RWC: Italy - United States (27-09-2011, 19:30)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Trafalgar Park, Nelson (27-09-2011, 19:30)

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
​

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] Italy [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] United States [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Andrea Masi [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] Chris Wyles [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Tommaso Benvenuti [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] Takudza Ngwenya [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Gonzalo Canale [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] Paul Emerick [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Gonzalo Garcia [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] Andrew Suniula [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Mirco Bergamasco [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] James Paterson [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Luciano Orquera [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] Roland Suniula [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Fabio Semenzato [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] Mike Petri [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sergio Parisse [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] Nic Johnson [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Mauro Bergamasco [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] Todd Clever [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Alessandro Zanni [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] Louis Stanfill [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Cornelius van Zyl [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] Hayden Smith [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Quintin Geldenhuys [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] John van der Giessen [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Martin Castrogiovanni [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] Matekitonga Moeakiola [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Leonardo Ghiraldini [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] Chris Biller [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Salvatore Perugini [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] Mike MacDonald [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Fabio Ongaro [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] Phil Thiel [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Andrea Lo Cicero [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] Shawn Pittman [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Marco Bortolami [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] Scott LaValla [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Paul Derbyshire [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] Pat Danahy [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Edoardo Gori [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] Tim Usasz [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Riccardo Bocchino [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] Nese Malifa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Luke McLean [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] Blaine Scully [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Both line-ups have been announced and I expect the USA to go out and cause an upset against the Azzuri!!!

Let's hope they do, because they deserve to win at least 1 match this time.




[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] Italy [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] United States [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Andrea Masi [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] Chris Wyles [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Tommaso Benvenuti [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] Takudza Ngwenya [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Gonzalo Canale [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] Paul Emerick [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Gonzalo Garcia [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] Andrew Suniula [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Mirco Bergamasco [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] James Paterson [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Luciano Orquera [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] Roland Suniula [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Fabio Semenzato [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] Mike Petri [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sergio Parisse [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] Nic Johnson [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Mauro Bergamasco [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] Todd Clever [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Alessandro Zanni [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] Louis Stanfill [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Cornelius van Zyl [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] Hayden Smith [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Quintin Geldenhuys [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] John van der Giessen [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Martin Castrogiovanni [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] Matekitonga Moeakiola [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Leonardo Ghiraldini [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] Chris Biller [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Salvatore Perugini [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] Mike MacDonald [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Fabio Ongaro [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] Phil Thiel [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Andrea Lo Cicero [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] Shawn Pittman [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Marco Bortolami [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] Scott LaValla [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Paul Derbyshire [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] Pat Danahy [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Edoardo Gori [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] Tim Usasz [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Riccardo Bocchino [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] Nese Malifa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Luke McLean [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] Blaine Scully [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[nickdnz]

USA bet Russia.

 

[monkeypigeon]

Yup, and I'm glad to see Italy's first string team out to get themselves beaten-up a it before they play Ireland on Saturday .

 

[TRF_Olyy]

USA have looked poor all season (Chch Cup and RWC)
I think Italy will get the 4try BP - though as MP said, they're going to get battered up by Clever et al. and be hurting for the Ireland match

 

[SelimNiai]

That Italian pack is a belter, power and ability in the loose. Not exactly weak on the bench either.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Aye, it's not that they'll be overpowered, but they've some hard hitters in there and they're playing again in not very long

 

[SelimNiai]

I think the Italians will want to be 15-20 up by HT giving them the room to get some of the starters vs Ireland off for a rest. It's more worrying that the backs might get crocked. Replacing Perugini with Lo Cicero isn't such a disaster than if say Semenzato or Masi gets injured

 

[psychic duck]

USA have looked poor all season (Chch Cup and RWC)
I think Italy will get the 4try BP - though as MP said, they're going to get battered up by Clever et al. and be hurting for the Ireland match

USA did well in the Ireland match although it was in defense not attack, it is ridiculous that Italy now will be tired for their important match against Ireland​, just as it was for Samoa

 

[ThisIsAmerRugby]

The U.S. forwards looked bad all year. However, during the World Cup they have played all right. Mike MacDonald is having a resurgence and the line-out has been fantastic. I think the Eagles will hold the Italians in the forwards and Taku Ngwenya will have a big day for the Eagles win.

