Italian Squad: Six Nations 2013.

[LittleGuy]

No real surprises here, very similar to November and a squad that for the most part picks itself. If they keep some of the momentum from the fall maybe finally this year Italy can be a factor and finish even a little higher in the table for once, the three games in Rome should help a lot as we all know the Azzuri bring something extra to the home games that seems to be lacking from their away performances. I've bolded Andrea because of his demi god status.....

Forwards:

Roberto Barbieri, Martin Castrogiovanni, Lorenzo Cittadini, Alberto De Marchi, Paul Derbyshire, Simone Favaro, Joshua Furno, Quintin Geldenhuys, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Davide Giazzon, Andrea Lo Cicero, Francesco Minto, Sergio Parisse, Antonio Pavanello, Michele Rizzo, Ratu Manoa Vosawai, Alessandro Zanni

Backs:

Tommaso Benvenuti, Tobias Botes, Kristopher Burton, Paolo Buso, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Edoardo Gori, Tommaso Iannone, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Luciano Orquera, Alberto Sgarbi, Giovanbattista Venditti

 

[London_Italian]

Absolutely 0 surprises in this squad announcement as expected. Really feel that with the fixtures as they are this year Italy should be aiming for 2 wins (Scotland away and Wales at home) and a 4th place finish. Still wish we could find an international quality number 10 though.....

 

[LittleGuy]

Absolutely 0 surprises in this squad announcement as expected. Really feel that with the fixtures as they are this year Italy should be aiming for 2 wins (Scotland away and Wales at home) and a 4th place finish. Still wish we could find an international quality number 10 though.....

Has been a weakness for so long with Italy, I'm guessing Burton will be the first choice, he can goalkick and thats about all not a lot in attack from him but as always points are a premium for Italy and a half decent goal kicker is a must.

 

[Draggs]

Andrea needs four caps to pass Alessandro Troncon as the most capped Italian international.

 

[London_Italian]

Has been a weakness for so long with Italy, I'm guessing Burton will be the first choice, he can goalkick and thats about all not a lot in attack from him but as always points are a premium for Italy and a half decent goal kicker is a must.

I think we may start with Orquera, after his good performance against Australia in Firenze. Have to say I've always liked the idea of playing Luke Mclean at 10.... but i guess that would then mean we would have no one to take place kicks with reserve "kicker" Bergamasco out injured.:huh:

 

[Big Ewis]

Good luck fellas. Viva Italia !

And ohhhhh yes, you guys need a fkn kicker right away, badly ! It's ridiculous it hasn't happened yet...
I mean, I could train for 2 years straight like a maniac every weekend, and make the team I bet ! And I've never kicked a rugby penalty in my life !...
Just to say: get a fkn kicker you guys already !!

Italy has lost a host of matches just because of that in the 6N in only 13 years of tournament.
I mean, there's the great scrum, but then no points on the board !...it's a MUST and Italy could start upsetting a bunch of teams right now.

 

[psychic duck]

Good luck fellas. Viva Italia !

And ohhhhh yes, you guys need a fkn kicker right away, badly ! It's ridiculous it hasn't happened yet...
I mean, I could train for 2 years straight like a maniac every weekend, and make the team I bet ! And I've never kicked a rugby penalty in my life !...
Just to say: get a fkn kicker you guys already !!

Italy has lost a host of matches just because of that in the 6N in only 13 years of tournament.
I mean, there's the great scrum, but then no points on the board !...it's a MUST and Italy could start upsetting a bunch of teams right now.

They do have a good decent goal kicker in Kris Burton.

Just he not good at virtually every other aspect of play, or at least not up to international standard.

 

[Big Ewis]

Burton's meh...

 

[Draggs]

How many matches could Italy have won if they had Dominguez and Troncon?
McLean at outside half has been tried and never very successful. Don't think he has the playmaking abilities needed. Keep him in the back three, he is best there.

What position is Buso better in? I remember he had his first cap against us in 2008. That was an odd Italian team. Marcato had a mare at fullback, Masi was at standoff.

 

[psychic duck]

How many matches could Italy have won if they had Dominguez and Troncon?

