2015 6N, Round 1; Italy vs Ireland

First topic message reminder :



ITALY v IRELAND

Where: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
When: Saturday the 7th February 2015
Kick-off: 15.30 local time, 14.30 UK and Ireland

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (FFR)
Assistant Referee 1: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Stuart Berry (SARU)
TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)

ITALY

15 Andrea Masi
14 Leonardo Sarto
13 Michele Campagnaro
12 Luca Morisi
11 Luke McLean
10 Kelly Haimona
9 Eduardo Gori

1 Matías Agüero
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
4 Joshua Furno
5 George Biagi
6 Alessandro Zanni
7 Francesco Minto
8 Sergio Parisse (c)

16 Andrea Manici
17 Alberto de Marchi
18 Dario Chistolini
19 Marco Fuser
20 Marco Barbini
21 Guglielmo Palazzani
22 Tommaso Allan
23 Giovanbattista Venditti

IRELAND

15 Rob Kearney
14 Tommy Bowe
13 Jared Payne
12 Robbie Henshaw
11 Simon Zebo
10 Ian Keatley
9 Conor Murray

1 Jack McGrath
2 Rory Best
3 Mike Ross
4 Devin Toner
5 Paul O'Connell (c)
6 Peter O'Mahony
7 Sean O'Brien
8 Jordi Murphy

16 Sean Cronin
17 James Cronin
18 Martin Moore
19 Iain Henderson
20 Tommy O'Donnell
21 Isaac Boss
22 Ian Madigan
23 Felix Jones

I haven't seen much of Zebre is Haimona any good?

He was decent in the autumn. Not spectacular but solid.

My worry about Italy is more their back row.

Cheers Notch.

Considering Reddan will likely be back for the next round and the fact Boss has got the bench spot for this match, (barring injury) can anyone see where Marmion will get a chance to stake a claim for the 3rd SH spot for the world cup squad?

Or is Joe already set on Murray Reddan and Boss and hoping they'll all be fit for the RWC?

I think Marmion just hasn't taken his chances when he gets into the Wolfhounds. Two years in a row he's failed to translate his provincial form into good performances there.

Marmion is a player that  really hope steps u to International rugby. I have no idea why he has not yet done that but I hope he eventually does. Still not that convinced with Payne at 13, looks more at home at 15 to me. For the rest, it looks a very decent and strong side and one that could easily put 50 points past Italy.

Golden wrote:Cheers Notch.

Considering Reddan will likely be back for the next round and the fact Boss has got the bench spot for this match, (barring injury) can anyone see where Marmion will get a chance to stake a claim for the 3rd SH spot for the world cup squad?

Or is Joe already set on Murray Reddan and Boss and hoping they'll all be fit for the RWC?

He could get back in as early as France.

Why do we all lunge so readily trying to find immovable objects in a fastly moving landscape?  Marmion is still learning how to 'grow' into International and the extras (in physicality, courage and speed of thought) you need to be there.  And he's in a good place under a good teacher.  Anything can happen and he certainly isn't out of the WC mix yet.  But the Saxons game is another game he'll have plenty to watch and rewatch in his continuing learning curve. He's just unlucky to be in a competitive position where a few 'older' guys are clinging in there. Sexton kinda knows how that feels!

Some age and cap stats about the starting teams.
Highest to lowest caps: Italy 44, Wales 43, Ireland 31, Scotland 26, England 24, France 22
Highest to lowest age: Italy 27.9, Ireland 27.6, France 27.6, Wales 26.2, Scotland 26.1 England 25.3,


Italy
15. Andrea Masi 33/87
14. Leonardo Sarto 23/12
13. Michele Campagnaro 21/12
12. Luca Morisi 23/9
11. Luke McLean 27/63
10. Kelly Haimona 28/3
9. Edoardo Gori 24/37
1. Matias Aguero 33/29
2. Leonardo Ghiraldini 30/70
3. Martin Castrogiovanni 33/107
4. Josh Furno 25/24
5. George Biagi 29/3
6. Alessandro Zanni 31/86
7. Francesco Minto 27/11
8. Sergio Parisse © 31/108

average
caps 44.1
age 27.9


Ireland
Kearney 28/57
Bowe 30/56
Payne 29/1
Henshaw 21/5
Zebo 24/11
Keatley 27/3
Murray 25/30
mcgrath 25/12
Best 32/78
Ross 35/44
POC 35/96
Toner 28/20
POM 25/25
SOB 27/30
J Murphy 23/4

average
caps 31.5
age 27.6


Wales
Leigh Halfpenny 26/55
Alex Cuthbert 24/30
Jonathan Davies 26/43
Jamie Roberts 28/64
George North 22/45
Dan Biggar 25/28
Rhys Webb 26/9
Gethin Jenkins 34/110
Richard Hibbard 31/33
Samson Lee 22/9
Jake Ball 23/8
Alun Wyn Jones 29/84
Dan Lydiate 27/41
Sam Warburton 26/49
Taulupe Faletau 24/40

