2015 6N, Round 1; Italy vs Ireland

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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

Submachine wrote:
There is something about blonde lads. Not being racist or anything but they all kinda look alike.  Mads, Jordi and Heaslip are all variations on the same theme.

Have you noticed that the hair styles sported by the Leinster versus Munster, and indeed other Provincial, players seem to be deviating further under Schmidt.

Is this a sign of a lack of unity in the camp?

An interesting article from the times about the refs we'll be encountering and the things to be pinged. They are all looking to impress to get their RWC allocations it seems.

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/respect-for-referees-not-what-it-used-to-be-1.2091575

The more I look at the fixtures the more obvious this is a total set up for england to get a pre RWC slam.

Wales first game up when they are traditionally most vulnerable to be caught cold before they get any momentum - Italy second from last when they will be whipping boys at Twickers.

Ireland bang in the middle when they will have most of the players back - conveniently on the Sunday afternoon game, which the Irish don't like.

Finally France last game up on the Saturday night at Twickenham.

What a crock.

Just call the Leinster contingent the Hitler Ladyboys............ which does have a ring to it when you imagine Schmidt barking the orders: Actung! Actung! - Schnell Sie die Ladyboys !

rodders wrote:The more I look at the fixtures the more obvious this is a total set up for england to get a pre RWC slam.

Wales first game up when they are traditionally most vulnerable to be caught cold before they get any momentum - Italy second from last when they will be whipping boys at Twickers.

Ireland bang in the middle when they will have most of the players back - conveniently on the Sunday afternoon game, which the Irish don't like.

Finally France last game up on the Saturday night at Twickenham.

What a crock.

Well all is not lost. I'm working long hours to try an isolate the New Zealand stomach bug (Unbeatablecocus) from ..................... em certain materials.............. that the All Black lads left behind them when they last were on our shores. Weaponise that stuff in time and we might send the English lads to an early exit not just from the 6N but also their home cooked WC!

I think that the English Slam freight train will come to a crashing halt when they lose in Cardiff tomorrow rodders

Thornley in the Irish Times says the back row will be O'Mahony, O'Brien and Murphy and Keatley will start at 10... but the position I'm most interested in is tight head which he does not mention. Surely Martin Moores time to shine?

Moore has justifiably won the number 3 shirt from Ross at Leinster this season but I think Ross's inclusion in the Wolfhounds game would suggest Joe has him to start on Saturday. In fairness Ross did well against the Saxons, the scrum was pretty good and potentially we could be looking at a bench of Healy - Cronin - Moore to come off the bench after 60 mins, which would be something else.

Give it up guys, you can't out run fate Swing low sweet chariot!

Re: TH -I think Joe will want 50-60 min out of Ross against Italy rather than throw Moore in the deep end. The problem is away from home if you start conceding early penalties at the scrum you are in trouble for the whole game with the ref.

I think he'll want Ross to set an early stable platform then bring on Moore when Italy are tiring.

Mickado wrote:Moore has justifiably won the number 3 shirt from Ross at Leinster this season but I think Ross's inclusion in the Wolfhounds game would suggest Joe has him to start on Saturday. In fairness Ross did well against the Saxons, the scrum was pretty good and potentially we could be looking at a bench of Healy - Cronin - Moore to come off the bench after 60 mins, which would be something else.

Jees Mick your posts have become very sensible these days. Where did the old Mickado go

Teams up.

Why is Boss on the bench above Marmion?

Stewie15 wrote:Why is Boss on the bench above Marmion?

Because......... because of Saxons game maybe?

This is the second year in a row where Marmion has been in better form than Boss going in, but then Boss comes off the bench in the Saxons game and looks better than him.

Joe is a massive Boss fan and does love to play him in away games especially. He has been in awful form this season but did play well against Wasps. Hopefully he will play better under Schmidt and gain a bit of form.

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)
10. Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Captain
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)

Notch wrote:This is the second year in a row where Marmion has been in better form than Boss going in, but then Boss comes off the bench in the Saxons game and looks better than him.

Boss has longer teeth.  He knows how to prioritise his 'windows of opportunity'.  It's a skill most of the older hands have by instinct at this stage.

