Italy v England

[englishrugbyfan_oh]

Team looks dissapointing to me. Can Stevens not play on both sides of the scrum, hence played before payne? Why oh why is balshaw still there and why oh why has Josh Lewsey not been called up? Where's Lund? Gomarsall...really? What's Tait doing on the bench? Its the Italy match, traditionally the time to blood new talent, I know that Italy are far better than they used to be and it will be a tough match but there are so many more youngsters that should get the nod ahead of Lipman/Easter/Gomarsall. Noon's great defensively, a bit predictable in Attack (Route 1, here we go!). Though at least 10,12,13 all play together at the falcons so hopefully will link up well.



One positive:

I keep having this recurring nightmare that I'm under a high ball and being charged at by Vainikolo...I wake up and then thank god I'm not the Italian 15...lol. But seriously he's pretty scary!

 

[Cymro]

Good luck with Ballshaw

 

[Prestwick]

This is going to be slow, painful and will take probably 80 minutes before either side gets to score.

Expect lots of kicking from either side, lots of forward play and probably a couple of fights as well.

And expect the England & Italian wingers playing poker on the touchlines due to excessive boredom :c

 

[danit]

Italy XV
15 David BORTOLUSSI (Montpellier, 15 caps)
14 Kaine ROBERTSON (Montepaschi Viadana, 27 caps)
13 Gonzalo CANALE (Clermont-Auvergne, 37 caps)
12 Mirco BERGAMASCO (Stade Francais, 48 caps)
11 Ezio GALON (Overmach Cariparma, 15 caps)
10 Andrea MASI (Biarritz Olympique, 36 caps)
9 Pietro TRAVAGLI (Overmach Cariparma, 3 caps)
8 Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 49 caps) â€" capitano
7 Mauro BERGAMASCO (Stade Francais, 63 caps)
6 Josh SOLE (Montepaschi Viadana, 24 caps)
5 Carlo Antonio DEL FAVA (Ulster, 24 caps)
4 Santiago DELLAPE' (Biarritz Olympique, 48 caps)
3 Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Leicester Tigers, 50 caps)
2 Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Cammi Calvisano, 7 caps)
1 Andrea LO CICERO (Racing Metro Paris, 72 caps)

replacments
16 Carlo FESTUCCIA (Racing Metro Paris, 43 caps)
17 Salvatore PERUGINI (Stade Toulousain, 48 caps)
18 Carlos NIETO (Gloucester RFC, 21 caps)
19 Alessandro ZANNI (Cammi Calvisano, 18 caps)
20 Simon PICONE (Benetton Treviso, 11 caps)
21 Andrea MARCATO (Benetton Treviso, 3 caps)
22 Alberto SGARBI (Benetton Treviso, esordiente)

unchanged XV except for Galon at winger replacing injured Canavosio, on the bench Picone as backup sh, Sgarbi as utility back and the "usual" complete frontrow (Nieto back in the squad)

Expect lots of kicking from either side, lots of forward play and probably a couple of fights as well.

And expect the England & Italian wingers playing poker on the touchlines due to excessive boredom :c [/b]

all true except for the kicking game from Italy, not with Masi at flyhalf

 

[Bullitt]

Absoloute disgrace of a selection. Where are the likes of Palmer, Hipkiss, Smith, Lamb, Crane & Croft?

How do Balshite or Jonny-be-god-awful retain their shirts?

Hasn't Jamie Noon been prooven to be rubbish enough times?

If Gommersall poor form means he can't even get a start for Quins at the moment, why does he deserve an England shirt?

It's getting beyond a joke now and the holy quartet of Bath, Wasps, Leicester and Newcastle are killing English rugby. Worse still, the decent players at these clubs are being completely ignored for the old boys.

 

[stormmaster1]

Balshaw shouldn't be there. Noon's inclusion is good imo as we need someone to be solid in the line, and experience is required to avoid capitulation like last week. I personally would use Vanikolo as an impact player, but dropping him would be a little harsh. I'd keep Johnny. He tends to crumble under pressure when he gets little help in decision making from those outside him, but it's easier to address those outside him imo. Scrum half: we are seriously short of quality scrum halfs, maybe we need some to train in Wales.



