Canada vs. Italy (15/06/2012 7:00 p.m. EDT)

[LittleGuy]

Canada vs. Italy (15/06/2012 7:00 p.m. EDT) BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The 12th and 13th ranked countries in the IRB will be going head to head on Friday night in what is an important match for both teams, and is the lead in for an exciting weekend of test rugby world wide. Both sides are missing a couple of key players but should be fielding reasonably strong sides, lineup's will be posted when available.


Canada Squad:

1. Hubert Buydens – Prairie Wolf Pack (Saskatoon, SK)
2. Mike Pletch – Ontario Blues (Lucan,ON)
3. Jason Marshall - Stade Aurillacois (North Vancouver, BC)
4. Jebb Sinclair - London Irish / Stormers (Charters Settlement, NB )
5. Tyler Hotson – London Scottish RFC (Vancouver, BC)
6. Tyler Ardron - Ontario Blues (Lakefield ON)
7. Chauncey O'Toole – The Rock (Belleisle, NB )
8. Aaron Carpenter (C) - Plymouth Albion (Brantford, ON)
9. Sean White – Unattached (Victoria, BC)
10. Matt Evans - Cornish Pirates (Duncan, BC)
11. Phil Mackenzie - London Welsh RFC (Oakville, Ontario)
12. Mike Scholz - Ontario Blues (Oakville, ON)
13. D.T.H. van der Merwe - Glasgow Warriors (Victoria, BC)
14. Conor Trainor – British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)
15. James Pritchard - Bedford Blues (Parkes, Australia, NSW)

Reserves

16. Andrew Tiedemann – Prairie Wolf Pack (St. Albert, AB )
17. Tom Dolezel – Ontario Blues (London, ON)
18. Jon Phelan – The Rock (Montreal, QC)
19. Nanyak Dala - Prairie Wolf Pack (Saskatoon, SK)
20. Ed Fairhurst – British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)
21. Liam Underwood – Ontario Blues (Toronto, ON)
22. Ciaran Hearn - The Rock (Conception Bay South, NL)

Italian Squad:

15. Alberto BENETTIN (Aironi Rugby, uncapped)
14. Giovambattista VENDITTI (Aironi Rugby, 5 caps)
13. Andrea PRATICHETTI (Treviso, uncapped)
12. Alberto SGARBI (Treviso, 18 caps)
11. Tommaso BENVENUTI (Treviso, 18 caps)
10. Kristopher BURTON (Treviso, 15 caps)
9. ***o TEBALDI (Aironi Rugby, 14 caps)
8. Robert BARBIERI (Treviso, 22 caps)
7. Simone FAVARO (Aironi Rugby, 11 caps)
6. Alessandro ZANNI (Treviso, 64 caps)
5. Antonio PAVANELLO (Treviso, 8 caps)
4. Joshua FURNO (Aironi Rugby, 3 caps)
3. Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Leicester Tigers, 86 caps) – Captain.
2. Tommaso D'APICE (Aironi Rugby, 8 caps)
1. Michele RIZZO (Treviso, 3 caps)

Reserves

16. Carlo FESTUCCIA (Parma Crociati, 52 caps)
17. Lorenzo ROMANO (Aironi Rugby, 1 cap)
18. Marco FUSER (Marchiol Mogliano, uncapped)
19. Mauro BERGAMASCO (Aironi Rugby, 90 caps)
20. Edoardo GORI (Treviso, 14 caps)
21. Riccardo BOCCHINO (I Cavalieri Prato, 13 caps)
22. Giulio TONIOLATTI (Aironi Rugby, 11 caps)

 

[Melhor Time]

Depending on selection I think Canada can win this.

Only really Gori and Castrogiovanni were good vs Argentina. Burton was aweful but so were most of them.

 

[dudeabides]

If the USA v Italy test next week is anything like that hard to forget RWC match last fall... take it to 'em Canada, rough those azzurri up!

 

[psychic duck]

if Canada win the overtake Italy in the rankings, and I have got a feeling they can do it

Italy were simply dreadful last week, but beware their scrum, that is one weapon that Italy destroyed the USA with in the World Cup and was good against Argentina, but if Canada can hold on and do not concede too many penalties, I think there is giant opportunity for a Tier 1 scalp

it's a shame the top 3 in the 2011 World Cup groups automatically qualify for the next tournament, I think it should be the top 12 in the rankings and it would put even more at stake and make it even more exciting

I'm supporting Canada, a win for them would be a boost for all of Tier 2, and show that the lower nations from the Tier 1 clique are not as much better than the top of Tier 2 as they think they are

 

[Canucks]

if Canada win the overtake Italy in the rankings, and I have got a feeling they can do it

Italy were simply dreadful last week, but beware their scrum, that is one weapon that Italy destroyed the USA with in the World Cup and was good against Argentina, but if Canada can hold on and do not concede too many penalties, I think there is giant opportunity for a Tier 1 scalp

it's a shame the top 3 in the 2011 World Cup groups automatically qualify for the next tournament, I think it should be the top 12 in the rankings and it would put even more at stake and make it even more exciting

I'm supporting Canada, a win for them would be a boost for all of Tier 2, and show that the lower nations from the Tier 1 clique are not as much better than the top of Tier 2 as they think they are

I've had quite turnaround on Italy this last year. Every 6 nations they are the team I'm cheering for.