Really don't like the Boss call. Marmion or Reddan would be better.
When we want to up the tempo against a tiring Italian side we have a slower player coming on. Not a fan of this call at all.

Not wild on Ross starting but I can see why I suppose, anchor the scrum and then release an impact player from the bench. I wouldn't have done it that way but then again I'm not Joe Schmidt.

Also seems strange having Jones on the bench when Zebo, Kearney, Payne and Henshaw all have significant time at 15 where as if a winger goes down we don't have any out and out cover at all. Jones has played there but not much.

None of our back 3 are particularly known for playing in the centre either so Madigan is covering 10 and centre.

Not really a fan of Jones on the bench either. Don't rate him as a winger and there's plenty of FB cover in the team and Madigan on the bench. I know he was there in the Autumn but I'd prefer someone like Earls instead of him.

Lads lads lads...

In Joe we trust

I'm happy enough with the team except Ross. He hasn't performed this season so should not be starting this game.

Boss and Jones on the bench wouldn't be my choices either.

In predictor of teams we trust you mean ...who is that guy!

profitius wrote:I'm happy enough with the team except Ross. He hasn't performed this season so should not be starting this game.

It's funny that I get to use the following line about once a year.  That may be so profitius, BUT..... just how many other players performed this season?
I mean, it wouldn't be too comfortable a game to isolate a few single players this year as having underperformed so far this season (in Provincial).

So yes, whilst I'd have reservations, it would be reservations about the whole squad and how they'll choose to play from here on in both at International level and at Provincial.  A big part of me feels certain players have been pacing themselves (and let's face it, still a few of them in the Irish squad are around about the age when they have to think about pacing themselves to get to any targets they have left - the WC being the biggest one in their sights).

The management too will want to have the biggest contingent they can get to have to choose from come that WC time, so they too have a vested interest in certain players being still in the mix come that time.

So we'll see how Ross and quite a number of the other underperformers of the year so far get on when the chips are down and when the demands from the hardest task-master are ringing in their ears.  

This for me is the first real test of the year for genuine Irish player form as distinct from 'cottonwool pace and intensity' that they've often used in Provincial to date. Is overall form there or isn't it - we'll soon find out.

Joe doesn't pick players, he picks results.

Smashin' line Rodders.

I hope he hasn't picked a close-fought-for low scoring loss first up. My faith in his Godliness would dwindle.....

Looks like you owe POT 5 euro Rodders!

Jones on the bench is a logical choice for Joe - if he sees him as first choice backup to Kearney. If that were the case Felix will be in the 30 man RWC squad and Joe is already trying to live within those means by not going outside it unless injury forces his hand. The same might be happening with Boss and Ross?

The canonisation of Joe Schmidt by all and sundry - including Neil Francis and most of the UK rugby press corps - is a bit scary. Just follow his rules and Ireland will win seems to be the mantra.

Hopefully the team know how to play rugby too....

Pot Hale wrote:The canonisation of Joe Schmidt by all and sundry - including Neil Francis and most of the UK rugby press corps - is a bit scary.   Just follow his rules and Ireland will win seems to be the mantra.

Hopefully the team know how to play rugby too....

I'm hoping that most people realise that most Irish people at least are doing the Saint Godlike Walk-on-Water Joe stuff with a lot of tongue-in-cheek.

We're all too aware of how a simple banana skin well placed could ruin the Sainthood at any time. So like in war, we like to overdo the humour to disguise the fear.

rodders wrote:In predictor of teams we trust you mean ...who is that guy!

The team he "predicted" just happens to be the same as predicted by Murray Kinsella yesterday and Thornley et al today!

SecretFly wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:The canonisation of Joe Schmidt by all and sundry - including Neil Francis and most of the UK rugby press corps - is a bit scary.   Just follow his rules and Ireland will win seems to be the mantra.

Hopefully the team know how to play rugby too....

I'm hoping that most people realise that most Irish people at least are doing the Saint Godlike Walk-on-Water Joe stuff with a lot of tongue-in-cheek.

We're all too aware of how a simple banana skin well placed could ruin the Sainthood at any time.  So like in war, we like to overdo the humour to disguise the fear.