I'm not sure of the back row: how has lipman been looking? Easter's inclusion is good. Narraway didn't do anything wrong, but he is further down the pecking order.



i think we will miss having an openside like Rees, and that could be the telling aspect for England's play. The backs have every chance of playing like the first half v Wales, but a tough Italian defence and if Lipman doesn't seize his chance then the backs will be back to being inefficient users of slow ball.

 

[Prestwick]

<div class='quotemain'> Expect lots of kicking from either side, lots of forward play and probably a couple of fights as well.

And expect the England & Italian wingers playing poker on the touchlines due to excessive boredom :c [/b]

all true except for the kicking game from Italy, not with Masi at flyhalf
[/b][/quote]

With Balshaw there, I'd expect even the likes of Castrogiovanni would be lining up to kick some balls behind England! :lol:

 

[stormmaster1]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'> Expect lots of kicking from either side, lots of forward play and probably a couple of fights as well.

And expect the England & Italian wingers playing poker on the touchlines due to excessive boredom :c [/b]

all true except for the kicking game from Italy, not with Masi at flyhalf
[/b][/quote]

With Balshaw there, I'd expect even the likes of Castrogiovanni would be lining up to kick some balls behind England! :lol:
[/b][/quote]



I can see Canale and Bergamasco rubbing their hands in anticipation of hunting Balshaw down. Given his evident weakness we can safely expect that not only will Masi be targetting him, but the entire Italian team will be charging full pelt at him as he tries/fails to catch the ball.

 

[shtove]

Oh dear, just seen the line up for saturday. Sheriden has been injured as well, so is out this weekend, they haven't said what with yet but its a huge blow as the italian front row is incredibly powerful. Wasps Tom Payne has come in to replace him.

And guess who is starting full back. Public enemy number 1. [/b]

I've said it before - Balshaw is a fine runner.



Italy's frontrow didn't get any change out of Ireland, which was the only real variation between the teamsfrom last season. Their maul shoved us around as usual.

 

[Bang]

I would love for Aston to show that he is intent on playing a more attacking game by picking players that can play that style of game. Wilkinson should not have been retained he has always struggled without a dominant number 12 and he was not one of Englands better players in the world cup. His kicking game both in general play and kicking for goal was dreadful and he failed to ignite the backline.

 

[glosbigboy]

I think its time to pick players who can add a bit of magic to the obvious grunt England currently possess. Prior to the Wales game woud have said stay with Wilko but now we have 3 away games and wont wi the grand slam so lets go for it. Tait at full back, Cipriani at 10,Ashton on the wing,Care at 9 and what about Lewsey at outside centre(always looked good at 13 when picked by Wasps and solid to say the least in D).
I know this sounds very experimental but it is ,cmon Ashton you boring sod take some risks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[getofmeland]

England squad update

England captain Phil Vickery (London Wasps) injured his right calf in training this morning.

At this stage it is too early to say definitively whether or not Phil will be fit for Sunday's RBS 6 Nations match against Italy.

As a precaution England Saxons prop Jason Hobson (Bristol Rugby) has been drafted in and will travel to Rome, as will Phil.

RFU Media Office

JASON HOBSON
Club: Bristol Rugby
Position: Prop
Born: 10.02.83 | Swansea
Height: 1.80m (5' 11")
Weight:108kg (17st)
School Attended: Bodmin Community College
Previous Clubs: Exeter Chiefs
Representative Honours: England U21s (2003), England Saxons (2008 Six Nations v I)
International Record: Uncapped

After joining Bristol Rugby from Exeter Chiefs, the former England U21 prop quickly became a crowd favourite, winning Supporters' Player of the Month for November 2003. After knee and shoulder surgery ruled him out of action for the next 18 months, Jason spent part of the 2005/6 season on loan at Pertemps Bees as part of his rehabilitation, before rejoining Bristol in March 2006.

Having signed a three year contract that will keep him with the West Country outfit until November 2010, 'Hobbo' has been a key part of Bristol's league and cup campaign so far this season. As well as his family, he says he has Robin Cowling (South West Academy Coach and former England prop) to thank. His career highlight to date is helping Bristol gain promotion to the Guinness Premiership and jokes that the worst thing about his club is Mark Regan's banter

From RBS Six Nations

 

[Deano]

So the game plan of Italy should be to really pressure England and Balshaw in particular? Some long kicks to start and test him and a few runs from the backs.

