well in the last 2 games but we can't ignore that he came in at garbage time, with less pressure on him, when basically the games were over. This will be a real test match for Tommy.

Even if Scotland lost 2 games as we did, there's no doubt they're a better side than us so I really can't see an italian victory at Murrayfield. But we are a bit crazy team and Scotland should close the game the earlier they can to beat us, not let us stay close in the score because if we start really to believe we could win, well, that's when we get interesting.

Almost agree with everything the colleague says...

except... if Brunel is mart he will play

10 Allan, 12 Morisi, 13 Bisegni

As to the special game... It even more special for George Biagi than Allan

Allan is half SA half Italian

George is Half Scots/Italian, half Italian.

He WILL HAVE a big game, and I mark him to score!

Also I think Italy will win this..... Although I DO ADMIT that when one is a supporter with an emotional attachment, one does get confused between the words "HOPE" and "THINK"!

 

[Hap]

@oldprussians you old optimistic

Anyway, bad news from italian side. Morisi and Sarto are affected by some physical problems, it's not sure their presence at Murrayfield.
Damn, things start getting complicated...

In case, Morisi would probably be substituted by Bisegni or Bacchin while Sarto would be replaced by Visintin or shifting McLean at wing and bringing in Palazzani at fullback.
Too many young and unexperienced players, maybe it's the right time to win again

Anyway, Palazzani (who's born scrumhalf) is a very good backup at fullback but he's a completely different fullback than McLean. Luke's much more tactical and a second playmaker while Palazzani is a more dangerous counter-attacker, quicker in short spaces and less predictable.
He played sometimes at fullback at Zebre and in my opinion he's very good in the spot. Unfortunately his coach prefers him at scrumhalf as Leonard's replace so he's not playing too much in any spot.

 

[oldprussians]

@oldprussians you old optimistic

Anyway, bad news from italian side. Morisi and Sarto are affected by some physical problems, it's not sure their presence at Murrayfield.
Damn, things start getting complicated...

In case, Morisi would probably be substituted by Bisegni or Bacchin while Sarto would be replaced by Visintin or shifting McLean at wing and bringing in Palazzani at fullback.
Too many young and unexperienced players, maybe it's the right time to win again

Anyway, Palazzani (who's born scrumhalf) is a very good backup at fullback but he's a completely different fullback than McLean. Luke's much more tactical and a second playmaker while Palazzani is a more dangerous counter-attacker, quicker in short spaces and less predictable.
He played sometimes at fullback at Zebre and in my opinion he's very good in the spot. Unfortunately his coach prefers him at scrumhalf as Leonard's replace so he's not playing too much in any spot.

Do you really believe in all that pre game tactics??

I tell you... 10 Allan 11 Sarto 12 Morisi 13 Bisegni 14 Venditti 15 Mclean...

And if not, I am actually confident in Visentin and Bacchin, and in Bisegni!

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

So Finn Russell's appeal is to he heard tomorrow. What do you think the outcome is. Hopefully is ban is cancelled we could really use him in this game.

 

[ncurd]

Extended ban totally disagree with it but thats what happens in these cases as 'don't question us'

 

[Hap]

Italy's XV:

Italia: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Michele Visentin, 13 Enrico Bacchin, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 George Biagi, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Matias Aguero
A disposizione: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Samuela Vunisa, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Allan , 23 Giulio Bisegni

Visentin debuts at 14 and Bacchin (very happy for the Treviso's guy, watch out for him) at 13.
Fortunately Morisi is in, even if not fit, but this means that Brunel doesn't trust in alternatives like Haimona 12 and Allan 10.
I'd really have preferred Tommy Allan starting at 10 as Haimona's just a decent centre, in my opinion.
Tackling machine Favaro's back at 7, replacing Mauro Bergamasco in strenght and game style. My scottish friends, you'll be happy about having him at Glasgow next year.

 

[Every Time Ref]

From what I saw Minto is also mainly about tackling. Two tackling flankers, I guess Italy are not expecting too much ball.

Glad to see Furno starting, but I agree with @Hap that Italy have looked much better with Allan at 10 and Haimona at 12.

 

[Hap]

@Every Time Ref Minto is fundamental because he could play in second row in case of need and he's very important in the breakdowns too. He's very good in slowing down the opposing game and sometimes he comes out with nice turnovers.

About the backline. Maybe with all these newbies we'll came out with a brave performance, playing without fear or pressure while scottish team has much expectations on the shoulders from their supporters about this game.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Italy's XV:

Italia: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Michele Visentin, 13 Enrico Bacchin, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Simone Favaro, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 George Biagi, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Matias Aguero
A disposizione: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Marco Fuser, 20 Samuela Vunisa, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Allan , 23 Giulio Bisegni

Visentin debuts at 14 and Bacchin (very happy for the Treviso's guy, watch out for him) at 13.
Fortunately Morisi is in, even if not fit, but this means that Brunel doesn't trust in alternatives like Haimona 12 and Allan 10.
I'd really have preferred Tommy Allan starting at 10 as Haimona's just a decent centre, in my opinion.
Tackling machine Favaro's back at 7, replacing Mauro Bergamasco in strenght and game style. My scottish friends, you'll be happy about having him at Glasgow next year.

Sorry to say this to the Italian fans but if we don't win this then there is alot to be done because that is no way the best Italian team possible and we will have our good players there so.

 

[RedruthRFC]

So Finn Russell's appeal is to he heard tomorrow. What do you think the outcome is. Hopefully is ban is cancelled we could really use him in this game.

As it has taken so long for an appeal to be put together and heard, would it really be that much of a boon if the ban is overturned? Presumably the coaching staff will have worked on the assumption that the ban will stand (or as ncurd say, be increased), so will have trained with someone else in that position.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

As it has taken so long for an appeal to be put together and heard, would it really be that much of a boon if the ban is overturned? Presumably the coaching staff will have worked on the assumption that the ban will stand (or as ncurd say, be increased), so will have trained with someone else in that position.

Well obviously as the ban might not get overturned. So there will be someone training at 10 to cover him till he come's back

 

[ncurd]

Original sanction stands

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/six-nations-scotland-fly-half-finn-8721062

Well at least he didn't get longer!

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

And in other new's Finn Russell's ban still stands :|.

- - - Updated - - -

Gregor Townsend will not be happy

 

[RedruthRFC]

Well obviously as the ban might not get overturned. So there will be someone training at 10 to cover him till he come's back

Doesn't matter now, but that's my point - are you better off slotting your number one choice back in at two days notice, or are you better off with someone who has been training there for the best part of two weeks?