June International Tests: Fiji vs. Italy (18/06/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: ANZ National Stadium, Suva
Time: 08:00 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I just don't see Italy having a chance despite being quite impressive on paper. We were very poor against Scotland and the scoreline flattered Italy. Fiji sound like they did alright against Australia and a similar performance will find abundant space in the Italian defence.

 

[thegreat one]

Toso Viti!!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

A first start at scrum half. Don't understand that unless Gori is injured. Plenty quality for Italy to make a game of this but I don't see it happening.



Italy: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Tommaso Boni, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 Abraham Steyn, 7 Maxime Mbanda', 6 Francesco Minto (c), 5 Dean Budd, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Andrea Lovotti
Replacements: 16 Ornel Gega, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 ***o Tebaldi, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Tommaso Benvenuti

 

[Muzzy]

A first start at scrum half. Don't understand that unless Gori is injured. Plenty quality for Italy to make a game of this but I don't see it happening.



Italy: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Tommaso Boni, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Marcello Violi, 8 Abraham Steyn, 7 Maxime Mbanda', 6 Francesco Minto (c), 5 Dean Budd, 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Andrea Lovotti
Replacements: 16 Ornel Gega, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 ***o Tebaldi, 22 Carlo Canna, 23 Tommaso Benvenuti

Fijis got an inexperienced halfback starting too, Matawalu on the bench for some reason. Fiji named a weaker side than the one from the Australia game imo

Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Jale Vatubua, 12 Eroni Vasiteri, 11 Vereniki Goneva, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Serupepeli Vularika, 8 Nemani Nagusa, 7 Akapusi Qera (c), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 3 Kalivati Tawake, 2 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 1 Peni Ravai
Replacements: 16 Jale Sassen, 17 Joeli Veitayaki, 18 Manasa Saulo, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Viliame Mata, 21 Mosese Voka, 22 Nikola Matawalu, 23 Benito Masilevu

 

[Muzzy]

Exciting game, 3 great tries from Fiji, but a lot of mistakes too that nearly cost them the game. Great way to finish the game having to go from their own line then winning it with a last minute drop goal from Volavola

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Damnation. But I suspect only one side was looking to play rugby. Were there any positives in the Italian back play?

 

[Muzzy]

Damnation. But I suspect only one side was looking to play rugby. Were there any positives in the Italian back play?

I don't know much about the Italians and didn't see their game last week but the commentator was saying their backline was more adventurous than last week. They did make a few good breaks.

Here's the full game:

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Thanks so much! My Youtube skills were failing me today. I'm a masochist, so I'll watch this in full in the desperate hope of signs of improvement.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

That was more ambitious from Italy, which is good to see that O'Shea actually wants to play running rugby sometimes. Campagnaro was really off form though which greatly held things back.

30 seconds left on the clock, scores are level, Fiji have a defensive lineout at their own try-line. There can be only one winner!

Great ambition from Fiji at the end.