What is Nick Mallett doing????

[dan-the-man]

I've always been a huge fan of former Springbok and current Italy coach nick Mallett. The thing I've always liked most about him is that his selections have always been so similar to mine, even when he talks about who he'd choose for the Boks. The run-on teams for Italy have been pathetic lately - even by their standards - and it's clear that NM has lost the plot when it comes to selection.

Alright, the forwards are okay. But, I'd still much rather have Ongaro over Ghiraldini at hooker. He gets an F- with his halfback choices. Fabio Smenzato is one of the poorest scrumhalves I've ever seen at international level. They had such a good thing going with the Tebaldi/Gower partnership! Why on earth did Mallett go and change that? Orquera and Bochinno have been pathetically poor. Riccardo Bochinno is, in my opinon, the worst player in the entire World Cup. Well, he's by far the worst I've seen. Italy vs Ireland was extremely close. Then he came on, and both of Ireland's first 2 tries were his fault. He can't kick, run, tackle or pass. Like I said, he's the worst player I've seen so far in this World Cup. I'd say, let Luke Mclean play fly-half.

Nick also doesn't seen to know who his best centres and wings are. Of course Bergamasco will remain on the left wing, as he is basically Italy's only goal-kicker with some degree of co-ords. The Gonzalo mid-field combo needs to stop, right now. What Italy's backline desperately needs is a bit of raw pace.

My Italy 22: 1. Andrea lo Cicero 2. Fabio Ongar0 3. Martin Castrogiovanni 4. Corniel van Zyl 5. Quinton Geldenhuys 6. Mauro Bergamasco 7. Allessandro Zanni 8. Sergio Parrise 9. ***o Tebaldi 10. Luke McLean 11. Mirco Bergamasco 12. Matteo Pratichetti 13. Gonzalo Canale 14. Tomaso Benvenuti 15. Andrea Masi

16. Leonardo Ghiraldini 17. Salvatore Perugini 18. Carlo del Fava 19. Rob Barbieri 20. Pablo Canavosio 21. Craig Gower 22. Gonzalo Garcia

 

[Sam Owen]

I've always been a huge fan of former Springbok and current Italy coach nick Mallett. The thing I've always liked most about him is that his selections have always been so similar to mine

Well, his selections need to be if he wants to be the man like you aye dan?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Beating France isn't pathetic! I'd say they had a decent enough 6N, ignoring the England match

However they have had some poor results in the last season too

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Mauro Bergamasco at 9 was epic, I'll be ever grateful for that unforgettable moment of comedy.

 

[psychic duck]

The run-on teams for Italy have been pathetic lately - even by their standards

like TRF_Olyy says, Italy did well in this year's 6 Nations, beating France of course and they could very well have beaten Ireland had they got that restart or at least a draw if Bergamasco got that conversion, and also could have beaten Wales if Bergamasco brought his kicking boots that day

I'd still much rather have Ongaro over Ghiraldini at hooker.

I don't think there is that much between these two players, but they are both different, Ghiraldini is very good in the loose and is quick with his ex-Sevens skills, but Ongaro is better at set pieces

Fabio Semenzato is one of the poorest scrumhalves I've ever seen at international level.

How can you say that about Semenzato? In my opinion he was one of the finds of the 6 Nations and is much better than Tebaldi and Canavosio, him and Gori should be Italy's scrum halves for the future, but unfortunately neither really start regularly at RaboDabo level because Treviso select Tobie Botes

They had such a good thing going with the Tebaldi/Gower partnership! Why on earth did Mallett go and change that?

Well firstly he changed Gower because he got injured and then when he was fit couldn't find a club so returned to Rugby League, and he changed ***o Tebaldi because he was totally dreadful, he was once subbed on and then subbed back off against Wales in 2010, he was shocking, however more recently watching him at Aironi he is improving gradually

Orquera and Bochinno have been pathetically poor. Riccardo Bochinno is, in my opinon, the worst player in the entire World Cup. Well, he's by far the worst I've seen. Italy vs Ireland was extremely close. Then he came on, and both of Ireland's first 2 tries were his fault. He can't kick, run, tackle or pass. Like I said, he's the worst player I've seen so far in this World Cup. I'd say, let Luke Mclean play fly-half.

Here I agree with you, Orquera makes O'Gara's tackling look like Jerry Collins, and he doesn't goal kick, the only thing he has is a decent pass along the backs, meanwhile Bocchino now I really have no idea why he is in the side, he hardly got a game for Aironi last season and was released at the end of the season yet was still called up for the international squad, like you say he doesn't kick, run, pass or tackle yet has 12 caps somehow

however unfortunately Italy don't have any good fly halves, the only one who starts regularly at club level is Kris Burton and he didn't make the squad, Burton isn't a good player but he at least gets decent game time in the Magners League which is more than can be said for Bocchino

maybe Italy should just sign any half decent South African/New Zealander to play for Aironi and Treviso and qualify in three seasons, they would just need to be alright and they would be better than the current crop of fly halves

Nick also doesn't seen to know who his best centres and wings are. Of course Bergamasco will remain on the left wing, as he is basically Italy's only goal-kicker with some degree of co-ords. The Gonzalo mid-field combo needs to stop, right now. What Italy's backline desperately needs is a bit of raw pace.

Mirco Bergamasco and Tommaso Benvenuti hardly ever get the ball when playing for Italy, so I won't have a go at them

at centre there is really nobody better than García, Canale and Sgarbi, but Andrea Pratichetti is a prospect and could come into the picture when he gets good game time at RaboDabo league level

 

[Me 1]

Mirco Bergamasco and Tommaso Benvenuti hardly ever get the ball when playing for Italy, so I won't have a go at them

at centre there is really nobody better than García, Canale and Sgarbi, but Andrea Pratichetti is a prospect and could come into the picture when he gets good game time at RaboDabo league level

Benvenuti is naturally a centre though and he is very good there. I think a Canale/Benvenuti partnership would work well. As for the wing, no idea