Italy 22 for Japanese Test

by MBTGOG Thu 11 Aug 2011, 5:40 pm

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Alberto Sgarbi, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Tommaso Benvenuti, 10 Riccardo Bocchino, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice, 17 Martin Castrogiovanni, 18 Cornelius Van Zyl, 19 Paul Derbyshire, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Luciano Orquera, 22 Gonzalo Canale.

Thoughts?

by Thomond Thu 11 Aug 2011, 5:57 pm

Surprised to see Partichetti in the centre. Wouldn't know much about their halfbacks but it's interesting to see a new pair. Looks like a strong pack although I don't know about Cittadini. Is Gower in the squad despite his move or is he now completely out of the WC picture?

by MBTGOG Thu 11 Aug 2011, 5:59 pm

Thomond wrote:Surprised to see Partichetti in the centre. Wouldn't know much about their halfbacks but it's interesting to see a new pair. Looks like a strong pack although I don't know about Cittadini. Is Gower in the squad despite his move or is he now completely out of the WC picture?

He's completely out. Orquera and Bocchino are the two out half options.

by Thomond Thu 11 Aug 2011, 6:05 pm

You would imagine Orquera would be first choice,could they give McClean game time there?

by MBTGOG Thu 11 Aug 2011, 6:22 pm

I would imagine Orquera would be the first choice at the moment but I would not rule out Bocchino at this stage. I don't forsee McLean getting a chance.