 

[stormmaster1]

So the game plan of Italy should be to really pressure England and Balshaw in particular? Some long kicks to start and test him and a few runs from the backs. [/b]

Game plan from Italy will be make the game physical. Pressurise the English back 3 (Vanikolo needs testing too with a few balls in behind him), although Italy are lacking a top quality kicker. They will want to squeeze them in the forwards as Italy have a quality tight 5 and an experienced back row. They will spread the ball a little, but not play too open as turnovers may hurt them.



Pressure will be the key word, in the forwards, in defence and in their kick and chase. They won't want England to settle, because if England get momentum like the first half last week Italy are less likely than Wales to stay in the game.

 

[shtove]

<div class='quotemain'> So the game plan of Italy should be to really pressure England and Balshaw in particular? Some long kicks to start and test him and a few runs from the backs. [/b]

Pressure will be the key word, in the forwards, in defence and in their kick and chase. They won't want England to settle, because if England get momentum like the first half last week Italy are less likely than Wales to stay in the game.

[/b][/quote]

But if they kick it away to England's back three, then England will get momentum by running it back. Italy should keep it in hand, and let their forwards put a choke hold on England's grunt.

 

[Bang]

One of the problems I see is the inability of the England Management to adopt "Total Rugby". Playing with flair in the backs does not mean England have to abandon forward play and become like the Wallabies and rely on our backline to win us games. The reason the Wallabies play in this fashion is due to the inability of their forwards to dominate a game. England's forwards do not have this problem and have the skills and power to dominate both the set piece and at the break down.
.
The Problem is that the backs do not take advantage of the this. With the forwards doing their job the backs should use the possession and the extra space in order to attack, but they don't they look clueless and scared when using the ball and a lot of this can be put down to the options that WILKINSON has been taking. England should have had Wales killed off at half time with the advantage that they had in territory and possession but some how they only managed to convert this into one try which allowed Wales to stay within striking distance of England and mount a late come back.
.
If England change their style of play to an extent and put the players in the team that are capable of playing that style, yes their will be problems and yes it will take time for it to start working and England will probably lose some games due to inexperience and teething problems with the new systems, but surly this better than losing games due to not being able to move forward with the game. England have the players to be the best rugby side in the world. But only if they use them.

 

[shtove]

Spot on. But is Yawny the real problem? I think it's the centres.

And you are a forward, aren't you?

 

[stormmaster1]

<div class='quotemain'> <div class='quotemain'> So the game plan of Italy should be to really pressure England and Balshaw in particular? Some long kicks to start and test him and a few runs from the backs. [/b]

Pressure will be the key word, in the forwards, in defence and in their kick and chase. They won't want England to settle, because if England get momentum like the first half last week Italy are less likely than Wales to stay in the game.

[/b][/quote]

But if they kick it away to England's back three, then England will get momentum by running it back. Italy should keep it in hand, and let their forwards put a choke hold on England's grunt.

[/b][/quote]



Not if they kick well and chase well. Kicking in behind Vanikolo could be good, but there may be limited opportunities for this, and yes if you get it wrong it's risky. Garryowens to Balshaw are minimal risk if the kick isn't too deep, has good hangtime and there is a well organised chase, so even if he gets a clean catch he will get bulldozered before he even considers counterattacking.



Kicking game will be important, but not the mainstay of the italian tactics. they will still attack, (i think Masi's inclusion is a statement of intent from Mallett. Maybe not the best choice for the immediate future, but a great choice to build the team's previously lacklustre attacking game.

One of the problems I see is the inability of the England Management to adopt "Total Rugby". Playing with flair in the backs does not mean England have to abandon forward play and become like the Wallabies and rely on our backline to win us games. The reason the Wallabies play in this fashion is due to the inability of their forwards to dominate a game. England's forwards do not have this problem and have the skills and power to dominate both the set piece and at the break down.
.
The Problem is that the backs do not take advantage of the this. With the forwards doing their job the backs should use the possession and the extra space in order to attack, but they don't they look clueless and scared when using the ball and a lot of this can be put down to the options that WILKINSON has been taking. England should have had Wales killed off at half time with the advantage that they had in territory and possession but some how they only managed to convert this into one try which allowed Wales to stay within striking distance of England and mount a late come back.
.
If England change their style of play to an extent and put the players in the team that are capable of playing that style, yes their will be problems and yes it will take time for it to start working and England will probably lose some games due to inexperience and teething problems with the new systems, but surly this better than losing games due to not being able to move forward with the game. England have the players to be the best rugby side in the world. But only if they use them. [/b]

