Italia Thread

[bsando]

Place to discuss Italy and their 6N chances as well as the state of Italian Rugby.

Italy haven’t won a 6 Nations match since 2015 away at Murrayfield

Franco Smith coaches the side and has not selected Parisse

Italy interim head coach Franco Smith: "We have worked hard on and off the pitch to build synergy between the staff and the players. We know our potential and what we can give. I have faith in the team and can't wait to see them on the pitch against Wales."  - from BBC Website

Italy side for Wales

Italy: 15-Matteo Minozzi, 14-Leonardo Sarto, 13- Luca Morisi, 12-Carlo Canna, 11-Mattia Bellini, 10-Tommaso Allan, 9-Callum Braley; 1-Andrea Lovotti. 2-Luca Bigi (captain), 3-Giosue Zilocchi, 4-Alessandro Zanni, 5-Niccolo Cannone, 6-Jake Polledri, 7-Sebastian Negri, 8-Braam Steyn

Replacements: 16-Federico Zani, 17-Danilo Fischetti, 18-Marco Riccioni, 19-Dean Budd, 20-Marco Lazzaroni, 21-Giovanni Licata, 22-Guglielmo Palazzani, 23-Jayden Hayward.

The inclusion of Polledri and Minozzi is a big boost for Italy. Steyn offers a lot of physicality at no.8 and and Braley who has been learning from Heinz and Simpson at Gloucester starts at 9. At 10, Alan is developing into a very good fly half but perhaps needs to polish the finer details of his game.

[maestegmafia]

There are some exciting players in the team but I don’t fancy Canna as an inside centre.

[lostinwales]

Interesting seeing England U20 Braley at scrum half. Could have been 2 England U20's if Sisi had been picked.

[tigertattie]

What about Segio?

If hes not selected then hes not selected, but its a crying shame for a servant of Itallian rugby to never get that last international match!

[Guest]

What about Segio?

If hes not selected then hes not selected, but its a crying shame for a servant of Itallian rugby to never get that last international match!

Sergio is being lined up for one last 'hurrah' at home this 6N as a way of saying thank you and goodbye. Not sure which home game. It was on the beeb site the other day I think.

[Cyril]

When does the current 6Ns participation agreement expire? Hopefully the powers that be will be looking at jettisoning Italy soon as they really don’t deserve a place at present.

[No 7&1/2]

Took 24 years for the french to win a shared title. And I hate the fallow week of the 5 nations.

[Cyril]

Italy have nearly been in the 6 Nations that long and are miles away from challenging.

If we need even numbers we drop another blue team.

[BigTrevsbigmac]

Spain & Georgia need to step up & put pressure on Italy

[BigGee]

What about Segio?

If hes not selected then hes not selected, but its a crying shame for a servant of Itallian rugby to never get that last international match!

Sergio is being lined up for one last 'hurrah' at home this 6N as a way of saying thank you and goodbye. Not sure which home game. It was on the beeb site the other day I think.

The last game against England by the sound of it!

[LeinsterFan4life]

Spain & Georgia need to step up & put pressure on Italy

Georgia are so far off from being ready it's frightening to even think about.
The popular opinion is that Georgia is next country ready to pounce on Italy but I'm actually a lot more excited about Spain as they actually have a strong domestic semi pro league which can attract good attendances (25k for a cup final a couple of years ago for example). They've also had some impressive attendances for the national team. In 2018 they had over 15k for both they're home matches in the 6nb and got 10k v Samoa in that Autumn. They actually had better attendances than Georgia in last years 6nb.

[BigGee]

Spain & Georgia need to step up & put pressure on Italy

Georgia are so far off from being ready it's frightening to even think about.
The popular opinion is that Georgia is next country ready to pounce on Italy but I'm actually a lot more excited about Spain as they actually have a strong domestic semi pro league which can attract good attendances (25k for a cup final a couple of years ago for example). They've also had some impressive attendances for the national team. In 2018 they had over 15k for both they're home matches in the 6nb and got 10k v Samoa in that Autumn. They actually had better attendances than Georgia in last years 6nb.

A trip to Madrid or Barcelona might be an easier sell than one to Tiblisi as well!

[Cyril]

Italy showing again today that they add nothing to this tournament.

[No 7&1/2]

Why have a fallow week though Cyril. Bad enough with the 2 weeks off we have already.

[maestegmafia]

As Cheika was saying yesterday italy deserve to be where they are. They may be the whipping boys but they are the best European team below the traditional five nations.

Rugby is not just a team performance, rugby is a culture and one that creates friends across the world that share a love of the game.

Anyone who has travelled to Rome, Treviso, or any of the rugby cities in Italy, sat with Italian fans, watched their support for their teams can fully understand their rugby fans are no different to us.

Italy has a rich and precious rugby culture that is growing. Their U20s side has been improving year on year and that really is where Italy need development.

They will get there eventually, but throwing Italy out of the six nations is an absolutely bonkers idea that lessens the growth of the sport.

[Cyril]

I’d rather have a week off than have these constant thrashings of Italy. They are an absolute joke now. Get them out.

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