RaboDirect Pro12: Scarlets - Aironi (04-09-2011, 16:00 GMT)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli (04-09-2011, 16:00 GMT)

Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU, 6th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Neil Hennessy, Greg Morgan (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Richard Gwynn (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)

Scarlets won both previous encounters with Aironi last campaign.
Scarlets finished off last season with successive wins over Glasgow and the Blues, and won three of their last four matches at Parc y Scarlets. The Welshmen's only previous loss to an Italian team was 28-34 in Treviso in round one last year.
Aironi Rugby are yet to record an away victory in any tournament since they were formed twelve months ago. The Italians slipped to eight losses in eight matches against Welsh opponents during their maiden season, and will hope to end the sequence in this RaboDirect PRO12 showdown.

(source: RaboDirectPro12.com)


[TABLE="class: grid"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]Scarlets[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Aironi[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dan Evans[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]Ruggero Trevisan[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lee Williams[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Riccardo Pavan[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rhodri Gomer-Davies[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Roberto Quartaroli[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Aled Thomas[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Gabriel Pizarro[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Andy Fenby[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]Giovanbattista Venditti[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dan Newton[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Naas Olivier[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rhodri Williams[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]***o Tebaldi[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ben Morgan[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Nick Williams[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Josh Turnbull[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Nicola Cattina[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rob McCusker[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Josh Sole[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dom Day[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]George Fabio Biagi[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Aaron Shingler[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Joshua Furno[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rhys M. Thomas[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Luca Redolfini[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Emyr Philips[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Roberto Santamaria[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Iestyn Thomas[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Matias Aguero[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Kirby Myhill[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Davide Giazzon[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Phil John[/TD]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Alberto de Marchi[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Simon Gardiner[/TD]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]Fabio Saibano[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Lou Reed[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]Filippo Ferrarini[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Richie Pugh[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]Frans Viljoen[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Justin James[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]Giorgio Bronzini[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rhys Jones[/TD]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]Alberto Benettin[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Adam Warren[/TD]
[TD]23[/TD]
[TD]Gilberto Pavan[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[Me 1]

Aironi look like a stronger team than last season, but the Scarlets should win this one by 10 at least

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

To be fair, Aironi has had a good season transfer-wise.

Frans Viljoen joined them from the Cheetahs, Naas Olivier from Griquas while Andrea Masi moved back to Italy after a career in the TOP14. Tyson Keats moved to Aironi from the 'Canes.

Those are 4 class players who can really add some spark to Aironi for the season.

 

[Me 1]

To be fair, Aironi has had a good season transfer-wise.

Frans Viljoen joined them from the Cheetahs, Naas Olivier from Griquas while Andrea Masi moved back to Italy after a career in the TOP14. Tyson Keats moved to Aironi from the 'Canes.

Those are 4 class players who can really add some spark to Aironi for the season.

That will be good in the long term but only Olivier's playing today.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I am not saying they will beat Scarlets, but there is definitely potential to climb up the log ladder later this season.

Last season was the inaugural season for the 2 Italian franchises and I think in a couple of years, we might even see an Italian team winning the Magne.... RaboDirect Pro12

 

[Peat]

I'd be surprised if either of the Italian teams got near the Rabid Dog playoffs for quite a while, nevermind win it.

Particularly Aironi, who, signings or no, were abysmal in the Ravish Erection Pro 12 last season.

I really hope Lou Reed makes it.

 

[Me 1]

I am not saying they will beat Scarlets, but there is definitely potential to climb up the log ladder later this season.

Last season was the inaugural season for the 2 Italian franchises and I think in a couple of years, we might even see an Italian team winning the Magne.... RaboDirect Pro12

You could well be right when they get their internationals back, and to be fair I think Aironi will finish above a few clubs this season. An Italian team could probably win the Pro 12 in about 3-4 years.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

@ Peat: I don't mean this season, but in a couple of years...

 

[Draggs]

I think the Scarlets will win, but I am not sure of that backline. I've only seen Newton at 15, and their midfield is pretty much untested.
Hopefully Daniel Evans will find some form and be a fullback option for the Six Nations.

 

[profitius]

Aironi will win more than 1 game this season and the Italians should slowly improve year on year. I can't see the winning the competition for a long while though.

 

[greybeard]

Yep, Aironi will do better this year but premature to talk about winning te league for a few years. At the moment they're without their strongest players due to the "Mondiale" but when they're back in a few weeks I'm sure Aironi will pose problems. Big problems in the second row with absences and injuries, though Furnow is a great prospect. Against Scarlets a young and very italian team. luckily for Scarlets I bet the temp is a lot les than the 33° here at the moment (65% humidity)!

 

[Me 1]

Urgh... Hate Aironi's new strip, looks like it's made of play-dough.