Italy vs England

Italy vs England
Guiness Six Nations, 2024

Round One
Saturday 3rd of February
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick Off 14:15 GMT

Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Pierre Brousset (Fra) Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)

TV Coverage ITV 1
Virgin Media (ROI)

Teams

Italy

Allan; Capuozzo, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane; P Garbisi, A Garbisi; Fischetti, Lucchesi, Ceccarelli, N Cannone, Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro (capt), L Cannone.

Replacements: Nicotera, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Zambonin, Iachizzi, Zuliani, Varney, Pani

England

Steward; Freeman, Slade, Dingwall, Daly; Ford, Mitchell; Marler, George (capt), Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, Roots, Underhill, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Genge, Cole, Coles, Cunningham-South, Care, F Smith, Feyi-Waboso

Thanks bsando.

I like Williams as a ref. Hopefully the weather is good so we can start to see this next iteration of England. I've come to accept that I'm notngoing to get the style I like but it's going to be good to see this next set of talent finally get their chance.

Much like Gatland back when he started with Wales it probably suits Borthwock to gp heavily with one and that seems obviously Northampton. Rely on club partnerships over what can be achieved in a little under 2 weeks.

I thought kick off was 1415 or is that time coverage starts?

No worries!

I'd like to see what Fin Smith can do on the international stage. His meteoric rise for Northampton this season probably earns him at least a place on the bench for Italy. Saying that, Smith at Quins has also been on good form. With so many strong performers for England I wonder if Borthwick's new approach will simply be to pick on form?

mountain man wrote:I thought kick off was 1415 or is that time coverage starts?

My mistake. Amended that now.

Smith starts Smith bench I reckon. M then F.

mountain man wrote:I thought kick off was 1415 or is that time coverage starts?

That's the kickoff time I have (UK time).

Italy win by a thrashing...in the anthems.

Italy look like they have not read the script!

Ha, Eddie in crowd!

Good start from Italy

Lovely try. Well deserved.

Looking ominous. Italy playing well.

Was the last pass OK?

Odd that. Did they think they could do a temporary injury sub?

Heaf wrote:Was the last pass OK?

Looked absolutely fine yeah.

They said the ball came off his leg, but looked a knock on. Never mind it is not that it wasn't deserved.

Definitely targeting Ford, Italy ball carrying heading for him every time.

Italy flirting with the offside line at every ruck

That's a lovely line by Freeman.

Cracking try by Daly, really well made by Freeman and great carry by Roots

That's more like it

Good response from England

Good

10-8 Italy

Good game so far

Finally the delayed pass finds a little half gap and Freeman steams through to create the try.

Roots playing well, strong ball carrying.

Yeah. Another nice one.

Wow, great try but England defence all over shop

Italy right back in it

Stupid game

(Good Italian try)

England in a game here

Italy look like they have learned some lessons!

Last year first time England lost to Fiji, this is looking like first time England lose to Italy ...

Heaf wrote:Last year first time England lost to Fiji, this is looking like first time England lose to Italy ...

Early days yet

Italy need to stop giving the ball up in their own half

Freeman freeing his cheeks there

mountain man wrote:

Heaf wrote:Last year first time England lost to Fiji, this is looking like first time England lose to Italy ...

Early days yet

I'm trying out the commentator's curse to get the opposite result

Cheeky play by Freeman

Jokes aside he's looking the part

England are using their wingers well in attack. Coming off the wings and finding work well. Daly has been shocking in defence, the perfect example being the second try and he flies out the line and gets nowhere near the ball giving Italy masses of space and numbers to easily pick off the covering defenders. Stupid from an experienced player.

The England attack does look better. The defence looks worse.

Good half from Italy but England definitely looked on top that last 10 mins

Coaches are going to have to earn their corn these half time talks!

If it stays this tight not sure how much time bench will get, like of Smith and Feyi Waboso

England should win this. They are starting to gel a bit more and Italy are not coping well with the pressure England are putting them under

mountain man wrote:If it stays this tight not sure how much time bench will get, like of Smith and Feyi Waboso

Ford is playing well so might be harsh on Fin Smith. Daly looks a liability and if we need points IFW could well get a chance to come on and change things up.

It's nearly clicking for England in many departments. The only real issue is how narrow we are in defence, not helped by Daly and his idiotic commitment to racing in looking for the man and ball tackle. The props in particular aren't pulling their weight and don't seem to want to do more than walk when we haven't got the ball. The forwards have to up their work rate in defence to allow for the backs to spread a bit further. Cohesion isn't great. We've gone backwards in that department since the world cup. Maybe Jones has spent more time on the attack then on his defence job.

Is it just me or do England seem to be leaving the ball a bit exposed for too long at the rucks too - luckily Italy haven't taken full advantage.

Trouble is, Ford is getting consistently steam-rollered by Menoncello and Brex so some extra bulk wouldn't go amiss. Ford is a tough little nugget, but stopping 16 stone centres is not his forte.

Roots is doing well. And Freeman has been great - cheeks aside...

Steward too slow I'm afraid, he was well out of it for 2nd Italian try.

Look rusty, a few decent performances a few below par.

Agree with Sam the Cohesion seems a little off. But it will come.

Stuart has carried more in this half than in his whole England career.

mountain man wrote:Steward too slow I'm afraid, he was well out of it for 2nd Italian try.

He was in the correct position and then was left with a 3 on 1 in a third of the pitch. What did you expect him to do? Daly cocked that one up.

Italy's exits are terrible

Unlucky - ball just rolled the wrong way

That's better