Ireland vs Italy, 8th March

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IRELAND VS ITALY

Date: Saturday, March 8
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Greg Garner (England)
Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)
Assessor: Andrew Cole (Australia)

IRELAND TEAM wrote:15 Rob Kearney, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Dave Kearney, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Iain Henderson, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy.

16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Rhys Ruddock, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Paddy Jackson, 23 Fergus McFadden.

ITALY TEAM wrote:15 Luke McLean, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Robert Barbieri, 7 Paul Derbyshire, 6 Joshua Furno, 5 Marco Bortolami (c), 4 Quentin Geldenhuys, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Alberto de Marchi

16 David Giazzon, 17 Michele Rizzo, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Antonio Pavanello, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21 Edoardo Gori, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Andrea Masi

If we win this game by a larger margin than the winners of the other two games achieve then it's very, very simple- we set up a Cup Final for ourselves in Paris to win the Championship. We do already have the best points difference but we have a chance to settle the issue of points difference beyond all doubt and make this a very simple equation. An Ireland win in Paris, and we are champions. We are out to score and Joe Schmidt has named his strongest available team.

Italy have chosen to rotate their squad with half an eye on targeting the final game against England, Sergio Parisse is rested along with the first choice halfbacks in a team with a more experimental look. Tito Tebaldi and Andrea Masi make long awaited returns to the Italian match day squad and Luciano Orquera will hope to recapture the form which saw him perform so well in some famous Italian victories in the 2013 campaign.

There'll be plenty of applause for a retiring legend... but no room for sentiment. A ruthless and clinical performance is required.

Id rather they lost to Scotland. If they win they are playing for the championship at home, if they lose they are playing for nothing.

France are also without Parra this weekend. I feel he would have come in if not banned as Machenaud has had a torrid six nations.

Regardless of whether it fires France up or lets the air out of their tires I'll be backing blue   

I am really hoping that Scotland pull one out of the bag against France, its been a while for them.

If Scotland can beat France... and Wales has already beaten them, and England ran them ragged in all but scores..................  then - well again - it becomes a psychological one for the Irish on the last weekend.  They simply have to believe they have the firepower to outsmart and outplay France in the right areas.

BUT...never under-estimate Mr Perk'n'Preen Parra.  He will I assume be back in the engine department and he makes France much more cohesive.  I think other sides have been getting easier rides than they might have been getting in his absence.
He really is an important figure - especially in a French side that can find absolutely no rhythm as a team right now.

I imagine they'll also bring Picamoles back in Round 5 having sent whatever message they wanted to send about sportsmanship. It was a commendable stance by St.Andre, but cold pragmatism necessitates that its not a permanent one- especially if they lose in Edinburgh.

Would Parra make so much of a difference in a totally misfiring French team though?

I am more worried about Picamoles returning myself as he will certainly have a point to prove. Any news on Fofana, is he out for the championship?

Great line from Joe here about the Henderson lock vs back row conundrum.

"I was talking to Paul and he confirmed to me that he's definitely a back row... because Paul doesn't want him competing with him in the second row!"

    

I'm really excited about seeing Henderson let loose in this game.

Irish coaches are all jokes lately!  Must be the approaching Spring air in their nostrils.

I was laughing at Rep of Ireland manager, O'Neill, when he questioned John O'Shea's age:
"Are you 33 this year?"
O'Shea: "In April, yeah"
O'Neill to the press "That's him finished!"

Nachos Jones wrote:Would Parra make so much of a difference in a totally misfiring French team though?

I am more worried about Picamoles returning myself as he will certainly have a point to prove. Any news on Fofana, is he out for the championship?

Yes, he brings direction. SH is Frances key position, their general and thats exactly what Parra is. Machenaud is all over the place. Parra also is very accurate with his kicks which France have also been missing.

Fofana is out.

Id be very surprised if Parra doesnt start v Ireland.

http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2014/03/07/grown-men-to-openly-weep-after-odriscolls-final-ireland-match/

Don't afraid to own up to the same thing Guns!

Notch wrote:http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2014/03/07/grown-men-to-openly-weep-after-odriscolls-final-ireland-match/

Don't afraid to own up to the same thing Guns!

Stranger things have happened. Have been watching him since he was a school boy in '97 so thats almost 2 decades.

Parra, if playing, will improve France.  And that's why this game against Italy is so important, not just to win but to win well.

Not only will it set a menacing tempo and rhythm to Ireland's final two week assault on the title, it will most probably be the last opportunity to make inroads on the points board as France at home will be tough to beat. And that's the game to be oh so careful with and oh so protective of if we're gaining any kind of advantage on the scoreboard.

France will be trying to stall us.
They'll be trying to grab the Championship for themselves.
Parra will allow them operate more like a team,
And - they'll be trying too to keep us pinned down psychologically against them with the WC in mind - as the ABs do. The ABs realise how important it is to keep putting the boot into the Irish - one less side then that genuinely believes it can beat them; and why last Autumn was so important an advance for us in that eternal struggle. 
France have a similar hoodoo on us and will be determined to keep it so.

SecretFly wrote:Parra, if playing, will improve France.  And that's why this game against Italy is so important, not just to win but to win well.

Not only will it set a menacing tempo and rhythm to Ireland's final two week assault on the title, it will most probably be the last opportunity to make inroads on the points board as France at home will be tough to beat.  And that's the game to be oh so careful with and oh so protective of if we're gaining any kind of advantage on the scoreboard.

