Italy v Scotland

[An Tarbh]

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Italy v Scotland

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Scotland head to Rome no doubt full of confidence following their Calcutta Cup victory and they'll be looking to finish their season on a high with victory against the Azzuri.

Italy have shown much improvements throughout the championship but have still to get anything for their travails so far. Motivation will be high to put that right this Saturday.

So will Italy get the victory that their championship efforts have deserved or will they have to settle for the wooden spoon???

 

[Deano]

Well this is just our second game at home of the championship. The other v England we played well and could have won so here if we play the same way we may win.

I hope for this:

1. Castrogiovanni
2. Ghiraldini
3. Nieto
4. Del Fava
5. Bortolami
6. Sole
7. Zanni
8. Parisse
9. Travagli
10. Marcato
11. Patrizio
12. Masi
13. Mi. Bergamasco
14. Robertson
15. Canale

 

[Macsen]

I think Italy will get a slim victory here, and they deserve one. They've been competitive in every match and only conceded a silly scoreline in one. But they'll still get the spoon.

 

[lineens weegie army]

I fear Italy may hammer us in this one - but hopefully Scotland can take confidence from getting one over the English and prove they do have the skills to play decent Rugby.

Not really hoping for much result wise. Avoiding a defeat by more than 4 points would be fantastic! But TBH as long as Scotland continue to improve I will be happy. (And may be prepared to give Frank Hadden until the summer tests against the Pumas to prove hes the man for the job.)

 

[hart]

I think Ford and Lamont are out of this one, I'd line up

15. Southwell
14. Walker
13. Morrison
12. Henderson
11. Webster
10. Paterson
9. Blair

1. Jacobsen
2. Thomson
3. E Murray
4. Hines
5. MacLeod
6. Strokosch
7. Hogg
8. Taylor

Replacements

16. Hall
17. Kerr
18. White
19. Brown
20. Lawson
21. Parks
22. Danielli

I predict Italy 10-19 Scotland

 

[lineens weegie army]

I think Ford and Lamont are out of this one, I'd line up

15. Southwell
14. Walker
13. Morrison
12. Henderson
11. Webster
10. Paterson
9. Blair

1. Jacobsen
2. Thomson
3. E Murray
4. Hines
5. MacLeod
6. Strokosch
7. Hogg
8. Taylor

Replacements

16. Hall
17. Kerr
18. White
19. Brown
20. Lawson
21. Parks
22. Danielli

I predict Italy 10-19 Scotland [/b]

Only changes I would make would be Moray Low at 3 (as I have said all season) and Barclay in at 7 - or on the bench at least!



Would possibly like to see Thom Evans get a chance - a quick and dangerous player who is everything scotland seem to be missing right now, but im not sure if hes recovered from a hand injury yet.



Anyone know what happened to Dewey BTW?

 

[Incredible Schalk]

I fear Italy may hammer us in this one - but hopefully Scotland can take confidence from getting one over the English and prove they do have the skills to play decent Rugby.

Not really hoping for much result wise. Avoiding a defeat by more than 4 points would be fantastic! But TBH as long as Scotland continue to improve I will be happy. (And may be prepared to give Frank Hadden until the summer tests against the Pumas to prove hes the man for the job.)
[/b]

I disagree if we get hammered by Italy then Hadden must go, we bet them last time in Rome and if we dont this time if his two years in charge we havent progressed. As long as we dont concede loads of stupid interception tries, we couldnt lost by a big score because the Azzuri backline is cack.

 

[RC]

I still have nightmares about the Italy Scotland game a few years back where there was simply nothing but a kicking contest going on between one another. Back and forth one end of the field to the other, the ball never going into touch and the crowd groaning everytime someone stuttered their run to boot the ball into the air again.

As long as the match is NOTHING like that, then i look forward to watching it.

 

[Camberabero]

RC I hope you'll watch this ITA v SCO, it will be a different match.

Italy will try to win the game by running the ball with its forwards and backs, not by kicking the ball.

Our team want to avoid WS winning this one, beacuse our lads showed some little improvement so far this season.

The Azzurri deserve this consolation prize beacuse of their commitment and their italian pride.

 

[crispy]

Anyone know what happened to Dewey BTW?
[/b]

From what I gather Dewey isn't fit and Ulster fans have been rather annoyed that he was getting a game since he was playing really poorly because of it.

I'd like to see a Cairns/Morrison or Cairns/De Luca or even a Morrison/De Luca centre partnership.

Parks needs to dropped and never return, Godman can cover 12 as well so he should be on the bench. It'd also let him have a chance to make amends.

Hoping for:

1. Jacobson
2. Thomson
3. Murray
4. Hines
5. Macleod
6. Strokosch
7. Barclay (or Rennie, both have impressed me)
8. Taylor
9. Blair
10. Paterson
11. Walker
12. Cairns/Morrison
13. Morrison/De Luca
14. Webster
15. Southwell

16. Low
17. Hall
18. White (He seemed to relish the Chabal-esque impact sub role)
19. Hogg
20. Lawson
21. Godman
22. Evans

 

[lineens weegie army]

I beg to differ on Parks - OK he has his bad games (but c'mon, your telling me youd pick Godman: has had much worse games in the blue shirt) but he also has his good ones!

