A feeling like Argentina hosting New Zealand in 2001

[Melhor Time]

San Siro, Milan to host Italy vs New Zealand in November. It is to be a sell out with the famous soccer venue full for a rugby match. Very, very great news for my beloved sport.

In 2001 Argentina hosted New Zealand in Buenos Aires and got a fullhouse there and were winning the game until the end when they failed to find touch and NZ scored a lucky try. Fair game, Contepomi made a mistake and New Zealand used it to get out of jail. Still, the memory of that game lives on.

This game in Milan is familiar. It is a similar New Zealand side, one which has lost a few games in the same season and is lacking stars in a number of positions. That test was the birth of Richie McCaw and Aaron Mauger. Argentina were mainly amateur. A few pro players who played veryw ell like Pichot and Contepomi.

Italy have got themselves better backs then at any other time. Gower is a great 10 as is Marcato who will play 15. With Garcia and Canale in great form at 12 and Mirco Bergamasco and Kaine Robertson playing well on the wings the backs look good. Not All Black quality, but certainly it brings back memories of the 2001 test in Argentina. Nobody gave Argentina a chance and come November everyone will say New Zealand will win big. I am not convinced.

Parisse is back and on form. Its sad that Mauro Bergamasco is injured though.

 

[jawmalawm24]

I cannot remember the 2001 game sounds like a get out of jail one alright. This should be a great game to watch and hopefully we'll get to see the full potential of the Argentines and they can show us what we're all in for come the Four Nations :cheers:

 

[Woldog]

Argentina are more physical than any other team, but ill discipline lets them down on occasions, will be a good game.

 

[admartian]

Italy played well in NZ this year. Their forward pack made the difference. Still,I think the NZ team this year have been ravaged by far too many injuries.

We need to consistently grow our player base, not by rotation or wholesale changes, but by selecting form people and giving the guys that deserve to be picked a chance.

 

[Nickdnz]

Sorry, but I'll be the first to put my hand up that NZ will win fairly big, providing there is fewer injuries. Our bad form through out the Tri Nations can mainly be put down to the loss of Daniel Carter. I mean he boosted a failing NZ team quite a bit, and while with him in the team we lost to SA, he now has a bit more rugby time under his belt and made a huuuge difference vs Australia.

 

[Juan VdS]

I was 14 at the time and attended the game... and what a game it was! Los Pumas played out of their skins and outclassed the All Blacks in every aspect of the game. But there were some mistakes in the final minutes, which allowed them to score a VERY lucky try.

As for Italy v NZ, it should be an interesting game. As Melhor Time said it does bring memories of that game in 2001. Italy has a very good team now, their backline looks dangerous and Sergio Parisse (why did you go play for Italy?! Come back here! ) can make a difference.

Italy is a physical team, but not in the same level as Argentina, who I believe to be more physical that the Boks. Yeah, SA has bigger players and may win on the 1 on 1 battle, but Argentina is far more combative at the breakdown, doing more work in the tight. The Boks throw it around a bit more while Los Pumas will keep it tight all day if they can make ground.

That said, I'm eager to see this game kick off. I just hope the All Blacks will have improved by then.

 

[Prestwick]

I'm going to sit in the "ABs by a mile" camp to be honest. The last time Italy faced the ABs in front of a mostly pro-italian crowd made up of Italian fans and they had a bad case of deer-in-the-headlights syndrome. It was the first time I ever saw Nonu actually run around someone in a game of rugby rather than just running into the guy.

If Nonu goes to the Roman Forum in Rome, be very scared because I don't think Nonu has mastered the art of "going around stuff" yet so he may injure himself waddling into a <strike>marwbwl</strike> marble column..

..all jokes aside, Italy are very physical, especially behing a home crowd but their backs just aren't good enough to match anyone yet. They're like the supercharged V8 waiting to be installed in an Aston Martin or Holden Commodore but instead get put in a Morris Oxford...

 

[Steve-o]

I like the firey Italians but they'll do well to stay within 10 points of the All Blacks.

 

[DonBilly]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (admartian @ Oct 15 2009, 10:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Italy played well in NZ this year. Their forward pack made the difference. Still,I think the NZ team this year have been ravaged by far too many injuries.

We need to consistently grow our player base, not by rotation or wholesale changes, but by selecting form people and giving the guys that deserve to be picked a chance.[/b]

Isn't NZ supposed to have unbelievable depth? If injuries may not be easy to manage it should be easier for NZ than the other nations bar maybe South Africa.

 

[Nickdnz]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DonBilly @ Oct 16 2009, 10:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (admartian @ Oct 15 2009, 10:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Italy played well in NZ this year. Their forward pack made the difference. Still,I think the NZ team this year have been ravaged by far too many injuries.

We need to consistently grow our player base, not by rotation or wholesale changes, but by selecting form people and giving the guys that deserve to be picked a chance.[/b]

Isn't NZ supposed to have unbelievable depth? If injuries may not be easy to manage it should be easier for NZ than the other nations bar maybe South Africa.
[/b][/quote]
Yes, well while NZ is supposed to have unbelievable depth, I think the Iveco Series proved other wise. 2 years ago we had amazing depth. We now have alot of good players, but have not had enough time at an international level to be effective yet, or out other players, whom could fill the spots nicley are all in Europe eg Nick Evans. I think in two years we will have good depth again, especially with talents such as Cruden, Vito, Guildford, David Smith, Robbie Robinson etc, however we arn't quite there yet. In some positions such as Wingers, we have plenty of good wingers in Hosea Gear, Joe Rokocoko, Sitivini Sivivatu, Cory Jane, Lelia Masaga and even Zac Guildford, however in other positions such as 1st 5, we have to rely on the likes of the hard working, but ineffective Steven Donald. And if you take in NZ's injury count, we arn't just missing your every day joes, we are missing key experienced players. You can bring in the most talented players in the world, but without the direction the likes of Ali Williams, Kevin Mealamu etc, we have to turn to newer players without the same direction - eg the very talented, but inexperienced Isaac Ross.

By the way, am I the only person still standing in Rokocoko's corner?

 

[O'Rothlain]

Italy performed well in NZ. The All Blacks will have to be on their toes for this match as facing the Italians on their home soil will be a lot different. Plus the newer members of the Italian squad, like the two Aussie-Qualified Italians, have had more time to adjust to the Italian game and gel with their teammates.
Should be some quality rugger, especially the forward battles.