Scotland vs Italy - time to get serious - build up thread

[R!skysports]

First topic message reminder :

Well we have had our first kick in the teeth for 2013, with a terrible performance against a strong England. Can we turn it around in time for Italy. Only two changes, both forced by injury. If this a good thing, or a sign of managers without a clue

Team for Saturday

Scotland team to play Italy:
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors);
Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors),
Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors),
Matt Scott (Edinburgh),
Tim Visser (Edinburgh);
Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors),
Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh);
Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors),
Ross Ford (Edinburgh),
Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors),
Richie Gray (Sale Sharks),
Jim Hamilton (Gloucester),
Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors),
Kelly Brown (Saracens),
Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier).

Replacements: Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors)/Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors), Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby), Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres).


Who should be on last chance saloon - Hamilton, Ford, Jackson and Lamont.


Concerned - Brown playing at 7 still


So how do you expect this to go. If italy play like they did at the weekend, we will lose. It is in our hands to get ourselves our of this mess, but do we have the passion, defensive ability or even the still to do so?


Current Italy Squad

15-Andrea Masi,
14-Giovanbattista Venditti,
13-Tommaso Benvenuti,
12-Gonzalo Canale,
11-Luke McLean,
10-Luciano Orquera,
9-Tobias Botes;
1-Andrea Lo Cicero,
2-Leonardo Ghiraldini,
3-Martin Castrogiovanni,
4-Quintin Geldenhuys,
5-Francesco Minto,
6-Alessandro Zanni,
7-Simone Favaro,
8-Sergio Parisse (capt)

Replacements: 16-Davide Giazzon, 17-Alberto De Marchi, 18-Lorenzo Cittadini, 19-Antonio Pavanello, 20-Paul Derbyshire, 21-Kris Burton, 22-Gonzalo Garcia

[Cari]

Afternoon All

Come on Scotland

[IanBru]

I'm in the stands watching the team train - I'm seeing Nikky Walker. Why am I seeing Nikky walker?

[Cari]

IanBru - give him the Ospreys love!

I wonder if Round 2 will be as good if not better than last week?

[jimbopip]

Ian, were you bad in a previous life? Have they replaced MEvans with Walker?
"I have a bad feeling about this Luke"

[Cari]

Nikki Walker's on the pitch in a red bib. He can't be on the bench?!

[lostinwales]

'Richie Gray adds a lot of bulk and a huge amount of size'

Quality summing up on the BBC there...

[overlordofthewest]

Come on Scotland

I really don't want Wales to be going to Rome with Italy 2 from 2.

[Cari]

Benvenuti!

[wales606]

This game could go either way, almost as 50/50 as Ireland v England.

[thebluesmancometh]

Really looking forward to this game now, cleaned the room, missus home in Dubbers, me and the dog cwtched with a whiskey and box of cookies...

COME ON YOU BLUES!!

[Cari]

Well Murrayfield always make an effort with the pre-match entertainment. Ha! Love the little kid on the pitch with his hands over his ears!

Lots of Italian supporters - good to see.

[Artful_Dodger]

Good luck to both teams, I just want a corker of a match.

[Cari]

Oh thanks BBC...I wanted to look at the players and you give us Lawrence and Sonia

[thebluesmancometh]

First 10 minutes are going to be crucial, if Scotland start well we may have a cracker!!!

[Cari]

Come on Anne, there's no time to be chatting up Kelly Broon and Scots boys...

[thebluesmancometh]

Cari

You are such a pervo, if I drooled like that over womens rugby I'd be crucified

[Cari]

By whom? Doesn't bother me. I used to watch matches with a g@y friend of mine and we'd drool at the players together.

I do like the Italian anthem.

[thebluesmancometh]

It is quite chipper isn't it. I'm a fan

[Cari]

Floor of Scotland's not bad though...I'm not keen on it when the pipes stop though. They should keep them going.

[Cari]

Bit early to be shooting at the ref isn't it...?

[thebluesmancometh]

Just you and I this arfo the cari.

I love Flower, was there a few years ago and was surrounded by scot mates, what an experience, just a shame the stadium doesn't do them justice!!!

[Cari]

My only other complaint about home Scottish games is that the resident DJ is a bit trigger happy with the music over the PA. They play a tune at the least thing.

Good start from Scotland.

The kits clash a bit don't they?

[wales606]

Both teams wearing the same shade of blue :/

[Cari]

ooh close call for Cloggie there...I thought he was going to get that.

[thebluesmancometh]

When they get dirty it'll get confusing!

[Cari]

Uh-oh Italy on the attack now, but good turnover Scotland.

[wales606]

Harley got shrugged off like he was a flyhalf

[Cari]

When they get dirty it'll get confusing!

Yeah cause they'll get that blue paint on them.

[thebluesmancometh]

Harley got himself into a bad position, he made 3 big hits on the trot right after though.

[Cari]

Orquera kicking for the sticks....bounces off the posts!

[bsando]

Contact area has drastically improved today! Yet we're still kicking it away in good territory. Not a fan of it, especially when nothing is on its a complete waste of time.

[wales606]

Scotland doing a lot better at frustrating Italy at the breakdown

[nathan]

Surely it was a knock on at the lineout?

[Cari]

Good move by Big Jim there...penalty for Scotland.

[thebluesmancometh]

Gray showing some athletisism there...

[wales606]

Long advantage, and Scotland had to go back 20m for the ref to call it

[wales606]

Italy very scrappy at the breakdown, both teams turning over possession a lot

[thebluesmancometh]

Ive never seen such a stalemate in the scrum, nothing between them at all.

[nathan]

Lol

[wales606]

Parisse would have been through if he had held on to that

[valjester]

Parisse would have been through if he had held on to that

You could tell he knew that as well, his reaction showed he was furious with himself.

[wales606]

Parisse would have been through if he had held on to that

You could tell he knew that as well, his reaction showed he was furious with himself.

You can tell he is annoyed, completely ignore Hogg then and left him on th floor

[bsando]

Hamilton has totally redeemed himself so far.

[thebluesmancometh]

Very impressed with the Scot locks and back row right now, they are dominant!!!

[nathan]

Harsh pen there. Things are pretty even although Scotland are creeping ahead.

[Cari]

6-0 at 25 minutes...what a difference a week makes.

[thebluesmancometh]

Orquera is having a nightmare!!!

[wales606]

Italy are not the team they were last week

[Cari]

What?! Scotland not finishing their dinner again...

[nathan]

Thought he would of had the pace to finish that.

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