What if Italy were to win their next two games

I think if Italy win away against Scotland and at home agaisnt Wales anyone would be to suprised.

I think they can beat Scotland. Italy at home against a Welsh team (that might get a hiding on the weekend) would not be a suprise.

So if Italy are 3 from 3 were does that leave them when they head to England for the second last game. It is possible that England could be sitting on one two or three wins. If the lose to Ireland and France they coulod be in a vurerable place.

Italy have in the past paniced away from home but if they are on 3 from 3 I think that might not happen.

So if Italy are on 3 from 3 what would you expect from the England game

Also regardless of the result against England they could be fighting the Irish/French for second place in the final game.

It would be fantastic for Italian rugby.

I see it like this.

Italy could be on 3 from 3
Ireland 2-3 from 3
England 1-3 from 3
France 1-2 from 3
Wales and Scotland it is assumed they would lose all three games as italy is their only games from the first three they would be looking to win realistly

They could even finish this year on four wins, they've got Ireland in Rome and came as close as ever to beating them there last time out. Can't see them turning England over at Twickers but the rest is wide open.

Not happy knowing we have to trudge our miserable arses up there at some point. I can see them targeting us too, they've done us twice before

I am worried about the Ireland game. It could come down to that game as to weather we win the tournament. I have us to beat England ans lose to France and England to beat France. That lease us going to Italy not wanting to play running rugby and that won't be good. England though have a though game in Cardiff esp if Wales are sitting on zero wins.

They'd have 6 points.

Biltong wrote:It would be fantastic for Italian rugby.

This. As far as I've been told it's the first time that the 6N has been televised across all of Italy, not just the Northern Regions. If Italy could win their next few games, it would only be good for the game in Italy.

If they FIR could capitalise on this for their grassroots game Italy will become a real powerhouse. Good on them!

AlastairW wrote:

Biltong wrote:It would be fantastic for Italian rugby.

This. As far as I've been told it's the first time that the 6N has been televised across all of Italy, not just the Northern Regions. If Italy could win their next few games, it would only be good for the game in Italy.

If they FIR could capitalise on this for their grassroots game Italy will become a real powerhouse. Good on them!

I think the reality in Italy is that football is on the wane, a lot of casual fans have been put off by the culture of the 'Ultras' and so rugby is capitalising on this. Didn't Inverbore show the Corrella della Sport with a 6N pullout on Sunday? And Daniele De Rossi talking how he would have loved to play rugby? The next 3/4 years could be crucial and if the Italians expand their franchises to include Rome... Could be big!

Now all Treviso have to do is tempt Parisse back!

If they Italy do win the next 2 games. it would shown that Italy are now a team to be reckond with. They have come on leaps and bounds since joining the 5/6 nations. And it can only be good for NH rugby.

And i say good luck to them.

Italy will lose to Scotland and Wales, we've seen them have big games before and they never back it up as we hope they will.

Last weekend was a fantastic result and I expect them to make the Scots lives tough but Scotland will do enough at home. Then against Wales I just can't see the same fire being there, Wales will have hyper analysed their pack and 10 and by this time will probably pull a good performance out of the bag.

I'd love it to be different and will be chuffed if they prove me wrong but history shows this'll be Italy's only win

Italy beat France on the back of almost beating Australia in the Autumn. They are a good side that I don't think anyone will take lightly.

It will be interesting to see how their form travels or whether it is that fantastically buoyant home crowd that was keeping them on top of the opposition.

Tend to agree withYappy.If they lose to Scotland Wales will win.If the beat Scotland we could be in a bit of bother.Good to see Italy progressing.Makes things a bit more interesting.

UlstermaninGlasgow wrote:

AlastairW wrote:

Biltong wrote:It would be fantastic for Italian rugby.

This. As far as I've been told it's the first time that the 6N has been televised across all of Italy, not just the Northern Regions. If Italy could win their next few games, it would only be good for the game in Italy.

If they FIR could capitalise on this for their grassroots game Italy will become a real powerhouse. Good on them!

I think the reality in Italy is that football is on the wane, a lot of casual fans have been put off by the culture of the 'Ultras' and so rugby is capitalising on this. Didn't Inverbore show the Corrella della Sport with a 6N pullout on Sunday? And Daniele De Rossi talking how he would have loved to play rugby? The next 3/4 years could be crucial and if the Italians expand their franchises to include Rome... Could be big!

Now all Treviso have to do is tempt Parisse back!

I'm not a wendyball follower, so not sure what the 'Ultras' culture is. If there is more coverage of Rugby in Italy, as well as a successful Rome franchise, that would be going in the right direction!

...I do kinda fear the day (if it ever comes) that the German RFU manage to really get going!

On current form I think it'd be a little arrogant to claim Wales "will" beat mostly anyone, never mind the Azzurri on a high. The matchday atmosphere in Rome has gone up significantly, they now play in a cauldron and as England and the Aussies as well as France can vouch for, it's not an easy place to win any more.

Having said that I believe there's also every chance the home nations can all beat Italy. Ultimately the main difference now is they need to try harder to do it. Whereas in the past they might have afforded a poor performance and still scraped a win, odds now are they'd get beat if they didn't at least give Italy some respect.

