Australia v Italy

[Wally]

I usually watch these games against Italy to see how they are coming along as a rugby nation and quite enjoy them, but there have been a few too many in recent seasons. Why keep scheduling games against the Azzuri when there is quality opposition such as Argentina who we haven't faced since 2003? Anyway, this game will be interesting for the lone fact that the former NRL star Craig Gower has been picked.

 

[feicarsinn]

Well Italy have had a terrible season so far, really taken a step backwards by the looks of things. If the Aussies go at them hard it will be painful to watch I'm afraid

 

[alexrugby]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (feicarsinn @ Jun 7 2009, 05:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Well Italy have had a terrible season so far, really taken a step backwards by the looks of things. If the Aussies go at them hard it will be painful to watch I'm afraid[/b]

I agree there will be some rugby horror of Murdering Italians

And painful especially for Italians I guess

 

[Thingimubob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wally @ Jun 7 2009, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I usually watch these games against Italy to see how they are coming along as a rugby nation and quite enjoy them, but there have been a few too many in recent seasons. Why keep scheduling games against the Azzuri when there is quality opposition such as Argentina who we haven't faced since 2003? Anyway, this game will be interesting for the lone fact that the former NRL star Craig Gower has been picked.[/b]

Didn't they run the Wallebies close in Rome back in Novmber 08? Score was Italy 20 - 30 Australia, something like a late Giteau penalty, then a converted Ashley-Cooper try winning it in the last few mins. They ran them close in November 07 too as well, was Italy 18 - 25 Australia I think, with the Italians murdering the Aussie scrum.
Agree that Aregentina need more game time against the Tri-Nations, but you should give the Italians a bit more credit. They need these games as well.
Australia will probably have an easy victory this year because Italy have had a poor season in the 6 Nations, and Nick Mallet doesn't seem to be helping them that much with his daft selections...
What was Craig Gower like as a league player btw? I posted a thread a month or two ago about him being picked by Italy, not replies though .

 

[Fushitsusha]

Australia's record at home against Italy is a lot different than it is when they play in Italy...

 

[QLD]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thingimubob @ Jun 8 2009, 05:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wally @ Jun 7 2009, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I usually watch these games against Italy to see how they are coming along as a rugby nation and quite enjoy them, but there have been a few too many in recent seasons. Why keep scheduling games against the Azzuri when there is quality opposition such as Argentina who we haven't faced since 2003? Anyway, this game will be interesting for the lone fact that the former NRL star Craig Gower has been picked.[/b]

Didn't they run the Wallebies close in Rome back in Novmber 08? Score was Italy 20 - 30 Australia, something like a late Giteau penalty, then a converted Ashley-Cooper try winning it in the last few mins. They ran them close in November 07 too as well, was Italy 18 - 25 Australia I think, with the Italians murdering the Aussie scrum.
Agree that Aregentina need more game time against the Tri-Nations, but you should give the Italians a bit more credit. They need these games as well.
Australia will probably have an easy victory this year because Italy have had a poor season in the 6 Nations, and Nick Mallet doesn't seem to be helping them that much with his daft selections...
What was Craig Gower like as a league player btw? I posted a thread a month or two ago about him being picked by Italy, not replies though .
[/b][/quote]

Great player, idiot off the field.

 

[danit]

ITALY XV

15 Luke MCLEAN (Calvisano, 8 caps)
14 Kaine ROBERTSON (Viadana, 37 caps)
13 Mirco BERGAMASCO (Stade Francais, 61 caps)
12 Matteo PRATICHETTI (Calvisano, 17 caps)
11 Alberto SGARBI (Treviso, 2 caps)
10 Craig GOWER (Bayonne, uncapped)
9 Pablo CANAVOSIO (Viadana, 25 caps)
8 Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 62 caps) â€" capt.
7 Mauro BERGAMASCO (Stade Francais, 74 caps)
6 Alessandro ZANNI (Calvisano, 31 caps)
5 Carlo Antonio DEL FAVA (Ulster, 36 caps)
4 Quintin GELDENHUYS (Viadana, uncapped)
3 Fabio STAIBANO (Castres, 6 caps)
2 Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Calvisano, 19 caps)
1 Salvatore PERUGINI (Stade Toulousain, 60 caps)

16 Franco SBARAGLINI (Treviso, 2 caps)
17 Ignacio ROUYET (Viadana, 2 caps)
18 Marco BORTOLAMI (Gloucester, 74 caps)
19 Paul DERBYSHIRE (Petrarca Padova, uncapped)
20 ***o TEBALDI (Gran Parma, uncapped)
21 Kristopher BURTON (I Cavalieri Prato, 2 caps)
22 Gonzalo GARCIA (Calvisano, 8 caps)


a weak side, after a real disappointing season, many players completely out of form, I guess this team will be smashed, Aussie by 40

 

[BLR]

Looking forward to seeing how Luke McLean does, screw Gasnier, this is a Perth Spirit boy.

 

[QLD]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BLR @ Jun 12 2009, 11:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Looking forward to seeing how Luke McLean does, screw Gasnier, this is a Perth Spirit boy.[/b]

Queenslander.

 

[durbutter]

Itlay just scored a great try. still 17-8 to Oz

 

[Bullitt]

O'Connor certainly is a special talent. Mortlock and Giteau are running the show however.

 

[QLD]

It was great to see some test match rugby in Canberra for the first time in nine years. :bravo:

Mortlock was awesome, can't believe rabbit is still only 18. The amount of dropped ball got frustrating in the end.

 

[Prestwick]

Absolutely woeful Italian defence really flattered Australia. For Mortlock's second half try he didn't really have to use any power or..well..anything at all. He just took the ball and ran to the tryline, rubbing against various Italian players along the way who seemed more interested on giving Mortlock gentle hugs than actually tackling him.

The Italian pack as always was excellent but Italy really need to sort out that back line, a mediocre 12 and 13 is killing them at the moment.

 

[Wally]

Gower is Italy's great hope for 2011.

 

[Prestwick]

Nay, hiring a decent defence coach is their great hope for RWC 2011...

...I mean jeez, even Romania would look as dynamic and classy as the All Blacks if they came up against such woeful Italian "tackling"..it really was awful, half of those tries were easily stoppable.

 

[Maccaweeny]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Jun 14 2009, 10:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

half of those tries were easily stoppable.[/b]

Ever had Stirling Mortlock run at you?

 

[Bullitt]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Maccaweeny @ Jun 14 2009, 02:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Jun 14 2009, 10:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

half of those tries were easily stoppable.[/b]

Ever had Stirling Mortlock run at you?
[/b][/quote]

Have you?

 

[Maccaweeny]

No, but I'm not the one making assumptions.

 

[Thingimubob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Maccaweeny @ Jun 14 2009, 02:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Jun 14 2009, 10:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

half of those tries were easily stoppable.[/b]

Ever had Stirling Mortlock run at you?
[/b][/quote]

Ask Jamie Roberts...

 

[alexrugby]

Aaahhhmmmmmmmmm

31-8 is it enough for making a horror movie about the Italy's loss?

O'Connors's hat trick makes sense