Here is a preview of the match from an American perspective:

Going into the World Cup the Eagles had targeted at least one win against Russia. With that mission accomplished the Eagles will look to add to that euphoria by looking to knock off Italy in their final match of the World Cup. It is fantastic to see that the Eagles have something to play for on their last day.

The Italians have played well thus far at the World Cup. Their forwards have long been their strength and that helped them keep even for the first 40 minutes against Australia and dominate against Russia. Normally this game's outcome wouldn't be in doubt given the problems the Eagles have had in the scrum in the forwards, but the Eagles surprising strong play (led by Mike MacDonald) has given second thought to the outcome. The line-out has also been strong. John van der Giessen and Hayden Smith have been the unheralded stars of the World Cup for the Eagles. If the Eagles forwards can maintain 80 strong minutes against the Italian forwards the Eagles have a chance.

Where the Eagles might be able to take advantage and exploit the Italians is in the backs. The backs have long been a strength of the U.S. programme. James Paterson's introduction to the wing has been a revelation. Chris Wyles has been fantastic upon his return. Andrew Suniula and Paul Emerick have been terrific on defense thus far. Taku Ngwenya has disappointed but all it takes is one moment and he is off. Hopefully the ball we swing out wide and the Eagles can cross the line. Scoring has been a problem thus far but the potential is there.

Overall, Italy is a hard team to read. They have had good results in the World Cup so far (excluding a second half against Australia) and they had a memorable win against France earlier this year in the Six-Nations. Still, they had a close result against Japan in their World Cup warm-up and finished dead last (tied with Scotland but with a worse point differential) in this year's Six Nations. Who knows which Italy side the Eagles will face on Tuesday? The one that can beat a great France team, or the one that had to pull out a close win against Japan?

The Eagles have to like their chances to keep the game close and even pull out the win. While automatically advancing to the next World Cup would be amazing for the Eagles, it is not expected. They have everything to play for and no pressure. The Eagles can go out and play rugby. We'll think they'll go out and get that historic win.
[/h]

 

[danit]

Replacing Perugini with Lo Cicero isn't such a disaster than if say Semenzato or Masi gets injured

Masi ruled out, McLean to start at fb, Toniolatti on the bench

scrummaging power will be the key for Italy, building the game on the letal weapon which at the same time is one of the greatest weakness for USA team

 

[jasmonia25]

Any one reckon Italy will put over 20 points on USA?

 

[danit]

Any one reckon Italy will put over 20 points on USA?

me

not from a neutral point of view but I'm usually pessimistic about Italy

not this time though, I think the guys will get a pretty easy win in the end, with the bonus point

on the opposite side, I don't think Italy have real chanches v Ireland next sunday, I'm confident it'll be a hard fought game (as usual) but I'm sure it will end in an irish victory (as usual..)

 

[psychic duck]

the scrum should be an advantage to Italy in this match, the mission in this match for Italy is simply to get 4 tries as quickly as possible and then roll on the subs

 

[Toko_11]

Anyone watching this ? ? because its worth watching

 

[Jman227]

USA will win this. My completely reliable guarantee

 

[Deadmonton]

Italy are just wrecking the Eagles in the scrum. They're doing alright I suppose now, but later in the game all their front rowers are going to be sin binned or beat to hell.

 

[Eagles85]

lol at the Matchtracker

"At halftime it's Italy 20, Chris Wyles 10"

 

[i tickle ur tum]

i have enjoyed the 1st half..iv no regrets about getting up for this one, i would prefere that italy didnt get a bonus point...but they will!!

 

[TNT88]

USA #13 is having a blinder.