I can think of quite a few instances, Scotland in 2007 RWC (Italy still never reached QF), Wales in 2011, England in 2012 for just a few. That's if they had Dominguez, with Troncon they would have never had that 2008-2009 period of scrum half disasters. Although they have found a couple of decent ones now though, it's still the 10 which is the issue. Has been for 9 years.

McLean at outside half has been tried and never very successful. Don't think he has the playmaking abilities needed. Keep him in the back three, he is best there.

Agreed.

What position is Buso better in? I remember he had his first cap against us in 2008.

I'm not sure how Buso has made the squad. He's normally a full back who can play fly half, but he isn't a regular with Zebre and has just made 4 starts this season. I saw him play for Italy A against Portugal last June and remember he gave one of the most pathetic attempts at a tackle I have seen from a full back.

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That was an odd Italian team. Marcato had a mare at fullback, Masi was at standoff.

Masi at 10 was one of the most desperate failed attempts at trying to find a competent 10, he had nowhere near the kicking game required. Marcato had his moments, but also his fair share of nightmare ones as well, also the fact he is made of glass never helped him. Now playing with Calvisano in the Italian league.

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[Draggs]

I wish there was some Italian billionaire with a love of rugby and deep pockets. With their football history they should be able to find a couple of skillful lads. Wave the dosh in their faces.
How is Ambrosini getting on? He seems to be the latest Italian prospect at outside half.

 

[AliC1995]

I wish there was some Italian billionaire with a love of rugby and deep pockets. With their football history they should be able to find a couple of skillful lads. Wave the dosh in their faces.
How is Ambrosini getting on? He seems to be the latest Italian prospect at outside half.

That's what I was wondering, I haven't even seen him play for Treviso?

 

[Draggs]

Started against Leicester in December and came off after the first quarter. Nothing since then, so I presume he is injured.

 

[psychic duck]

Luca Morisi (2 caps) another product of the Italian fly half factory ...

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[Big Ewis]

^ dayyyuuuummmmmmmmmm !! I just watched that game, totally missed this for some reason.
Or maybe I saw it but the trauma was so sharp my mind immediately erased it to make me a happy person again.

Nah I'm sorry, apparently they weren't too bad during November, but they sucked last 6N a year ago with the kicking...
Burton's so so from what I've seen, it's just strange they can't stabilize that aspect of the game...

Too bad, cuz the scrum's been there past few yrs...

 

[LittleGuy]

Luca Morisi (2 caps) another product of the Italian fly half factory ...

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HAHAHA I watched that last night and I wanted to hide under my couch. Still I was relatively impressed with Treviso's 2nd XV who played the lions share of the game. I think it bodes well for the future of the club that even the backup players have some some quality, what a gulf between them and Zebre at the moment.

 

[psychic duck]

HAHAHA I watched that last night and I wanted to hide under my couch. Still I was relatively impressed with Treviso's 2nd XV who played the lions share of the game. I think it bodes well for the future of the club that even the backup players have some some quality, what a gulf between them and Zebre at the moment.

I think it actually shows bad player management by the FIR who have allowed Treviso to hog too many of the top Italian players.

They have Italy's top 3 scrum halves (Botes, Semenzato, Gori), surely the FIR should encourage one of them to move to Zebre? Semenzato has been left as a bench warmer for most of the season. Whilst Giulio Toniolatti, a regular for Aironi and Italian squad member, signed for Treviso and doesn't make their side.

 

[LittleGuy]

I think it actually shows bad player management by the FIR who have allowed Treviso to hog too many of the top Italian players.

They have Italy's top 3 scrum halves (Botes, Semenzato, Gori), surely the FIR should encourage one of them to move to Zebre? Semenzato has been left as a bench warmer for most of the season. Whilst Giulio Toniolatti, a regular for Aironi and Italian squad member, signed for Treviso and doesn't make their side.

Would this be budget related at all? I know Treviso at least draws respectable crowds and has decent financial backing while Zebre and Aironi before them struggled to draw crowds and sponsors. It would be better for game time and Zebre if they did spread the players out a little as you suggest.

 

[London_Italian]

It was suggested when set up by the F.I.R that Zebre would be a team for the younger players to gain experience.....bit like a feeder club to Treviso i suppose. At least that was the idea i think!

 

[Amobokoboko]

Fingers crossed for Italy this year.