RBS 6 Nations - France vs Italy - (04/02/2012 - 14:30)

[Melhor Time]

Italy:

Masi
Venditti
Benvenuti
Sgarbi
McLean
Burton
Gori
Parisse
Zanni
Barbieri
Geldenhuys
Van Zyl
Castrogiovanni
Ghiraldini
Lo Cicero

D'Apice, Cittadini, Bortolami, Favaro, Semenzato, Botes, Canale.


Finally!! Benvenuti and Sgarbi both at centres!!

Sgarbi should not start ahead of Canale. Lets see if Brunnel has something up his sleeve.

 

[Darwin]

Plenty of experience up front for Italy, but a pretty inexperienced backline (aside from Masi). I really like the look of the loose-forward trio, though France have very good loosies themselves. I haven't seen a lot of Burton - I assume he will be doing the goal-kicking since Bergamasco is out? What is he like as a goal-kicker? Looking forward to seeing how young Venditti goes in his debut.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Should be an enjoyable game. Is the kick off time (14:30) English time or European time (GMT +1)?

 

[danit]

I haven't seen a lot of Burton - I assume he will be doing the goal-kicking since Bergamasco is out? What is he like as a goal-kicker?

he's just a med/short range reliable kicker

Looking forward to seeing how young Venditti goes in his debut.

just a big tall strong not-too-fast fella, guess he's there mainly to defend on Malzieu (but you never know, playing for this year Aironi certainly doesn't boost your skills...)

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Should be an enjoyable game. Is the kick off time (14:30) English time or European time (GMT +1)?

It's at 15:30 Paris time, so 14:30 GMT.

 

[Pierce Brosnan Rugby]

I would like to us take the game to the French on Saturday. We were far too conservative under the last coach, hopefully under Brunnel things will be different. Still think France will edge this one though

Dont worry we will be allright!!! as long as the boys dont get scare..

 

[Jockstap]

15. Médard;
14. Clerc,
13. Rougerie,
12. Fofana,
11. Malzieu;
10. Trinh-Duc,
9. Yachvili;
7. Bonnaire,
8. Picamoles,
6. Dusautoir (cap.);
5. Nallet,
4. Papé;
3. Mas,
2. Servat,
1. Poux.

16; Szarzewski,
17. Debaty,
18. Maestri,
19. Harinordoquy,
20. Parra,
21. Beauxis,
22. Mermoz.

Just announced. Just as expected, then. My only change would be Parra for Yachvili.​

People keep talking about how old the Irish squad are but look at these boys, Harinordiquay, Bonnaire, Mas, Servat, Nallet, Yachvilli, Rougerie, Poux and Swarzeski are all well over 30. That's a lot of key players on the verge of retiring. France could be in trouble in a year or two.

 

[Melhor Time]

People keep talking about how old the Irish squad are but look at these boys, Harinordiquay, Bonnaire, Mas, Servat, Nallet, Yachvilli, Rougerie, Poux and Swarzeski are all well over 30. That's a lot of key players on the verge of retiring. France could be in trouble in a year or two.

Prop and hooker is no concern really. France has great props now who are injured and some really impressive young hookers.

The only issue is in the secondrow. France is really struggling to find players at the moment. Other positions is no concern at all. France has some great young players. Yachvilli, as good as he is, will go and be replaced without France losing anything. Consider the options... Parra, Doussain, Dupuy, Tomas, Tillous-Borde and Lorée.

Yann David and Maxime Mermoz are brilliant and no step down from Rougerie. Also, Bastareaud could come back if he loses the belly.

 

[Pierce Brosnan Rugby]

Prop and hooker is no concern really. France has great props now who are injured and some really impressive young hookers.

The only issue is in the secondrow. France is really struggling to find players at the moment. Other positions is no concern at all. France has some great young players. Yachvilli, as good as he is, will go and be replaced without France losing anything. Consider the options... Parra, Doussain, Dupuy, Tomas, Tillous-Borde and Lorée.

Yann David and Maxime Mermoz are brilliant and no step down from Rougerie. Also, Bastareaud could come back if he loses the belly.

Bastareud got fat legs! :lol:

 

[Jockstap]

Bastareud got fat legs! :lol:

He has you there.