France will be trying to stall us.
They'll be trying to grab the Championship for themselves.
Parra will allow them operate more like a team,
And - they'll be trying too to keep us pinned down psychologically against them with the WC in mind - as the ABs do.  The ABs realise how important it is to keep putting the boot into the Irish - one less side then that genuinely believes it can beat them; and why last Autumn was so important an advance for us in that eternal struggle. 
France have a similar hoodoo on us and will be determined to keep it so.

When they play us France only have to worry about England and Wales points difference which is close enough to theirs. The championship is very much still within their sights so heres hoping they lose to Scotland.

Losing to Scotland though only gives them one less thing to think about, and therefore gives them more time to just simply plot our downfall the following week.  
It'll release any Championship tensions in their shoulders but it won't lessen their desire to punish us for our temerity at arriving in Paris looking for them to roll over to give us a title.

Them beating Scotland might just give them enough confidence to lower their guard even slightly against us the following week.  They're a team that operate on confidence levels, but I think they might be less dangerous in a reasonably confident mood.
I wouldn't mind them getting a low scoring win over Scotland.

What difference would a low score make to us?

?

France are also trying to win the Championship? They'll be looking for points too.... against Scotland - as we look for them against Italy.

SecretFly wrote:?

France are also trying to win the Championship?  They'll be looking for points too.... against Scotland - as we look for them against Italy.

France's points difference doesnt matter to us though because if we beat them we have won more games than them presuming both teams win this weekend. The six nations winner will more than likely have won at least 4 games.

Yeah, Frances points difference is completely besides the point... and so is ours if we can't win in Round 5!

Notch wrote:Yeah, Frances points difference is completely besides the point... and so is ours if we can't win in Round 5!

Yep.

Presuming Ireland win well against Italy and further increase their points difference to England or Wales.  The following is then possible:

France with more points after Scotland is France wanting to beat Ireland well to get a Championship........... off either of the other lesser pointed contenders - be it Wales or England.  French points are not Ireland's concern if France beat us but Ireland would potentially pay the price of France's interest in the points tally of their competitors for the title.  They'll know what they need in points terms as they we are the last game. Having a points target makes France think scores. 

France with less points after Scotland is probably more France just wanting to ensure a victory over us (having possibly white-flagged the potential of getting a cricket score needed against us) - and this would perhaps give us enough French interest lulls to get our patterns working in a hostile battlefield.

France losing to Scotland would mean the Nation is against them once more, the coach is under massive pressure - they'll either implode under the confusion and inter-fighting, and Ireland will win easily - or they'll come out determined that Ireland are going down on home turf to prove they aren't schit.

I simply think the more pleasing of those three possibilities is a 'relatively' content France who want to (and think they can) beat us but don't feel they have the ammo or desire to destroy us or take the Championship.

When is Para expected back? Doussain has looked really bad so far but Machenaud is a very good player and should have been first choice all tournament.

Dont usually get too confident before Internationals but i believe Ireland will win by 20 points tomorrow (would be nice for BOD to get a score or two).

Yep Parra's return isn't guaranteed, no question Doussain has been woeful but I think Machenaud had really made an impact for France off the bench, and that's why he's been given a chance against Scotland by PSA.
But he doesn't place kick... hopefully we won't hear Eddie Butler swoon over Morgan Parra's "elegant left boot" once again...

Actually, the best thing might be if France need a big score against us... and they have to play a high risk game.

Well not long left now until the great BOD plays for the last time for Ireland at home. End of an era so I really hope that he pops up with a couple of tries.

Good Afternoon folks!   

How fitting I should join this thread on page 13. Thanks be to BOD! I expect him to get a try in. It would be a bummer if he didn't.

  Mon Ireland!

Afternoon Cari, never noticed that but yes very fitting.

good luck both teams ,may the odds be forever in your favour

Hark at Woody "[BOD] has had some minging haircuts!" - now that's just jealousy talking (even if it is true!).   

ooh I don't like the Italian coach talking straight to the camera during his pre-match interview...it's odd!

i predicte Ireland by 15

As much as I would like to see Zebo in the team, I cant knock what Dave Kearney and Andrew Trimble have done so far. They have earned the right to keep the starts.

Yeah I'm glad that Baby Chilli and Trimby have had the chance to play some big matches this season. It's a shame it's through other player's injuries, but they've really stepped up to the mark and done well. Good for Ireland.

Odd to be preparing to watch a 6Ns game with an undercurrent of sadness before the start. BOD has meant so much to this competition for it seems like ages!

I think it will be a looooong afternoon for the Italians.

I hope so cowshot and indeed it is slightly odd but not as much as the first Ireland game without him I think.

O'Driscoll doing well to hold himself together

Awh lovely tribute by the Beeb for BOD. He's had a great reception in the stadium too. I feel sorry for his Italian opponent today.

In other news, doesn't the Irish president look like the vicar from Postman Pat?
http://postmanpat.wikia.com/wiki/Peter_Timms

You saw it too Maesteg? Yeah.

Perhaps strangely, Nachos, I think the first game without him will be just another game: Though the commentators will go on about it, I think the players won't. Makes a difference.

Well D'Arcy's beard got more screen time than BOD during that bit! Maybe the cameraman was in awe...

I know I am, Cari!

Good luck Ireland!

Ha ha Cowshot.

Can you imagine what it would do for Irish-Welsh relations if Nige was to bin BOD at all today...?   

Has orquera learnt how to tackle?

Good Italian defence

Cari: chuckle....  

how are ireland getting away with so much at the breakdown? Ive seen a couple of players in at the side, a block by Murrey

Good defence by Italy though

Excellent defence from Italy but that will tire as the game goes on.

Excellent Italian defence there.

Great Irish scrum and it gives Sexytoes the first try! (Set up by BOD).

Lovely worked try for Ireland

Oh, very nice!

late shoulder charge?