Six Nations rugby, Lamaro: “In London without fear, let’s try to surprise the English” – Sport

LONDON – “They will try to put us under pressure from kick-off. They are perhaps more predictable than France, but they don’t take risks: solid, structured. It’s difficult to defend against them. We will have to play our game, create opportunities despite the siege: and knowing how to exploit them. We can – we must – do better than last Sunday: we no longer have doubts, but certainties”. Michele Lamaro is the captain of Italy who will face England tomorrow in the Temple of Twickenham (4 pm, live on Sky Sport and free to air on Tv8) in the second round of the Six Nations.

“We have an identity, a game. And we’ll have to take advantage of the opportunities”

“It won’t be the match of a lifetime, but another step forward in a path that we are facing with the awareness that every time we need to raise our performance: in training we tried many things that we want to replicate on the pitch”. This Italy can finally ‘play it’ with all the opponents. “” We have an identity and a great team unity: something that represents us, characterizes us, our way of playing in which everyone has put his own and this allows us to believe in what we do “.

“They will try to wear us down. We can resist, fight back”

Winning in London: why not? “But we have to improve: it takes more courage to play when the opponent doesn’t expect it and then seize opportunities. Pay attention to details, such as communication between us.” The scrum is once again a strong point of the Azzurri. “It’s not an easy department, but we’ve grown a lot: we need great synergy and a lot of discipline, respecting one’s role and trusting our teammates: we know what we can give, in the last 14 matches we’ve conceded only one try on the opponent’s drive”. What game will it be? “They will try to wear us down: we will have to defend with great attention and be ready when we can take advantage of ‘broken’ game situations in attack. To improve: this is the goal”.

England: Steward – Malins, Slade, Lawrence, Hassell-Collins – Farrell, Van Poortvliet – Dombrandt, Willis, Ludlam – Chessum, Itoje – Sinckler, George, Genge. Subs: Walker, Vunipola, Cole, Isiekwe, Earl, Mitchell, Smith, Arundell.
Italy: Capuozzo – Padovani, Brex, Morisi, Menoncello – Allan, Varney – Lorenzo Cannone, Lamaro, Negri – Ruzza, Niccolò Cannone – Riccioni, Nicotera, Fischetti. Subs: Bigi, Zani, Ferrari, Iachizzi, Polledri, Zuliani, Fusco, Bruno.
Referee: Doleman (Nz)