In the UK,in some parts, there is a lot of attitude about how the lesser countries can't play rugby. Even Italy and Argentina are seen as lesser countries, yet both almost beat England in the last year. Both Tonga and Italy have scalped France. The game is moving toward parity and a lot of peple over here can't accept it that.

The prove what I'm saying, whenever I was trying to change some tactics for my English club side I was told I did not know what I was talking about "shut up your trap you bloody Canook." Were talking basic tactics like simplifying lineout calls on rainy, windy day or maybe passing out wide when have a 6 man overlap.
Apparently, I also did not have any clue on how to ruck or play a breakdown and had to receive numerous lessons on the matter. According to a certain member, the only thing you should do after a tackle is to lie on top of your man and not move. I was doing to wrong thing by getting back to my feet and contesting the ball causing turnovers. As well, I needed to slow down because a hooker shouldnt be getting around the field, I should save myself for the scrums and lineouts. No English players, who actually could use with a few lessons on technique, ever get this talk. Hell, I've even scored a nice 3v2 overlap try without passing (that won the game) and all they could do was come tell me "that's not how you play" after the game.

These are also the same people that tell me Southern Hemisphere rugby is boring (wtf) and that none of the players for that league would make any Northern Hemisphere teams (ahahahahha.) As well, Southern Hemisphere teams cannot scrum or play physical (see England vs South Africa from last week.) Ahh the comedy!

To clarify, I have been playing since I was little boy. I can play (not great, but average) and have played some very good teams at a lot higher levels than some of these guys.

The reason why I bring this up, is that these elitist have been telling me all the past 2 weeks about how Italy is going to smash Canada because Italy always plays England.

Thus, Italy is now associated with them and I want them to lose. And if Canada does win, I'm busting out my Canadian jersey and harrassing them for the rest of the summer.


In terms of the elitists, do get me started on how I have had to explain that Field Hockey is a girls sport and there's only one version of hockey that is a million pound sport. Or how baseball and cricket are actually dead even in popularity.



PS. Please don't think I don't like England. If anything i'm more of an England fan than most English. I have supported on in all their games in the past year, which more than a lot of English fans can say.

 

[danit]

The reason why I bring this up, is that these elitist have been telling me all the past 2 weeks about how Italy is going to smash Canada because Italy always plays England.

Thus, Italy is now associated with them and I want them to lose. And if Canada does win, I'm busting out my Canadian jersey and harrassing them for the rest of the summer.

Italy is not going to smash anyone, not the actual Italy, I'm sure the game will be close and I see no real front-runner

associated with them? harassing whom?

 

[Canucks]

Italy is not going to smash anyone, not the actual Italy, I'm sure the game will be close and I see no real front-runner

associated with them? harassing whom?

For this match only, Italy is associated with those old school, status quo elitist. Not Italy's fault and i still like them, but I have a deeper rooting interest. Thus, if Canada wins I shall mock those elitist for as long as I can.

 

[rusty_lock]

Finally got a copy of the Canada USA match and it was definitely a disappointing affair. The loosies, our supposed strength, were underwhelming. Carpenter was pretty good but Dala ran hot and cold and O'toole wasn't switched on. I thought Evans did OK and now with a little experience will be better against Italy. There were a few bright spots but the handling errors really ruined the affair. Scholz surprised me, Pritchard was good and DTH's set up of Carpenters try was sublime. I got a copy of the Italy Argentina match as well and while it wasn't exactly an impressive performance I fear the Italian scrum and what it will do if Canada can't sort the handling errors. Ball security is going to be the key. If we can't protect and secure quick ball it will be a long night. Italy pile a lot of bodies into the breakdown and if we can get quick ball and White can provide better service than he did against USA, we are in with a shot.

edit. Line up just announced. I will comment later.