Indeed - as a by the by - which team has the best away record in the Six Nations? Ireland would appear to have 20/21 wins on their belt - their record in Cardiff in particular seems to have bolstered that.

Stewie15 wrote:

rodders wrote:In predictor of teams we trust you mean ...who is that guy!

The team he "predicted" just happens to be the same as predicted by Murray Kinsella yesterday and Thornley et al today!

Predictor of teams is Thornleys other half

Happy as a pig in the proverbial with that squad to do what's expected of them and have the game sewn up before the 60 minute mark. If they don't sure aren't we well used to squeaky bum games

SecretFly wrote:

profitius wrote:I'm happy enough with the team except Ross. He hasn't performed this season so should not be starting this game.

It's funny that I get to use the following line about once a year.  That may be so profitius, BUT..... just how many other players performed this season?
I mean, it wouldn't be too comfortable a game to isolate a few single players this year as having underperformed so far this season (in Provincial).

So yes, whilst I'd have reservations, it would be reservations about the whole squad and how they'll choose to play from here on in both at International level and at Provincial.  A big part of me feels certain players have been pacing themselves (and let's face it, still a few of them in the Irish squad are around about the age when they have to think about pacing themselves to get to any targets they have left - the WC being the biggest one in their sights).

The management too will want to have the biggest contingent they can get to have to choose from come that WC time, so they too have a vested interest in certain players being still in the mix come that time.

So we'll see how Ross and quite a number of the other underperformers of the year so far get on when the chips are down and when the demands from the hardest task-master are ringing in their ears.  

This for me is the first real test of the year for genuine Irish player form as distinct from 'cottonwool pace and intensity' that they've often used in Provincial to date.  Is overall form there or isn't it - we'll soon find out.

Ross usually paces himself and performs in the 6 nations but this season he has looked well off the pace. The bad scrum put Ireland under big pressure in the AIs.

Mickado wrote:15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Jared Payne (Ulster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Simon Zebo (Cork Con/Munster)
10. Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

1. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) Captain
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. James Cronin (Dolphin/Munster)
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)

One thing I've always wondered is, why don't the players that qualify for Ireland under residency, have a club team?

Payne in the example above, and Strauss before that. Why are they not assigned a club as soon as they qualify? Payne could be put in for Ballymena/Ulster and if he needs to get gametime could get it with them same as say Trimble?

The closer we get to the big kick-off the less I'm in any way productive...

Stewie15 wrote:

rodders wrote:In predictor of teams we trust you mean ...who is that guy!

The team he "predicted" just happens to be the same as predicted by Murray Kinsella yesterday and Thornley et al today!

He published it before either of them though. He's related in some way to Ian Madigan.

kunu wrote:

Stewie15 wrote:

rodders wrote:In predictor of teams we trust you mean ...who is that guy!

The team he "predicted" just happens to be the same as predicted by Murray Kinsella yesterday and Thornley et al today!

He published it before either of them though. He's related in some way to Ian Madigan.

Not published before Murray Kinsella's. I put up his prediction at 12.25 yesterday and he made his prediction at 2.09! He may well have an inside track alright but this was already out there.

Stewie15 wrote:

kunu wrote:

Stewie15 wrote:

rodders wrote:In predictor of teams we trust you mean ...who is that guy!

The team he "predicted" just happens to be the same as predicted by Murray Kinsella yesterday and Thornley et al today!

He published it before either of them though. He's related in some way to Ian Madigan.

Not published before Murray Kinsella's. I put up his prediction at 12.25 yesterday and he made his prediction at 2.09! He may well have an inside track alright but this was already out there.

Ah fair enough, could well have copied it. I'm convinced he's got some sort of Madigan connection as usually his "prediction" is just concerning whether or not Mads is playing for Ireland or Leinster.

kunu wrote:

Stewie15 wrote:

kunu wrote:

Stewie15 wrote:

rodders wrote:In predictor of teams we trust you mean ...who is that guy!

The team he "predicted" just happens to be the same as predicted by Murray Kinsella yesterday and Thornley et al today!

He published it before either of them though. He's related in some way to Ian Madigan.

