June International Tests: Italy vs. Scotland (10/06/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Singapore National Stadium
Time: 14:00 (CAT, SA GMT+2)​

 

[Brigantine]

You think they'll sell any tickets? Who's idea was it to have this in Singapore?

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I admit the injury absence of Tomasso Allan will hit ticket sales. Can we have lots of Lions injuries so that a bunch of Scots get called up? Preferably Finn Russell.

A good wee four team tournament this. I'll settle for third for Italy to get a taste of not getting a wooden spoon!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Scotland [v Italy]: D Taylor (Saracens); D Hoyland (Edinburgh), M Scott (Gloucester), A Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), T Visser (Harlequins); F Russell (Glasgow Warriors), A Price (Glasgow Warriors); A Dell (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), WP Nel (Edinburgh), T Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), B Toolis (Edinburgh), J Barclay (Scarlets), J Hardie (Edinburgh), J Strauss (Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements: F Brown (Glasgow Warriors), G Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Z Fagrson (Glasgow Warriors), R Harley (Glasgow Warriors), M Bradbury (Edinburgh), R Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), H Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), P Horne (Glasgow Warriors).

A bit under strength, but still strong thanks to depth in backs. No idea how Taylor will do at fullback.

 

[General Melchett]

Good to see Nel back and Toolis who was in the Pro 12 players team of the year. No Hamish Watson - guess he must be injured.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I think Watson and Johnny Gray are being rested rather than injured.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I was talking rot Watson is injured. J Gray being rested.

Italy squad

Italy team to play Scotland: 15. Edoardo Padovani, 14. Angelo Esposito, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12. Tommaso Boni, 11. Leonardo Sarto, 10. Tommaso Allan, 9. Edoardo Gori (c), 1. Andrea Lovotti, 2. Luca Bigi, 3. Simone Ferarri, 4. Marco Fuser, 5. Dean Budd, 6. Francesco Minto, 7. Maxime Mbanda, 8. Robert Barbieri.

Replacements: 16. Ornel Gega, 17. Federico Zani, 18. Pietro Ceccarelli, 19. Andries van Schalkwyk, 20. Abraham Steyn, 21. Marcello Violi, 22. Carlo Canna, 23. Tommaso Benvenuti.



Debuts at hooker and lock. Some reliability on the bench. Campagnaro playing. No Luke McLean playing out of position at centre. The great Sarto back from injury. Ye gods I think O'Shea has picked a side I can agree with. That should be a threatening back unit if they can get quick ball.

Concerned that he still feels unable to rely on Canna, there must be something mental going on there. And I will be watching my avatar's goal kicking from behind the sofa. Gega deserved a start too. No Parisse means we will see if there is a anyone else with the slightest leadership ability on the field.

If Finn Russell was with the Lions I'd be picking Italy here. But he isn't. This will be entertaining and open though on Townsend's coaching debut.

Scotland by 9

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Hopefully Scotland defend as badly the last time they didn't have a proper fullback (at Twickenham). Italy really need this win with all the rumours flying around about the Pro12. I need to see that hunger!

 

[Reiser99]

Italians too eager at the start. Russell should have kept that in hand, no pressure there.

 

[Brigantine]

The stadium is actually half full by the looks. That's not too bad for being in Singapore

If Italy can somehow get there, (which would be very surprising) it will raise them 3 places in the rankings. And cost Scotland 3 places in the rankings too, actually.

 

[Reiser99]

Penalty a minute at the moment. Very poor start from Italy.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

It is always impossible to guess the crowd in Singapore. It can look empty and have a crowd of 9,000 for the Sunwolves. Surprised there are so many ethnic Europeans in the crowd. They don't turn up to the Sunwolves games.

Happy with Italian start, Scotland have been sharp but Italy defended well and doing good at the breakdown. Padovani the standout. Sarto looking good considering he has had a huge injury lay off. Allan actually kicking okay so far.

First game with no head protection for Finn for at least 12 months. Glad for him.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Buggeration. Finn showing more creativity and ability in 30 seconds than the Lions have shown in three matches. Not sure how Italy were meant to defend that. Try of the season candidate. 3-3 at 37 mins. But 15-3 at the half.

 

[Reiser99]

Russell and Price leading the way.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Pfft. Lots of defensive gaps due to the humidity. Scotland exploiting them for fun, Italy achieving nothing despite so much talent at 9-15. I am so disappointed. One year on there are so many questionmarks over the ability of OShea and Catt.

And finally Italy do something to raise my spirits.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Italy managed to make it not look humiliating but the gulf in quality is clear, particularly in the coaching. I was nervous for Scotland with them ditching Cotter, but this was an extremely promising start for Townsend, additional flair seems likely in the future. Very glad they have a Scottish coach again which is something I personally think is very important in international sport, just as much as the nationality of the players. Once the 5 year residency rule kicks in and the team is consistently filled with Scots (rather than "Scots qualified") I'll return to my boyhood days of supporting Scotland against anyone (bar Italy).

For Italy Padovani continues to impress, Sarto is a huge addition and Mbanda showed again a lot of promise in the loose forwards. He is clearly identified as leadership material as was acting captain at the end. Pleased to see that in a country that can have issues with matters of race / origin (including against fellow Italians). That was another unacceptable performance though, they are just so limited attacking, no shape whatsoever. The mind boggles what Mike Catt is actually doing.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

God wish Price was taken a head of Laidlaw.

He might not be a test 9 for the lions but he would suit the midweek side alot more than Greg.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Price and Finn both 24 years old and promise to terrorise the 6N for years to come. Laidlaw will never play again for Scotland if Price is fit. The try Price scored today is something Laidlaw is physically and possibly mentally incapable of (and I say that as someone who thinks Laidlaw does have some good qualities beyond his goal kicking).