Italy v France Match Thread

by Sugarlump Mon Feb 04, 2013 1:34 am

First topic message reminder :

Bonjour and Ciao.

After the best opening two matches of a 6N tournament for many years I'm particularly looking forward to what our counterparts from the continent can produce today.

France will be looking to crush the Azzurri after the upset two years ago while Italy will be looking to prove that the result was no mere fluke.

Too many potential French match winners to mention them all (TV coverage about to start) I'll update the teams in a mo. Hoping to see a big game from Masi and for Benvenuti to continue his progress and there's debut for lock Francesco Minto.

Lets hope it's another cracker! boxing

Italy Team

Andrea Masi, Giovanbattista Venditti, Tommaso Benvenuti, Alberto Sgarbi, Luke McLean, Luciano Orquera, Tobias Botes, Sergio Parisse (captain), Simone Favaro, Alessandro Zanni, Francesco Minto, Quintin Geldenhuys, Martin Castrogiovanni, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lo Cicero.

Replacements: Davide Giazzon, Alberto De Marchi, Lorenzo Cittadini, Antonio Pavanello, Paul Derbyshire, Edoardo Gori, Kristopher Burton, Gonzalo Canale.

France Team

Huget; Fofana, Fritz, Mermoz, Fall; Michalak, Machenaud; Picamoles, Dusautoir, Ouedraogo, Maestri, Pape (capt), Mas, Szarzewski, Forestier. Replacements Kayser, Debaty, Ducalcon, Taofifenua, Chouly, Parra, Trinh-Duc, Bastareaud

by Sugarlump Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:28 am

wales606 wrote:
Sugarlump wrote:JD has just been praising the half backs. Great to see, 9 and 10 are such technical positions with so many specialist skills, are these two guys playing in the Rabo, France or the Italian League?

Both play in the pro12

Cheers Wales!

by **Pal Joey** Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:28 am

Held up?

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:29 am

GunsGerms wrote:
Cari wrote:
wales606 wrote:I don't think anything that I have seen this weekend would be able to break the Italian so far. Who else goes to Rome this year?

Ireland and Wales I think?

Ireland go there alright. Italy are usually very tough though Ireland have never lost to them in the 6N. hopefully that wont change this year.

I hope not Guns. This is BOD's last Six Nations and I would love it for him if Ireland did well....not mentioning the you know what... censored

Possible try for France...TMO.

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:29 am

Good grief I can't see what happened to the ball there! Inconclusive I reckon.

by Sugarlump Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:30 am

I don't think you can give it

by Sugarlump Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:31 am

5m attacking scrum, must be

by wales606 Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:31 am

Inconclusive and the advantage was over. Bit of luck for Italy.

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:31 am

No try says the TMO. French scrum at five metres.

by wales606 Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:32 am

Italy giving away a lot of offside penalties, they could face a YC unless they are careful

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:32 am

French penalty and Michelak kicks an easy one.

13-8 at 27 minutes.

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:33 am

wales606 wrote:Italy giving away a lot of offside penalties, they could face a YC unless they are careful

Sounds like their club matches... Rolling Eyes

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:34 am

Good driving maul from Italy.

by Sugarlump Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:35 am

Italy need to steady the ship, some good forward work there

by Sugarlump Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:36 am

Always one step ahead of me Cari! Rolling Eyes

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:37 am

Good grief...what was with that kick, France?!

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:38 am

What a try from the French 11!!

13-15 at 34 minutes.

by Sugarlump Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:38 am

That was a beaut!

by wales606 Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:39 am

That's a pity, well worked French try

13 - 15

by mystiroakey Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:39 am

france ahead..

but good to see abit of fight froom the italians- shown that france are very vunerable..

england will be big favs after this

by **Pal Joey** Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:40 am

The Fall guy scores! Smile

by wales606 Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:41 am

Not much of a penalty advantage by Owens

by Sugarlump Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:41 am

Awful pass by Michelak, can Italy punish the mistake?

by GunsGerms Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:41 am

Michelak is showing why he will never be a great OH, way too flaky.