1. Hubert Buydens – Prairie Wolf Pack (Saskatoon, SK)
2. Mike Pletch – Ontario Blues (Lucan,ON)
3. Jason Marshall - Stade Aurillacois (North Vancouver, BC)
4. Jebb Sinclair - London Irish / Stormers (Charters Settlement, NB)
5. Tyler Hotson – London Scottish RFC (Vancouver, BC)
6. Tyler Ardron - Ontario Blues (Lakefield ON)
7. Chauncey O'Toole – The Rock (Belleisle, NB)
8. Aaron Carpenter (C) - Plymouth Albion (Brantford, ON)
9. Sean White – Unattached (Victoria, BC)
10. Matt Evans - Cornish Pirates (Duncan, BC)
11. Phil Mackenzie - London Welsh RFC (Oakville, Ontario)
12. Mike Scholz - Ontario Blues (Oakville, ON)
13. D.T.H. van der Merwe - Glasgow Warriors (Victoria, BC)
14. Conor Trainor – British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)
15. James Pritchard - Bedford Blues (Parkes, Australia, NSW)

Reserves

16. Andrew Tiedemann – Prairie Wolf Pack (St. Albert, AB)
17. Tom Dolezel – Ontario Blues (London, ON)
18. Jon Phelan – The Rock (Montreal, QC)
19. Nanyak Dala - Prairie Wolf Pack (Saskatoon, SK)
20. ED Fairhurst – British Columbia (Vancouver, BC)
21. Liam Underwood – Ontario Blues (Toronto, ON)
22. Ciaran Hearn - The Rock (Conception Bay South, NL)

 

[danit]

italy xv announced too, 7 changes, a pretty young lineup, the backline expecially

15 Alberto BENETTIN (Aironi Rugby, uncapped)
14 Giovambattista VENDITTI (Aironi Rugby, 5 caps)
13 Andrea PRATICHETTI (Treviso, uncapped)
12 Alberto SGARBI (Treviso, 18 caps)
11 Tommaso BENVENUTI (Treviso, 18 caps)
10 Kristopher BURTON (Treviso, 15 caps)
9 ***o TEBALDI (Aironi Rugby, 14 caps)
8 Robert BARBIERI (Treviso, 22 caps)
7 Simone FAVARO (Aironi Rugby, 11 caps)
6 Alessandro ZANNI (Treviso, 64 caps)
5 Antonio PAVANELLO (Treviso, 8 caps)
4 Joshua FURNO (Aironi Rugby, 3 caps)
3 Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Leicester Tigers, 86 caps) â€" cap.
2 Tommaso D’APICE (Aironi Rugby, 8 caps)
1 Michele RIZZO (Treviso, 3 caps)

16 Carlo FESTUCCIA (Parma Crociati, 52 caps)
17 Lorenzo ROMANO (Aironi Rugby, 1 cap)
18 Marco FUSER (Marchiol Mogliano, uncapped)
19 Mauro BERGAMASCO (Aironi Rugby, 90 caps)
20 Edoardo GORI (Treviso, 14 caps)
21 Riccardo BOCCHINO (I Cavalieri Prato, 13 caps)
22 Giulio TONIOLATTI (Aironi Rugby, 11 caps)

 

[rusty_lock]

that is one of the worst Italian sides I have seen for a long time

Hallelujah!!

LOL

Sent from my HTC Desire HD A9191 using Tapatalk 2

 

[LittleGuy]

The Canadian lineup is close to what I would have chosen with the exception that I would have had His Edness at #9(unless this is a fitness issue). Hamilton is injured if anyone is wondering why Pletch has come in to the starting 15. The back line looks really good with Trainor and Mackenzie starting again. I like this side better than the one that faced the States last week.

Also just in case anyone has missed it, the game will be on TSN2 here in Canada. The forecast also looks great temprature at kick off time is going to be around 23C and a light breeze of only 10-15 km.

Edit: Lineups have been added to the start of the thread as well guys.

Edit Edit: That is a poor Italian side, especially with some of the better players stuck on the bench, Zanni, Barbieri and Castrogiavanni will have to be immense if Italy are to win this one. I wonder if the bench will be used early if Canada take a quick lead.

 

[Canucks]

The Canadian lineup is close to what I would have chosen with the exception that I would have had His Edness at #9(unless this is a fitness issue). Hamilton is injured if anyone is wondering why Pletch has come in to the starting 15. The back line looks really good with Trainor and Mackenzie starting again. I like this side better than the one that faced the States last week.

Also just in case anyone has missed it, the game will be on TSN2 here in Canada. The forecast also looks great temprature at kick off time is going to be around 23C and a light breeze of only 10-15 km.

Edit: Lineups have been added to the start of the thread as well guys.

Edit Edit: That is a poor Italian side, especially with some of the better players stuck on the bench, Zanni, Barbieri and Castrogiavanni will have to be immense if Italy are to win this one. I wonder if the bench will be used early if Canada take a quick lead.