Disagree. Didn't we make lots of inroads with the backs in the first 40? Many reasons we didn't take our opportunities, sometimes forwards got in the way, but the backs certainly didn't look clueless in the first half and for large periods of time England looked a well balanced side. A lack of finishing touch, but not of ambition or poor choice of playing style. Maybe Sackey should have scored and not let the welsh get under him. Maybe a few passes weren't perfect. Maybe the forwards should have executed their catch and drive better. Lots of reasons, but ultimately it game down to being pants in the second half.

 

[Vambo]

ultimately it came down to being pants in the second half.
[/b]

Yep!

 

[Bang]

<div class='quotemain'> <div class='quotemain'> <div class='quotemain'> So the game plan of Italy should be to really pressure England and Balshaw in particular? Some long kicks to start and test him and a few runs from the backs. [/b]

Pressure will be the key word, in the forwards, in defence and in their kick and chase. They won't want England to settle, because if England get momentum like the first half last week Italy are less likely than Wales to stay in the game.

[/b][/quote]

But if they kick it away to England's back three, then England will get momentum by running it back. Italy should keep it in hand, and let their forwards put a choke hold on England's grunt.

[/b][/quote]



Not if they kick well and chase well. Kicking in behind Vanikolo could be good, but there may be limited opportunities for this, and yes if you get it wrong it's risky. Garryowens to Balshaw are minimal risk if the kick isn't too deep, has good hangtime and there is a well organised chase, so even if he gets a clean catch he will get bulldozered before he even considers counterattacking.



Kicking game will be important, but not the mainstay of the italian tactics. they will still attack, (i think Masi's inclusion is a statement of intent from Mallett. Maybe not the best choice for the immediate future, but a great choice to build the team's previously lacklustre attacking game.

One of the problems I see is the inability of the England Management to adopt "Total Rugby". Playing with flair in the backs does not mean England have to abandon forward play and become like the Wallabies and rely on our backline to win us games. The reason the Wallabies play in this fashion is due to the inability of their forwards to dominate a game. England's forwards do not have this problem and have the skills and power to dominate both the set piece and at the break down.
.
The Problem is that the backs do not take advantage of the this. With the forwards doing their job the backs should use the possession and the extra space in order to attack, but they don't they look clueless and scared when using the ball and a lot of this can be put down to the options that WILKINSON has been taking. England should have had Wales killed off at half time with the advantage that they had in territory and possession but some how they only managed to convert this into one try which allowed Wales to stay within striking distance of England and mount a late come back.
.
If England change their style of play to an extent and put the players in the team that are capable of playing that style, yes their will be problems and yes it will take time for it to start working and England will probably lose some games due to inexperience and teething problems with the new systems, but surly this better than losing games due to not being able to move forward with the game. England have the players to be the best rugby side in the world. But only if they use them. [/b]

Disagree. Didn't we make lots of inroads with the backs in the first 40? Many reasons we didn't take our opportunities, sometimes forwards got in the way, but the backs certainly didn't look clueless in the first half and for large periods of time England looked a well balanced side. A lack of finishing touch, but not of ambition or poor choice of playing style. Maybe Sackey should have scored and not let the welsh get under him. Maybe a few passes weren't perfect. Maybe the forwards should have executed their catch and drive better. Lots of reasons, but ultimately it game down to being pants in the second half.
[/b][/quote]


We did make some inroads with the back in the first 40 but only as one off individual efforts. The support play was almost none existent and once we had them on the back foot after making a break we did not go on with the attack and go for the kill we went back to trying to play it through the forwards and allowed the Welsh to reset.

Spot on. But is Yawny the real problem? I think it's the centres.

And you are a forward, aren't you?
[/b]

I agree their is a problem with the centres. England seem intent on using the 13 as an extra flanker rather than having a player such as TAIT there.
.
Nothing wrong with being a forward