 

[psychic duck]

he's just a med/short range reliable kicker

just a big tall strong not-too-fast fella, guess he's there mainly to defend on Malzieu (but you never know, playing for this year Aironi certainly doesn't boost your skills...)

I agree, he not the most skilled winger let's say, although what can he do playing at Aironi to be fair?

People keep talking about how old the Irish squad are but look at these boys, Harinordiquay, Bonnaire, Mas, Servat, Nallet, Yachvilli, Rougerie, Poux and Swarzeski are all well over 30. That's a lot of key players on the verge of retiring. France could be in trouble in a year or two.

Not really, the replacement are pretty straightforward apart from at lock and perhaps tighthead

Harinordoquy - Picamoles/Lakafia
Bonnaire - Ouedraogo/Lapandry/Nyanga
Yachvili - Parra/Doussain/Dupuy/Machenaud/Tomas
Rougerie - Bastareaud/Fritz
Poux - Domingo/Barcella
Servat - Szarzewski/Guirado
Nallet - Maestri/Fakaté/de Marco (although those replacement options aren't all special)

all those replacements will be around in a year or two, Szarzewski is not over 30 by the way

Mas - Ric?

Prop and hooker is no concern really. France has great props now who are injured and some really impressive young hookers.

The only issue is in the secondrow. France is really struggling to find players at the moment. Other positions is no concern at all. France has some great young players. Yachvilli, as good as he is, will go and be replaced without France losing anything. Consider the options... Parra, Doussain, Dupuy, Tomas, Tillous-Borde and Lorée.

Yann David and Maxime Mermoz are brilliant and no step down from Rougerie. Also, Bastareaud could come back if he loses the belly.

Disagree there Melhor, Tillous-Borde was poor when he played for France, and seeing that he struggled to displace Alexandre Albouy in the Castres lineup he's not a France contender, and as for Mathieu Lorée, he is even worse, there is a reason why Racing are signing Agen's Maxime Machenaud, because Lorée is dreadful

also disagree regarding David and Mermoz, David is okay but not brilliant, Fritz and Bastareaud are better, Mermoz can be good but is injury prone, currently off form and not as good as Fofana

 

[TNT88]

woohooo! Just realized all 6N games are live on ESPN in Australia! Starting with this one.

Not sure who to go for, I like France but it is always good when Italy get a win. Maybe I'll bet on a draw, depends on the weather

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Wheater is darn freezing (and looks like it will for a week on Sunday), Italian are not familiar with ice out of their Martini !!!

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Prop and hooker is no concern really. France has great props now who are injured and some really impressive young hookers.

The only issue is in the secondrow. France is really struggling to find players at the moment. Other positions is no concern at all. France has some great young players. Yachvilli, as good as he is, will go and be replaced without France losing anything. Consider the options... Parra, Doussain, Dupuy, Tomas, Tillous-Borde and Lorée.

Yann David and Maxime Mermoz are brilliant and no step down from Rougerie. Also, Bastareaud could come back if he loses the belly.

Actually, tighthead prop is kind of an issue. And, obvioulsy, props who can play both sides. In a 22 player matchsheet you need a double-sided prop, and the 23 player matchsheets are not helping with that. And, even with that, we're not producing TH props. Ric looks promising, but Ducalcon just deserves a double handed facepalm and a cockslap.

 

[psychic duck]

Actually, tighthead prop is kind of an issue. And, obvioulsy, props who can play both sides. In a 22 player matchsheet you need a double-sided prop, and the 23 player matchsheets are not helping with that. And, even with that, we're not producing TH props. Ric looks promising, but Ducalcon just deserves a double handed facepalm and a cockslap.

bit harsh? still destroyed Alasdair Dickinson once I remember, not seen too much of him elsewhere

although Ric is not ready now, hopefully for France Mas will play long enough until he will be ready

 

[jack daniels]

How is the weather going to be for this game?

 

[Jockstap]

How is the weather going to be for this game?

A bit nippy, -3 C I think

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Six Nations 2012 is now underway

 

[ZeFrenchy]

A lot has been said and written about Castro vs Debaty, I'd call the first one a draw.

And Picamoles needs to tighten the **** up.

edit: second scrum won by the belgian.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Frances defence has been quality so far - Italy have come out fighting though, playing better than I expected.

3 - 0 to France through a Yachvili penalty.