Italy v Ireland

[Byrner]

Based on form I think Mike Ross should start at tighthead.Buckley is good in the loose but Ireland need a destructive scrummager and Ross gives them that.

 

[Amobokoboko]

a bit of topic but is Mauro Bergamasco still playing for the Italian national team.
I thought I read somewhere he needed an operation on his shoulder and he might miss the first part of the 6N.
Could anybody confirm this?

Cheers.

 

[Conal]

he played in the last 6 nations
dont see why he would have been dropped in the nov tests
so if he is fir i assume he plays for italy

 

[Zaney182]

Ireland looking poor at the moment well be lucky to finish third.I say its time to give the youth of Ireland a chance especially against the Italians.In the Autumn series why did we start mick O'driscoll ahead of toner?

 

[munstermuffin]

Thing that worries me is the 2 teams coming to the Aviva are England and France. Both are capable of hurting us at home. And our away games will all be tough affairs.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Yeah will be a good 6 N series.

 

[danit]

a bit of topic but is Mauro Bergamasco still playing for the Italian national team.
I thought I read somewhere he needed an operation on his shoulder and he might miss the first part of the 6N.
Could anybody confirm this?

Cheers.

he played in the last 6 nations
dont see why he would have been dropped in the nov tests
so if he is fir i assume he plays for italy

confirmed, he underwent surgery to repair his right shoulder, will miss the whole 6N (so as Craig Gower)

 

[ORothlain]

How's it not an interesting match? You've got the Italians, who continue to improve every nano-second, coming to knock the **** out of their Magner's League rivals on an international platform. I dare to say that any match right now with Italy is a great one, because you don't quite know what to expect from them. They put up a really good fight during their fall internationals.
Also, I think we're all wondering if Ireland can fix their lack of finishing power. No other team spends that much time near the try line without crossing over.

 

[ckell]

Have to disagree with you there mate, every game with Italy is dour. They may be getting more competitive but they've still only beaten Scotland and I think Wales once aswell. Not saying games against them are easy but it just feels as if there's an inevitibility about them.

 

[Amobokoboko]

confirmed, he underwent surgery to repair his right shoulder, will miss the whole 6N (so as Craig Gower)

Any change he will be able to play some games near the end of the Top14 season?

 

[Amobokoboko]

Have to disagree with you there mate, every game with Italy is dour. They may be getting more competitive but they've still only beaten Scotland and I think Wales once aswell. Not saying games against them are easy but it just feels as if there's an inevitibility about them.

All do respect but Italy provides attractive rugby, during the AI's they beaten Fiji and ok, they don't win that often but they do actually score against bigger teams and never give up. Give them some more time and they can actually turn into a decent team.

 

[MunsterMan]

Yeah this team could well be very Leinster dominated. POC might be the only Munster player in the first XV they way things are going (Apart from Ross, Reddan and possibly Cronin )

 

[Feicarsinn]

All do respect but Italy provides attractive rugby, during the AI's they beaten Fiji and ok, they don't win that often but they do actually score against bigger teams and never give up. Give them some more time and they can actually turn into a decent team.

No they don't, the Fiji game was shite along with every other Italy game ever.

 

[w123gianni]

hallo, sorry for my english, maybe anybody knows on wich tv it's possible to see RBS 6 NATIONS 2011 free? thanks

 

[Amobokoboko]

No they don't, the Fiji game was shite along with every other Italy game ever.

Nothing wrong with your opinion let the teams prove what they are worth on the pitch.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Nothing wrong with your opinion let the teams prove what they are worth on the pitch.

This isn't about what they're worth, whatever the hell that means, it's about how they play. Quite simply Italy play awful, spoiling rugby. In their ten games this year they've scored an average of 15 points, scoring only nine tries and giving away 4 yellow cards in the six nations alone. I every 6 Nations game they played in last season they made fewer clean breaks and beat fewer defenders than the opposition. They're a stogy, turgid, pain-in-the-arse team to play against and to watch.

 

[Seaton]

This isn't about what they're worth, whatever the hell that means, it's about how they play. Quite simply Italy play awful, spoiling rugby. In their ten games this year they've scored an average of 15 points, scoring only nine tries and giving away 4 yellow cards in the six nations alone. I every 6 Nations game they played in last season they made fewer clean breaks and beat fewer defenders than the opposition. They're a stogy, turgid, pain-in-the-arse team to play against and to watch.

Almost thought you were confusing Italy with Scotland, until you said only nine tries this year.

You seem to know your stats, how many have Scotland scored? By my count
6 or so (not including the Japan test)

 

[Feicarsinn]

Errr, five I think.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I understand your point of view and I agree that in general Italy is one of the weaker teams, but still whenever they win it's a great accomplishment.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I understand your point of view and I agree that in general Italy is one of the weaker teams, but still whenever they win it's a great accomplishment.

You're missing the point. It's not about their comparative strength but their style of rugby. They play an ugly, slow, forward dominated game that only works if the opposition are making mistakes.