There isnt a doubt in my mind that when Parks is on his game he is EASILLY the best Scotland have. The only thing I would say against him is he does have a tendancy to 'defend' by kicking the ball back to the opponents! (games that spring to mind are Saturdays, and more so Biarritz at Firhill!)

Is De Luca likely to be fit for the game in Rome?

 

[danny]

This game rivals England V Ireland for most uninteresting of the tournament. At least Scotland are on a good run.Well they have at least won their last game. Italy to win by 5

 

[lineens weegie army]

This game rivals England V Ireland for most uninteresting of the tournament. At least Scotland are on a good run.Well they have at least won their last game. Italy to win by 5 [/b]

I think this will be better than the England game - at least something is at stake here (and atleast there is one decent team in this game!)

 

[danny]

<div class='quotemain'> This game rivals England V Ireland for most uninteresting of the tournament. At least Scotland are on a good run.Well they have at least won their last game. Italy to win by 5 [/b]

I think this will be better than the England game - at least something is at stake here (and atleast there is one decent team in this game!)
[/b][/quote]
When you say a decent team dont you mean Italy have a decent pack. Surely their half backs are not good enough.

 

[lineens weegie army]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'> This game rivals England V Ireland for most uninteresting of the tournament. At least Scotland are on a good run.Well they have at least won their last game. Italy to win by 5 [/b]

I think this will be better than the England game - at least something is at stake here (and atleast there is one decent team in this game!)
[/b][/quote]
When you say a decent team dont you mean Italy have a decent pack. Surely their half backs are not good enough. [/b][/quote]



well, decent compared to what ive watched the last few weeks anyway.

 

[crispy]

I beg to differ on Parks - OK he has his bad games (but c'mon, your telling me youd pick Godman: has had much worse games in the blue shirt) but he also has his good ones!

There isnt a doubt in my mind that when Parks is on his game he is EASILLY the best Scotland have. The only thing I would say against him is he does have a tendancy to 'defend' by kicking the ball back to the opponents! (games that spring to mind are Saturdays, and more so Biarritz at Firhill!)

Is De Luca likely to be fit for the game in Rome?
[/b]

Godman has had what? 8 caps, many of which have been as a sub. Parks has had loads of opportunities to really lay claim to the shirt, but his lack of pace and ability to get the back line going doesn't really inspire confidence in seeing Scotland getting better with him at 10. He'll be 33 by the next World Cup anyway, might as let Godman get settled in.

If only Ryan Lamb had decided to play for Scotland instead of England.

 

[danny]

<div class='quotemain'>
I beg to differ on Parks - OK he has his bad games (but c'mon, your telling me youd pick Godman: has had much worse games in the blue shirt) but he also has his good ones!

There isnt a doubt in my mind that when Parks is on his game he is EASILLY the best Scotland have. The only thing I would say against him is he does have a tendancy to 'defend' by kicking the ball back to the opponents! (games that spring to mind are Saturdays, and more so Biarritz at Firhill!)

Is De Luca likely to be fit for the game in Rome?
[/b]

Godman has had what? 8 caps, many of which have been as a sub. Parks has had loads of opportunities to really lay claim to the shirt, but his lack of pace and ability to get the back line going doesn't really inspire confidence in seeing Scotland getting better with him at 10. He'll be 33 by the next World Cup anyway, might as let Godman get settled in.

If only Ryan Lamb had decided to play for Scotland instead of England.
[/b][/quote]
Lambs decent but not an international 10.

 

[dundeesmiffy]

Hoping to see;

1. Jacobson
2. Thomson
3. Murray
4. Hines
5. Macleod
6. Strokosch
7. Brown
8. Taylor
9. Blair ©
10. Paterson
11. Walker
12. Henderson
13. Morrison
14. Webster
15. Southwell

16. Low
17. Hall
18. White
19. Rennie
20. Lawson
21. Parks
22. Cairns/McRae

I've neglected Godman because I think Parks has been astute so far, I also think bringing in Cairns or McRae at the hour mark would be a good tactical choice to inject some speed and get them some full international game time.

What ever happened to Gordon Ross, I've always felt he was a good 10.

In saying that, this is the team, courtesy of Scrum.com.

H Southwell (Edinburgh); S Danielli (Ulster), S Webster (Edinburgh), G Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), N Walker (Ospreys); C Paterson (Gloucester), M Blair (Edinburgh, capt); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), F Thomson (Glasgow Warriors), E Murray (Northampton), N Hines (Perpignan), S MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), A Strokosch (Gloucester), S Taylor (Stade Francais), A Hogg (Edinburgh).

Replacements: S Lawson (Sale), A Dickinson (Gloucester), C Smith (Edinburgh), J White (Sale), K Brown (Glasgow Warriors), R Lawson (Gloucester), D Parks (Glasgow Warriors).

 

[Incredible Schalk]

Well the only changes are Danielli replaces the injured Lamont likewise Thomson coming in for Ross Ford.

 

[lineens weegie army]

Cant argue with the team - Its hard to drop a player after such a big performance like saturday.

That said, there was the opertunity to move Webbo out to the wing and bring in a 'proper' centre, and perhaps adding an extra back to the bench would have been good moves?