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:42 am

Awh I wanted Benvenuti to score... Whistle

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:42 am

Good run from Fofana but it went forwards.

by GLove39 Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:42 am

Surely that should have been a 5m scrum to Italy? Michalak kicked ball off the back of the pitch

by wales606 Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:43 am

Fofana is dangerous

Parisse is all over the pitch

by **Pal Joey** Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:43 am

A good break from Fofana... poor pass though!

by Sugarlump Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:43 am

Score with whom Cari?! Wink

by Sugarlump Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:43 am

Apologies...

by wales606 Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:44 am

GLove39 wrote:Surely that should have been a 5m scrum to Italy? Michalak kicked ball off the back of the pitch

That's what I thought.

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:44 am

Scarbi was lucky to hang on to that, but it's lost now...the French will be looking to score just before half time...psychological advantage.

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:45 am

wales606 wrote:

Parisse is all over the pitch

I know, I forget he's an 8 sometimes!

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:46 am

HT 13-15 I need something to eat...

Great start for Italy, but I'm not sure they can keep France at bay second half. Too many mistakes...

by wales606 Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:47 am

I had a couple of quid on Italy+4 at HT Smile

I also had money on Ireland to lead at HT

Unfortunately Scotland didn't help me by being thrashed at Twickernam.

by HammerofThunor Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:48 am

wales606 wrote:
GLove39 wrote:Surely that should have been a 5m scrum to Italy? Michalak kicked ball off the back of the pitch

That's what I thought.

Ball played into the try area by Italians, doesn't matter who puts it into touch

by Sugarlump Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:48 am

Not a bad 40mins of rugby, far from perfect from either teams but they're both up for it and providing some good entertainment on the way

by Duty281 Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:49 am

Italy doing pretty well, 13-5 up at one stage! Now 13-15 at HT, Italy need to go back to basics, they've been very careless with the ball as the first half came to an end. France do look a bit jittery, if Italy get the first score in the second half then I think they can cause an upset.

by whocares Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:51 am

Italy has often great starts but can they keep up for 80 minutes?
Orquera is an interesting find : because he's not really big, he switches with Masi and go to fullback when france has the ball. Makes him a good target under high ball and france already looking at it. Great composure from him though.

by GLove39 Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:58 am

HammerofThunor wrote:
wales606 wrote:
GLove39 wrote:Surely that should have been a 5m scrum to Italy? Michalak kicked ball off the back of the pitch

That's what I thought.

Ball played into the try area by Italians, doesn't matter who puts it into touch

I know that Italy kicked it in, but thought as the defensive player you were meant to dot it down.

by **George Carlin** Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:59 am

OMG - how intelligent and erudite is Bertolami? Get that man in a studio now.

What has happened to Inverdale's face? He's looking increasingly like a cartoon of himself.

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:00 am

whocares wrote:Italy has often great starts but can they keep up for 80 minutes?

Depends on how they handle pressure from France. They're certainly fit enough to.

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:01 am

George Carlin wrote:OMG - how intelligent and erudite is Bertolami? Get that man in a studio now.

What has happened to Inverdale's face? He's looking increasingly like a cartoon of himself.

I think they could do with a regular Italian pundit on the team anyway in fairness.

Inverdull's had a haircut and I think he's been to the same partially sighted barber as some of the English squad...

by whocares Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:02 am

Cari wrote:
whocares wrote:Italy has often great starts but can they keep up for 80 minutes?

Depends on how they handle pressure from France. They're certainly fit enough to.

Discipline might be key from them. Lets see...

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:04 am

A few little errors creeping in from both sides now...

Did Jiffy just open a can of beer then over the mic? laughing

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:05 am

Great Italian scrum!

by GunsGerms Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:07 am

Think Owens is letting France away with a lot at the breakdown.

by wales606 Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:08 am

Cari wrote:A few little errors creeping in from both sides now...

Did Jiffy just open a can of beer then over the mic?

It was just some lemonade...honest Very Happy

by Cari Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:08 am

Oh Italy...watch it! warning

by **Pal Joey** Mon Feb 04, 2013 3:08 am

Cari wrote:

Did Jiffy just open a can of beer then over the mic?

He must have a pretty dry throat with all that talk. Laugh

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