I wouldn't count them out just yet. This entire Italian side plays in the Rabo (except Castro.) Will be a great test for our scrum. These guys play top competition all year.

Makes me think, maybe North America could have a team over there? They did it for Argentina in the Currie Cup. Should be a good game though, that's about as dangerous of a Canadian backline you will find.

 

[LittleGuy]

Canada handled well with Italy "A" last year which was only a slightly inferior side to this one. Don't forget that Aironi are terrible and I'd actually fancy the chances of a CRC "selects" team against them. I do think Italy can win, if they do well in the set pieces, slow the game down and take the crowd out of it, that being said I think Canada should probably be favourites.

 

[psychic duck]

I wouldn't count them out just yet. This entire Italian side plays in the Rabo (except Castro.) Will be a great test for our scrum. These guys play top competition all year.

Makes me think, maybe North America could have a team over there? They did it for Argentina in the Currie Cup. Should be a good game though, that's about as dangerous of a Canadian backline you will find.

Alberto Benettin, Tommaso d'Apice and Andrea Pratichetti have just 14 starts this season between them

both the half backs Tebaldi and Burton are pants, Sgarbi is as much as a threat to the gainline as an mole is to an alsatian

and on the bench ... Mauro Bergamasco has looked past it ever since that infamous experiment at scrum half

and Riccardo Bocchino is one of the worst players ever from a Tier 1 nation at international rugby, can't tackle (see Contepomi try last week), can't run, can't punt kick, can't goal kick, he was in the Aironi squad in 2010/11 and hardly got a game, which says it all, yet continues to somehow get chances with Italy due to their dismal fly halves, Bocchino means "cigarette holder" in Italian by the way

if Canada can manage to keep a passable scrum which can not concede penalties and win their own ball, and O'Toole can equal Zanni at the breakdown, then Canada have nothing to worry about, in fact only Benvenuti from the Italian backline would make it into the Canadian

if Italy brought that team for an away match to Georgia's strongest team then they would have a massively hard time

 

[LittleGuy]

Pritchard is easily equal to Burton in the goalkicking department as well and Canada's bench strength is comparable to that Italian bench Bergamasco aside. The favourable weather conditions should be to Canada's advantage.

Hopefully Pletch can do a good job at lineout time with his throws, this is an area aside from the scrum, I have some worries about. On a side note good for Mike getting himself back into the setup, I know I(and others) have given the Pletch's a hard time in Canadian rugby circles, but he has worked hard at the Blues and never gave up on wearing the maple leaf someday again.

 

[psychic duck]

are Canada struggling for hookers? all five front rowers they have I thought were props, so lineout should be another area Italy target

 

[rusty_lock]

There's probably not a worse homer than myself but I think a there is a little to much optimism here. I think we can win but to suggest that we are favorites I think is a little bit much, even for me.

I agree good for Pletch that he has been selected. I was one of his detractors. I think there were quite a few that were soured by them because of some of their early mistakes when others probably should have been selected ahead of them. I think it was more a matter of being dissatisfied with the former coach that they took the **** they did. They were a project of the former coach and he seemed to favor them even when their form didn't justify it and I believe it hurt them. One good thing about Mike Pletch is that, from all accounts, he has become a very good scrumager.

 

[rusty_lock]

are Canada struggling for hookers? all five front rowers they have I thought were props, so lineout should be another area Italy target

Mike Pletch was converted to hooker and has played there almost exclusively for quite some time now. A side benefit is that he has utility at prop but yes Hooker is an area that we need to some development. I was hoping to see Barkwell get a run this year but maybe on the fall tour.

 

[Canucks]

I am really looking forward to this backline. hopefully they actually get used for once.

Any word on the fall test? Home or away? Against who?

 

[LittleGuy]

I am really looking forward to this backline. hopefully they actually get used for once.

Any word on the fall test? Home or away? Against who?

Fall Tests: Away, in Europe no Tier One opponents. Probably the likes of Spain, Romania, Portugal, Russia etc....nothing official yet(except for the no tier one opponents part).

I might be getting a little overexcited guys but I really think Canada are a match for Italy in a whole pile of positions on the field. If Gori and Bergamasco were starting I would take our chances down a peg. I would say Italy are only markedly stronger than Canada at # 3,6,7. Although there are a fair number of positions where the talent level is fairly even with Italian forwards maybe having a slight edge but Canada having an edge in the backs. I'm also not saying heavy favourites or anything, I picked Canada by 1 on Superbru and Sportguru for the week.

Edit: I actually think Canada playing a little poorly last week, bodes well for this week, getting the fundmentals wrong usually dosen't happen two games in a row since Crowley started coaching.