Average
caps 43.2
age 26.2


England
M Brown; 29/33
A Watson, 20/4
J Joseph, 23/6
L Burrell, 27/7
J May; 24/11
G Ford, 21/6
B Youngs; 25/42
J Marler, 24/26
D Hartley, 28/61
D Cole 27/45
D Attwood, 27/16
G Kruis 24/4
J Haskell 29/53
C Robshaw 28/32
B Vunipola 24/15

Average
caps 24
age 25.3


France
Spedding 28/3
Huget 27/33
Bastareaud 26/28
Fofana 27/30
Thomas 21/2
Lopez 25/5
Kockett 28/3
Chouly 29/24
Le Roux 25/11
Dusautoir 33/70
Maestri 27/31
Pape 34/57
Slimani 25/10
Guirado 28/26
Menini 31/5

Average
caps 22.5
age 27.6



Scotland:
Hogg 22/27
Visser 27/15
Bennett 21/2
Dunbar 24/11
Seymour; 26/13
Russell 22/5
Laidlaw; 29/34
Dickinson 31/39
Ford 30/80
Murray; 34/62
J Gray 20/8
R Gray; 25/42
Harley24/10
Cowan 28/6
Beattie 29/43

Average
caps 26.5
age 26.1

Last year;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMamF5VqsAI

Have Italy ever beaten Ireland?

yappysnap wrote:Have Italy ever beaten Ireland?

Just two years ago. Last time the two sides met in Rome in fact. Thats the only time since they joined the tournament. But Ireland were also the first of the 'big 8' nations to lose to Italy. I think that was in 1995.

They also beat us in a few friendlies in the 90s.

profitius wrote:Some age and cap stats about the starting teams.
Highest to lowest caps: Italy 44, Wales 43, Ireland 31, Scotland 26, England 24,  France 22
Highest to lowest age: Italy 27.9, Ireland 27.6, France 27.6, Wales 26.2, Scotland 26.1 England 25.3,

Wales are doing really well on experience for such a young team. If Adam Jones was still there, the age would only go up to 26.9 but the caps would be 49. Lots of that team are going to be around for years.

profitius wrote:

England

B Vunipola  24/15

He is only 22 - Englands average would then be 25.2.

Great stats mind - love crap like this.

Nachos Jones wrote:Marmion is a player that  really hope steps u to International rugby. I have no idea why he has not yet done that but I hope he eventually does. Still not that convinced with Payne at 13, looks more at home at 15 to me. For the rest, it looks a very decent and strong side and one that could easily put 50 points past Italy.

Marmion needs an outhalf that he can learn from to partner him. A pity Dan Parks isn't around for another year or so. ROG used boss Murray around and look at how good he is at controlling a game. Marmion would probably have done much better with Sexton or even Keatley (though I suspect the reason he isn't on the bench against Italy is because of there being two fairly inexperienced outhalfs at international level).

I suspect Reddan & Boss will be preferred to him or Luke McGrath while Sexton's backups are so inexperienced at international level.

Italy beat Ireland 2 years ago, the game where POM had to go to the wing. It was a calamitous match for Ireland with Earls, Fitz and Luke Marshall all going off injured in the first half. I suppose when you take a risk with injury prone players, things like that can happen.

MichaelT wrote:

profitius wrote:Some age and cap stats about the starting teams.
Highest to lowest caps: Italy 44, Wales 43, Ireland 31, Scotland 26, England 24,  France 22
Highest to lowest age: Italy 27.9, Ireland 27.6, France 27.6, Wales 26.2, Scotland 26.1 England 25.3,

Wales are doing really well on experience for such a young team. If Adam Jones was still there, the age would only go up to 26.9 but the caps would be 49. Lots of that team are going to be around for years.

profitius wrote:

England

B Vunipola  24/15

He is only 22 - Englands average would then be 25.2.