Not published before Murray Kinsella's. I put up his prediction at 12.25 yesterday and he made his prediction at 2.09! He may well have an inside track alright but this was already out there.

Ah fair enough, could well have copied it. I'm convinced he's got some sort of Madigan connection as usually his "prediction" is just concerning whether or not Mads is playing for Ireland or Leinster.

Ah right, i'm only new here so this is the first prediction i've seen!

Murray Kinsella was in the Munster academy according to his linkedin profile until 2009 so he possibly knows someone in the Munster set up. He is from Waterford I think and studied in UL. It is possible he encountered Keatley or Madigan on Irish underage teams at some stage.

Murray Kinsella rugby analysis is the best in the country by miles, best I've seen from any pundit, really should be on some Pro 12 highlights programme.

Keatly to have a good game controlling the game and keeping the Italians pinned in there half. Joe will release his bench around d 55 mins where Cronin henderson and madigan will be like rampaging Vikings pillaging the tired Italians with henshaw scoring 2 in the last 15 mins.
I have seen it in a wild vision dream with my spirit guide Tony

Kingshu wrote:Murray Kinsella rugby analysis is the best in the country by miles, best I've seen from any pundit, really should be on some Pro 12 highlights programme.

I prefer Bernard Jackman and Liam Toland for techincal analysis and Matt Williams for rugby anicdotes. Murray Kinsella's articles are interesting alright but his style of writing is akward and he overuses rugby cliches like "darts" for lineout throwing etc. He does seem to understand the game quite well at least.

carpet baboon wrote:Keatly to have a good game controlling the game and keeping the Italians pinned in there half. Joe will release his bench around d 55 mins where Cronin henderson and madigan will be like rampaging Vikings pillaging the tired Italians with henshaw scoring 2 in the last 15 mins.
I have seen it in a wild vision dream with my spirit guide Tony

I have a feeling Keatley is going to have a cracker. I reckon he will score a try.

I would like to take that 5 quid off you rodders, however that would mean I've to actually meet you in person....
And did Kinsella predict the bench ?

PredictorofTeams wrote:I would like to take that 5 quid off you rodders, however that would mean I've to actually meet you in person....
And did Kinsella predict the bench ?

Not only did you get a player wrong (you predicted Redser), but you only named 6 players.

kunu wrote:

PredictorofTeams wrote:I would like to take that 5 quid off you rodders, however that would mean I've to actually meet you in person....
And did Kinsella predict the bench ?

Not only did you get a player wrong (you predicted Redser), but you only named 6 players.

Had to leave something to the imagination. Redser got injured in training yesterday, 'twas down to play.

Errr.... why are there two Irish officials included in the Ref line-up for the match against Italy?

According to one website:

Date: Saturday, February 7
Kick-off: 15:30 local (14:30 GMT)
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)
Assistant referees: Johnny Lacey (Ireland), Luke Pearce (England)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Assessor: Donal Courtney (Ireland)

Is the barrel that shallow? Or are they just plain wrong?

Pot Hale wrote:Errr.... why are there two Irish officials included in the Ref line-up for the match against Italy?

Is the barrel that shallow?

Ref is Gauzere, assistants Barnes (RFU) and Berry (SARU) and the TMO is from the RFU. Maybe that is right, for some strange reason the 6N site only has one AR listed;

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/27430.php

I read the other line-up earlier in the week. The official site is certainly listing Barnes as AR not Pearce. Perhaps a late change?

Refs were announced in December - the team was supposed to be:
Pascal Gauzere (FFR) (ref); Wayne Barnes (RFU) Stuart Berry (SARU) Graham Hughes (RFU)

Notch wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Errr.... why are there two Irish officials included in the Ref line-up for the match against Italy?

Is the barrel that shallow?

Ref is Gauzere, assistants Barnes (RFU) and Berry (SARU) and the TMO is from the RFU. Maybe that is right, for some strange reason the 6N site only has one AR listed;

http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/matchcentre/27430.php

I read the other line-up earlier in the week. The official site is certainly listing Barnes as AR not Pearce. Perhaps a late change?

IRB says:

RefereePascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant 1Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant 2Stuart Berry (South Africa)
TMOGraham Hughes (England)