There's not much I can say, the only pred I feel confident making is Italy won't beat England. The rest I couldn't call for now.

AlastairW wrote:

UlstermaninGlasgow wrote:

AlastairW wrote:

Biltong wrote:It would be fantastic for Italian rugby.

This. As far as I've been told it's the first time that the 6N has been televised across all of Italy, not just the Northern Regions. If Italy could win their next few games, it would only be good for the game in Italy.

If they FIR could capitalise on this for their grassroots game Italy will become a real powerhouse. Good on them!

I think the reality in Italy is that football is on the wane, a lot of casual fans have been put off by the culture of the 'Ultras' and so rugby is capitalising on this. Didn't Inverbore show the Corrella della Sport with a 6N pullout on Sunday? And Daniele De Rossi talking how he would have loved to play rugby? The next 3/4 years could be crucial and if the Italians expand their franchises to include Rome... Could be big!

Now all Treviso have to do is tempt Parisse back!

I'm not a wendyball follower, so not sure what the 'Ultras' culture is. If there is more coverage of Rugby in Italy, as well as a successful Rome franchise, that would be going in the right direction!

...I do kinda fear the day (if it ever comes) that the German RFU manage to really get going!

Basically, think of all the wendyball fans who fought in the 70s/80s here, then add the Mafia... That's the 'Ultras'!

All the Germans need to do is find some decent players. History shows us they already know about territory and possession.

I shouldn't laugh, Hound...

I would love this to be Italy's breakthrough season. There was nothing scrappy about their win on Sunday, they played some great rugby, and although France weren't at their best, how much of that was down to Italy's cracking start and the pressure they put on the visitors?

I'd be gutted if we (Wales) lose in Rome, but I can see it happening.

Not sure how Italy will get on at murrayfield but I expect them to be very tough to beat at home. I think there is perhaps more chance of Wales losing in Italy than Scotland losing at home, but Wales might manage to sort their team out by then.

Regardless, 6 nations is all about momentum and Italy will be desperate for the win at murrayfield.

I think we would all agree that how they do against Scotland will determine how they do against Wales. Regardless of how ITaly do in the other matchs I only expet Ireland to win by 5-7pts

I said all along that if we didn't win our openinggame then we will more than likely be going to Italy on the back of 9 losses and Italy are no mugs at home, we knew this even before their win against France.

We thenhave Scotland away with England at home possibly going for the Slam I fear a whitewash not just winningthe spoon, and I don't give a flying **** about what character the players showed coming back in second half performances I want that character from the off.

UlstermaninGlasgow wrote: Basically, think of all the wendyball fans who fought in the 70s/80s here, then add the Mafia... That's the 'Ultras'!

Yeah, i can see that royally p1ssing people off, i think most people are sick to the back teeth of that kind of behaviour. Can only be a good thing for Rugby in Italy.

also nothing like winning to get people through the gates

My only problem with the rise ofthe Germans would be the pundits using psuedo military terminology.

We all know about Blitz but when the likes of Barnes and Inverdale start trotting out terms like

Auftragstaktik - the German tactic of allowing junior commanders use their own initiative in obtaining the mission goal - ie heads up rugby)

Schwerpunkt - the pointof focus - the main effort.

Festung - fortress

Gegenangriff - counter attack.

Can you imagine Moore and Butler spouting out this stuff?

TrailApe wrote:My only problem with the rise ofthe Germans would be the pundits using psuedo military terminology.

We all know about Blitz but when the likes of Barnes and Inverdale start trotting out terms like

Auftragstaktik - the German tactic of allowing junior commanders use their own initiative in obtaining the mission goal - ie heads up rugby)

Schwerpunkt - the pointof focus - the main effort.

Festung - fortress

Gegenangriff - counter attack.

Can you imagine Moore and Butler spouting out this stuff?

Alarmtauchen - Welsh form

Auf urlaub - Alex Cuthbert's defence.

Achtung! - Howley continues as head coach.

TrailApe wrote:My only problem with the rise ofthe Germans would be the pundits using psuedo military terminology.

We all know about Blitz but when the likes of Barnes and Inverdale start trotting out terms like

Auftragstaktik - the German tactic of allowing junior commanders use their own initiative in obtaining the mission goal - ie heads up rugby)

Schwerpunkt - the pointof focus - the main effort.

Festung - fortress

Gegenangriff - counter attack.

Can you imagine Moore and Butler spouting out this stuff?

Inverdull i wouldn't be too bothered about, he takes a lot of stick for various things. He's turgid at times, but not as outright insulting as the dinosaurs Barnes & Telfer. They'd be the one's i'd expect to go blundering through with both feet.

It will be interesting to see if the non 6N union will copy the italy model of having two/three regions to have their top players play in. I know Germany have a regional cup with I think the Dutch and Belgiums.

Also it seem like before ITaly were expected one good game a year.

Since 2010 they have put together quiet a few good performances in a row. Before after the Italy win we would all be happy as Italy would be pants for the rest of the tournament.

Zebre might not be good but having all the italian players having to perform every week is turning them into 80min team (as long as they don't start given penalties) that can back it up the next week as shown in the AIs