Great stats mind - love crap like this.

'Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.

Sin é wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:Marmion is a player that  really hope steps u to International rugby. I have no idea why he has not yet done that but I hope he eventually does. Still not that convinced with Payne at 13, looks more at home at 15 to me. For the rest, it looks a very decent and strong side and one that could easily put 50 points past Italy.

Marmion needs an outhalf that he can learn from to partner him. A pity Dan Parks isn't around for another year or so. ROG used boss Murray around and look at how good he is at controlling a game. Marmion would probably have done much better with Sexton or even Keatley (though I suspect the reason he isn't on the bench against Italy is because of there being two fairly inexperienced outhalfs at international level).

I suspect Reddan & Boss will be preferred to him or Luke McGrath while Sexton's backups are so inexperienced at international level.

I always wanted to see Marmion and JJ playing in the same team and building up a good understanding of eachothers play as for a while, I really saw them as being the future 9-10 combination for Ireland.

I realise this is the wrong thread but came straight to this one to avoid spoilers. Anyone know where I can watch the Wales match? Had to work during it Thought it would be on rte player but its not.

It should be on RTE player sometime later on.... sometimes it takes a while to get these things up it seems.
Bureaucracy!
"Where's the putter-upper for the online stuff?"
"He's out having a few cans, sir"
"Oh right - we'll have to wait till he sobers up then"

Ah sure cant begrudge him a few cans...

Golden wrote:I realise this is the wrong thread but came straight to this one to avoid spoilers. Anyone know where I can watch the Wales match? Had to work during it Thought it would be on rte player but its not.

PM'd you, a little late but it will help you any other times you may have to work.

Cheers Nachos, got to watch it last night in the end. but might come in handy as I'm working again today

Whatever happens, this is George Hooks last Six Nations- even if we lose we can't lose!

you dont have to necessarily give out any dodgy links to the game- i watched it first thing in catch up/ iplater

Looks like SOB is out. Hamstring in the warm up.

profitius wrote:Looks like SOB is out. Hamstring in the warm up.

Gutted for him.

Tommy O'Donnell to start, Robbie Diack onto the bench.

Worrying composition of the back row now against an experienced Italian unit.

SOB out is a real shame. Come on Ireland

Golden wrote:Cheers Nachos, got to watch it last night in the end. but might come in handy as I'm working again today

Your welcome, I use it whenever I am abroad. HD and no ads

That field is carving up.

Ref giving every decision to Ireland so far.

beshocked wrote:Ref giving every decision to Ireland so far.

So, he has not been wrong on any as far as I can see.

beshocked wrote:Ref giving every decision to Ireland so far.

and rightly so....

Two knock ons by Ireland missed by ref and missing the Italian being taken out in the air.

Keatley hasn't made a great start...hope he settles. My nerves haven't been helped by the withdrawal of O'Brien!

Keatley a liability at the moment.

Notch wrote:Keatley hasn't made a great start...hope he settles. My nerves haven't been helped by the withdrawal of O'Brien!

As a Munsterfan, I know how quickly keatley can drop his head when starting poorly. Could be worrying.

Good kick from Keatley. Might settle his nerves.

More like it from Keately.

Cagey start from both sides.

Keatley has certainly settled now. Nice kick.

italian forwards look up for it. have only seen the last 10 mins.

Clueless there from Ireland.

beshocked wrote:Two knock  ons by Ireland missed by ref and missing the Italian being taken out in the air.

How all the officials missed the tackle in the air I don't know - couldn't have been more obvious.

Ireland keeping it really tight. Certainly not what I expected. Italian indiscipline is stopping some pedestrian play from being exposed, but our kick chase is good.

Heaf wrote:

beshocked wrote:Two knock  ons by Ireland missed by ref and missing the Italian being taken out in the air.

How all the officials missed the tackle in the air I don't know - couldn't have been more obvious.

Did Bowe jump too?

nope - don't think so

Sounds like a vintage game.

Well that was one of the worst halves of rugby from Ireland I have seen in a long time. Italy have been very very solid and I can only hope that they tire out in the second half.

Not a great game, but we still look favourites for this game out there.

Poor half of rugby. Ireland look very rusty

I'd like the ref to make a stand against all the tackling around the neck by Ireland as they attempt to force a choke tackle.

Ireland allways play rubbish in Italy. They will still win though.