Rugby, Italy tries to resist the French: solid scrum and lots of defense
[ad_1]
To face the strongest team in the world, theItaly focuses on the fundamentals: scrum and defense. A team that recalls that of Florence, when the national team overtook Australia in November: Ioane, the blue kangaroo, is just missing, replaced by Menoncello; and Lucchesi, injured, with Nicotera starting hooker. On the bench is a rookie, a young Roman who happens to know transalpine rugby very well, because he’s been playing there for a few years. Italy-France scheduled for Sunday at the Olimpico (4.00 pm, live on Sky Sport Uno and free to air on Tv8) seems like an impossible challenge, with Les Bleus barely in 2nd place in the ranking behind Ireland (Italy is twelfth), but everyone considers the strongest team around. But this is the first round of the Six Nations, the Azzurri are young, growing and have a great desire for adventure: if they were able to resist the physical overwhelming power of their opponents, remaining in the match until the end of the first half, then who knows…
The most beautiful Six Nations ever starts: Ireland and France favourites. All the opponents of the blues
by Massimo Calandri
Polledri and Riccioni in the stands, Menoncello on the wing
Everyone expected the return from the first minute of two “Englishmen”, both recovering from heavy injuries: tight-headed prop Riccioni (Saracens) and back row Polledri (Gloucester), two guys ready to make the difference. Instead. “They’re regaining confidence, there are others who know the team’s mechanics better: we’ll see in a week, when we meet England in London,” he cut short Crowley, which didn’t even take them to the bench. The coach instead bet on the twenty-year-old Menoncello on the left wing: “I need his physicality, because in the rest of the enlarged triangle – the other wing, the Genoese Bruno; the full back, Capuozzo – there are certainly not two giants”. It is very probable that the French, at least initially, will try to put us in difficulty by kicking very high balls.
The debut of Iachizzi, a very “French” Roman
Ange Capuozzo, the Blue Angel so fast and agile as to impress the whole oval world, is the special observer of this meeting: “I hope you continue to progress as you have been doing for more than a year”, says Crowley. Who in the middle of the field focuses on the solidity of the Brex and Morisi centers, entrusting the direction once again to Allan (natural substitute for Paolo Garbisi, injured) and Varney. The scrum, apart from Nicotera for Lucchesi, is the same that overcame the Wallabies: with the two Cannone brothers, Ruzza managing the throw-ins, Negri and captain Lamaro on the back row, the props Fischetti and Ferrari. On the bench a front line perhaps a little light for the French beasts, then the rookie Iachizzi (who plays in France in Vannes, in ProD2), two thirds of racing and fighting (Pettinelli, Zuliani), Fusco to take over from Varney and Padovani as joker of the three-quarters.
Rugby, a young Italy to conquer the Six Nations
by Massimo Calandri
Atonio, one and a half quintal Bleus pylon
“We have worked well in these two weeks of training. We will face the team that won the last Six Nations. We are trying to build the work on our identity and the way we play focusing on our performance with the aim of showing the best version of ourselves,” Crowley says. Bruno’s challenge to Dumortier, 22, who takes the place of Villière and is the top scorer in the Top14 is interesting. The median made up of Ntamack and Dupont, the best player in the world, is scary. It will be a torrid afternoon for the Azzurri’s front line, against Baille (they say there is no stronger prop), Antonio who weighs a quintal and a half, Marchand on heel. Planet-Rugby expects a French victory with more than 15 points difference.
The Six Nations starts tomorrow in Cardiff
The Six Nations starts today at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff with the match between the Welsh hosts and the highly favored Ireland (3.15 pm, live on Sky). The Murrayfield match between Scotland and England follows (5.45 pm, Sky).
Italy: Capuozzo – Bruno, Brex, Morisi, Menoncello – Allan, Varney – Lorenzo Cannone, Lamaro, Negri – Ruzza, Niccolò Cannone – Ferrari, Nicotera, Fischetti. Subs: Bigi, Zani, Ceccarelli, Iachizzi, Pettinelli, Zuliani, Fusco, Padovani.
France: Ramos – Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Dumortier – Ntamack, Dupont – Alldritt, Ollivon, Jelonch – Willemse, Flament – Atonio, Marchand, Baille. Subs: Barlot, Wardi, Falatea, Taofifenua, Lavault, Macalou, Le Garrec, Jalibert.
Referee: Carley (Eng).
[ad_2]
Source link
