Italy vs All Blacks
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Italy
15 Jayden HAYWARD (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
14 Tommaso BENVENUTI (Benetton Rugby, 54 caps)
13 Michele CAMPAGNARO (Wasps, 37 caps)
12 Tommaso CASTELLO (Zebre Rugby Club, 14 caps)
11 Luca SPERANDIO (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
10 Tommaso ALLAN (Benetton Rugby, 42 caps)
9 Tito TEBALDI (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps)
8 Abraham Jurgens STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)
7 Jake POLLEDRI (Gloucester Rugby, 5 caps)
6 Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
5 Dean BUDD (Benetton Rugby, 15 caps)
4 Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Rugby, 108 caps)
3 Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
2 Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Stade Toulousian, 98 caps) – capitano
1 Andrea LOVOTTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 29 caps)Reserves
16 Luca BIGI (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)
17 Cherif TRAORE' (Benetton Rugby,4 caps)
18 Tiziano PASQUALI (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)
19 Marco FUSER (Benetton Rugby, 32 caps)
20 Johan MEYER (Zebre Rugby Club, 3 caps)
21 Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 27 caps)
22 Luca MORISI (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps)
23 Edoardo PADOVANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 14 caps) -
@act-crusader Are a joke.
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@african-monkey Why? That's a bit of a shit attitude isn't it?
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@bones Sorry yeah they'll provide a tough test for the ABs and if the ABs are slightly off their game, we could be seeing a massive upset occuring here.
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@african-monkey I've no idea if you're being facetious or not. I just reckon it's pretty stink to call a team a joke just because they're not as good as the best teams.
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I can understand the Barrett/McKenzie thing. If they are struggling to get whatever they are trying to do right at 100% pressure, then try it again in the first half at 85-90% pressure. No use trying it in the second half when the Italians are tired and the game is gone, better to go while they are being physical and still have a twinkle in the eye. Also gives us another look at a TJP/BB combo out of the gate. This is one of the last times to take a look at these combos.
As for Mo'unga I'm not even sure what playing this fixture would prove about him - he will play home derbies next year in Super Rugby at a higher intensity than this. I don't think playing Italy will give him anymore confidence than he already has.
On the other side of the coin though Shag hasn't said anything remotely critical of BB publicly in 3 years and hasn't made any attempt to assess his options. You do get the feeling he is so adamant about doubling down on this that he is willing to make it Beaudy and Clyde at the World Cup.
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@act-crusader yep, the Irish guy in 1014 mentioned that earlier this year Hansen said that the 3rd year in the world cup cycle is the most difficult year. I'd like to think this is relevant for this tour.
Hansen has been a great coach, I'm not losing confidence in what he's doing -
@rotated said in Italy vs All Blacks:
On the other side of the coin though Shag hasn't said anything remotely critical of BB publicly in 3 years and hasn't made any attempt to assess his options. You do get the feeling he is so adamant about doubling down on this that he is willing to make it Beaudy and Clyde at the World Cup.
Thing is - Hansen has repeatedly talked about the value of experience - and it has served him well over the past eight years.
Barring injuries or something extraordinary happening (someone's form dropping off a cliff or someone irresistibly springing onto the scene, I reckon he's probably got his top RWC XV written down and in something more indelible than pencil.
Moody
Taylor or Coles
Franks
Retallick
Whitelock
Squire
Cane
Read
Smith
Barrett
Ioane
Crotty or SBW
Goodhue
Smith
McKenzieSteve's writing his legacy and he's not planning to roll the dice on a rookie first five, when he's got a two-time world player of the year who's played 70 tests and won most of them.
I'd say Jordie on the wing is a bit of a worry for Naholo's chances of making the squad, though.
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I actually thiought the dual playmakers set-up of the last few months was a stealth way to transition to a Mo'ouga 10, Barrett 15 starting lineup without ruffling feathers or denting egos.
Clearly not the case and I am re-assessing.
I'm angry that Sopoaga stole Mo'ouga's development time on the last November tour and I'm astounded that Mo'ouga's not starting this match even if my theory above was wrong.
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@hooroo a good hour or 2 before stupid o'clock!
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@hooroo said in Italy vs All Blacks:
So 3am?
sounds about right, although through to 6am can be stupid o'clock in my books!
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@taniwharugby said in Italy vs All Blacks:
@hooroo said in Italy vs All Blacks:
So 3am?
sounds about right, although through to 6am can be stupid o'clock in my books!
Lucky hua! 6am is normal wake up time for me. 5am silly time and any time before 5, I had better be off fishing or to the air port on holiday
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@chris-b said in Italy vs All Blacks:
Thing is - Hansen has repeatedly talked about the value of experience - and it has served him well over the past eight years.
He has, but it seems to be selective. Contrast the difference in treatment between Beauden Barrett and Ben Smith.
I think that's all anyone is asking for - be open minded about the balance of the side and where Barrett could fit to achieve that.
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@rotated It's always going to be a bit subjective and not entirely consistent, though - because coaching is part art part science.
But, I reckon Beaudy is 99 percent locked in as the starting first five. I don't think they're very open-minded about that, because "experience" is one of the core requirements of the job in their eyes.
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@chris-b said in Italy vs All Blacks:
@rotated It's always going to be a bit subjective and not entirely consistent, though - because coaching is part art part science.
But, I reckon Beaudy is 99 percent locked in as the starting first five. I don't think they're very open-minded about that, because "experience" is one of the core requirements of the job in their eyes.
how about, you know, being good at it? Passing, kicking from hand, bringing other players in to the game, making those around you better? Shouldn't our 10 be good at those things. Because he's pretty much not.
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@mariner4life Sez you!
You don't have to go very far back through the threads, to see people clanging the door shut on the Beauden vs Richie debate as Beaudy runs in four or five tries versus Oz.
Federazione Italiana Rugby
