Ireland vs Italy match thread

[WillyGilly]

First topic message reminder :

Ireland:
15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) (capt)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
10 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - Sean Cronin (Leinster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
22 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Italy:
15 Andrea Masi
14 Tommaso Benvenuti
13 Gonzalo Canale
12 Gonzalo Garcia
11 Mirco Bergamasco
10 Luciano Orquera
9 Fabio Semenzato
8 Sergio Parisse (captain)
7 Mauro Bergamasco
6 Alessandro Zanni
5 Cornelius van Zyl
4 Quintin Geldenhuys
3 Martin Castrogiovanni
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
1 Salvatore Perugini.

Replacements:
16 Fabio Ongaro
17 Andrea Lo Cicero
18 Marco Bortolami
19 Paul Derbyshire
20 Edoardo Gori
21 Riccardo Bocchino
22 Luke McLean.

Fresh thread. Morning!

Forget what we did to the Aussies (well don't forget it, it was awesome just put it to one side). Still work required. Wales looking good against Fiji so let's hope we're up by halftime so we can start resting the more breakable players. Say a prayer for young Jonny as well should we need his kicking boots.

3 2 1...

Go...

[Cowshot]

Absolute cracker of a first half. Think Ireland are just about in control, but still could go either way.

Interesting seeing kaplan talking to both captains in the tunnel! Never seen that before. Good reffing from kaplan (and as an Englishman he's not a favourite of mine).

[Ozzy3213]

Probably as his focus is rightly on where the ball is going billy

[Hound_of_Harrow]

Well said Lawrence. Good move by Kaplan to talk to the captains to sort out the niggle. There's been plenty.

[eirebilly]

Jaysus rodders, you really have it in for ROG havent you.

ROG has played very well i feel

[Notch]

It was a great offload from O'Brien to Bowe. Such a shame we didn't get anything from that.

[Guest]

Ireland have been dragged into an arm wrestle and Kaplan is not allowing organised chaos. Ireland to pull away in second half, although that Italian maul looks dangerous....

[rodders]

I just don't think he's got the game for this level now eirebilly. Hes far to deep. Just like Dan Parks for Scotland he stiffles all the attacking ability from the side.

I thought he was very poor and took the wrong option 3 times in the Italy 22.

[eirebilly]

This performance was pretty much expected from Italy. They are a very decent side. I was always nervous but i still think that Ireland will have too much in the end

[alfie]

Easy for a neutral to say I guess , but I think Ireland are fine here.
Remember Italy competed with Australia for the first half ... I don't think they'll be able to stay with Ireland second half...

[Cari]

Yeah both sides have been naughty to be fair. I saw DOC swinging a punch or two during that mélée just before half time. This game is intense and getting firey....I'm sure the ref is well aware of that hence he's spoken to both captains.

This game is very close all round really!

[eirebilly]

He is playing very well though rodders, i dont see how you can be so critical of him.

[rawa86]

Surprised the lines man didn't make a call on mauro punching healy twice. was right in front of him.

Italian lineout and maul going very well.

[Notch]

This game won't be decided by our attack- until the last 20 minutes. Guess who's on the bench for us then Rodders? Would you ever calm down? Right now we need a world class placekicker on the pitch.

[Cari]

It was a great offload from O'Brien to Bowe. Such a shame we didn't get anything from that.

It was. Shame it wasn't allowed, but that's the way it goes.

[Knowsit17]

Mixed stuff, Ireland showing some class but not helping their cause with unforced errors.

Italy's forwards definitely coping better than the Aussies did, though their pack are playing with their familiar cagey, anything-goes attitude which I find disgusting. Six-month ban coming Ghiraldini's way hopefully, the clown.

The Italian maul and breakdown look very impressive, though Ireland have shown some steel at the scrum. Anyone's game at this point, great intense contest.

[Gibson]

Need a try to settle us. No invention at the back. BOD too busy defending.

Ghiraldini is in trouble.

[rodders]

Well because 3 times in the Italian 22 he crabbed the ball sideways and forced us into touch. His one tactical kick went straight to the Italian fullback.

His place kicking apart he had a poor half.

[Cari]

Second half - come on Ireland. Send them home.

[Guest]

rodders ROG isn't the one crabbing, tis the centres mate.

[rodders]

Thats better from Ireland. We need to use the ball carriers and keep the ball away from the touchlines.

[Notch]

It was a great offload from O'Brien to Bowe. Such a shame we didn't get anything from that.

It was. Shame it wasn't allowed, but that's the way it goes.

Indeed! Not a problem, these are 50/50 calls and I myself thought it was forward when I saw it in real time.

[Cari]

Good start for Ireland. They need to get a score in the first ten mintes ideally - get their confidence up.

ROG kicks - just! 12 - 6.

[Gibson]

Good man ROG. Keep building that score.

[rodders]

He is striking the ball beautifully. Yes Dreamer it is the centres too but O'gara's descision to pass in those narrow channels was stupid.

Anyway this is much better.

[nathan]

surely a knock on by ireland then?

[Cowshot]

Italy giving soft penalties (as commentator has just pointed out). Making it easier for the Irish.

Drop goal??? Ok. would have put Ireland a clear score ahead, but attacking i hand was the right option, I think.

[rodders]

Better kick from ROG.

[Cari]

Drop goal attempt....should they have carried on instead...?

Nathan - I think I saw a knock on but Kaplan was on the opposite side and wouldn't have seen it.

[Cari]

Tommy and BOD come good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rodders]

Thats the stuff!!!

[Guest]

ah, lovely try there.

[Cowshot]

Lovely stuff!

[Notch]

YYYESSSS!!

Bowe to BOD! Get innnnnn!!!!

[Gibson]

Cometh the hour... Cometh the BOD! Yo!

[nathan]

Drop goal attempt....should they have carried on instead...?

Nathan - I think I saw a knock on but Kaplan was on the opposite side and wouldn't have seen it.

isnt that what the touch peeps are for?

TRY!

[rodders]

Fantastic by Bowe, great support from BOD. We're cooking diesel now!

[Ozzy3213]

Great outside break from Bowe and inside line from.BOD. Ireland will pull away now.

[alfie]

That settled the nerves, eh?

[Gibson]

We needed that. Now, run them ragged. No mercy.

Well played Tommy Bowe.

[Cari]

Credit to D'Arcy as well there, giving Tommy the ball

6 - 19.

[Glas a du]

Now then!

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

BOD redefining center play there

[Hound_of_Harrow]

Good try off the set piece move.

[Cari]

Nathan - it's easy for us the TV viewer to play official and referee when we can see everything....a lot of infringements are missed in rugby, that's just the way it is.

Anyway, game on!!

[rodders]

Yup Cari great drive from D'arcy. Some big carry's from Ferris and O'Brien too.

Far better stuff from Ireland now. We're starting to play to our strengths.

[rodders]

What a break from D'arcy!

[Notch]

This is the best I've seen D'Arcy play in green for yonks!

[Gibson]

Healy really is World Class now.

Mon Gordon!

[Cari]

Earls in!!!!

Great break from D'Arcy earlier too.

[rodders]

Brilliant! ROG I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!

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