England v Italy

[danit]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Feb 4 2009, 12:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

so it's not a joke then, hey Danit any news on when Canavosio will be available?[/b]

to me, it's still a joke, i couldn't call it otherwise...

Canavosio will be available for sure from the 3d match onward

 

[An Tarbh]

maybe this isn't as bad as it all sounds, ok I may be clutching at straws here, but Phillips stats have him down as 1m91 and 104kg, Bergamasco is both smaller and lighter at 1m85 and 98kg. Admittedly one's a scrum half and one's a flanker but if his distribution is up to standards then it may well not be the most disastrous move on Mallet's part. Maybe Phillips is just the exception to the rule, certainly makes this game more interesting.

 

[Hall]

Nothing wrong with big scrummies, you've mentioned Mike Phillips and Ruan Pienaar is about 6'1. Problem is, Bergamasco isn't a scrum half.

 

[Prestwick]

Its official and I've blogged it down along with my thoughts.

 

[Camberabero]

http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3...4893779,00.html

Italy:
15 Andrea Masi, 14 Kane Robertson, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco,
10 Andrea Marcato, 9 Mauro Bergamasco,
8 Alessandro Zanni, 7 Sergio Parisse (cap.), 6 Josh Sole,
5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Santiago Dellapé,
3 Martin Castrogiovani, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Salvatore Perugini.

England: 15 Delon Armitage (London Irish), 14 Paul Sackey (London Wasps), 13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), 12 Riki Flutey (London Wasps), 11 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), 10 Andy Goode (Brive), 9 Danny Care (Harlequins), 8 Nick Easter (Harlequins), 7 Steffon Armitage (London Irish), 6 James Haskell (London Wasps), 5 Nick Kennedy (London Irish), 4 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain), 3 Phil Vickery (London Wasps), 2 Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), 1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks)


Mallett's mad science :redcard:

 

[Sir Speedy]

You guys are like a bunch of medieval priests, burning at the stake anyone who slightly contradicts their ideals:
"A flanker? At nine?! WHAT KIND OF SORCERY IS THIS?! BURN HIM; BURN THE COACH! :rahh:"

Seriously, give the guy a chance. If he cocks up on Saturday then fair enough.

 

[danny]

Yeah, Mallet is a good coach.Its nice to see someone try something slightly off the wall.

 

[Prestwick]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sir. Speedy @ Feb 4 2009, 08:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

You guys are like a bunch of medieval priests, burning at the stake anyone who slightly contradicts their ideals:
"A flanker? At nine?! WHAT KIND OF SORCERY IS THIS?! BURN HIM; BURN THE COACH! :rahh: "

Seriously, give the guy a chance. If he cocks up on Saturday then fair enough.[/b]

We'd have more faith if Mauro had any kind of experience at nine. He hasn't, hence why 1) this is being seen as a last resort and 2) this is being seen as highly risky.

The guy has played at center and on the wing but his bread and butter is doing what Mike Phillips does best: rolling around in the mud with the rest of the forwards.

Then again, I think I can see where Nick Mallet got his inspiration from now! :lol:

 

[Gavin]

I am very excited about seeing Mauro Bergasmasco playing scum-half. He will get a lot of encouragement from his team-mates and this will lift his self-confidence. The lad has skills-a-plenty and is pretty quick off the mark. It should be an interesting match as England will not know what to expect from this Italian side with a flanker playing scrum-half. Mauro will just have to watch himself as he is prone to getting the odd yellow card.

 

[danny]

This is a pretty clear indication of how Italy are going to play

 

[Bullitt]

It's certainly not going to make Armitages debut any easier. And for that matter, technically having 4 backrows making a mess will make life very difficult for England to even keep the ball.

 

[Daylightfire]

Looks like Ellis is back in, Care out through injury,,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_unio...ish/7867080.stm

Seems anyone I pick for my fantasy league side is suddenly injured / dropped!

 

[Gavin]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (danny @ Feb 6 2009, 12:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

This is a pretty clear indication of how Italy are going to play[/b]

How might they play?

 

[An Tarbh]

another baffling call putting Ellis straight in, what does that do for Foden's confidence as well. To be overlooked for Harry Ellis must be soul destroying.

 

[Bullitt]

He knew he'd never play at 9 for England; Andrew and all of the Media want him to be fullback.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teh Mite @ Feb 5 2009, 01:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

He knew he'd never play at 9 for England; Andrew and all of the Media want him to be fullback.[/b]

where has he been playing more this season, admittedly I've only seen Saints in a couple of challenge cup games and I think he was playing scrum half, how often has he played full back?

 

[Bullitt]

12 Times in all at scrum half, 6 or 7 at fullback - occasionally playing both due to substitutions etc.

 

[An Tarbh]

Tindall is a doubt for tomorrow with a back injury, according to the BBC.

 

[SaintsFan_Schweinsteiger_Webby]

Word is that Mike Tindall may miss out with a back injury. So obviously, with a potential 13 already on the bench in the form of Matthew Tait, expect to see Jamie Noon called up to start.

It'll never happen, but I'd love to see them move Armitage to 13 instead, with Ben Foden slotting in at fullback. Would certainly add a bit more flair to a distinctly stale looking backline.

 

[An Tarbh]

they talk a lot of shite at times on the rugby club but they made a decent point last night in that England this season don't look like they're going to take too many risks with the win being paramount. That's fine in the short term but what does that do in terms of building a side for the world cup. I think it'd be a decent move but can't see him making too many switches if Tindall does miss out.