Ireland vs Italy, 8th March

First topic message reminder :

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.

Ireland have missed a similar number of tackles as Italy but made as third as many. That's not good.

The amount of tackles Italy have made must certainly take its toll later in the match. Irelands subs may run amok.

And the Oscar goes too?


Johnny Sexton.


What a disgrace! 

Good game so far.

I backed italy plus 24.

just about holding on to that at half time

Thankfully BOD proving the people that can't wait to see him retire wrong!

Word on Owens, just a supurb ref.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Thankfully BOD proving the people that can't wait to see him retire wrong!

Word on Owens, just a supurb ref.

Who said the first bit? BOD hasn't anything to prove - he's done it all.

Owens should of stopped play though when there was a player down. As the pundits said, he has a duty of care.

Nathan if you read the Irish boards you'd know what I'm talking about!

Well I'm on track for another stunningly accurate prediction. That'll be 10/10.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Nathan if you read the Irish boards you'd know what I'm talking about!

ah right, havent read them.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Thankfully BOD proving the people that can't wait to see him retire wrong!

Word on Owens, just a supurb ref.

To be fair, I don't think people are desperate for him to retire, its himself that wants to. People, like myself, wanted JS to get some younger players alongside him this 6N to work them into the team.

i'm guessing he'll stick around when he does retire to coach some of the younger players coming through.

Italy certainly trying to play an expansive game too. Tackling their hearts out. Ireland need to do the same, minimise the turn overs and less missed tackles... or they could get stung. Have a feeling Ireland will finish the stronger though. They just need to keep to their plan, keep trying to stretch Italy and have the secondary runners backing up all the time.

Derbyshire back on. Not sure about that he looked fairly wobbly going off

Well when Olding comes back Nacho he'll get his chance. There are no other centres that are good enough currently.

Actually the pundits on the Beeb were just saying what a good ref Nige has been today so far. He's making the game, keeping it flowing and communicating well with the players on the ground letting them know when they need to watch themselves. It shows too with the penalty count.

Cari wrote:Actually the pundits on the Beeb were just saying what a good ref Nige has been today so far.  He's making the game, keeping it flowing and communicating well with the players on the ground letting them know when they need to watch themselves.  It shows too with the penalty count.

the penalty count will be low if he lets things go.

D.Kearney uncharacteristically poor today, I think. Normally you'd back him to make the catch or tackle, but not today.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Well when Olding comes back Nacho he'll get his chance. There are no other centres that are good enough currently.

True but I thought the reasoning behind JS's request for BOD to stay on was to introduce some younger players into the team.

Nachos Jones wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Well when Olding comes back Nacho he'll get his chance. There are no other centres that are good enough currently.

True but I thought the reasoning behind JS's request for BOD to stay on was to introduce some younger players into the team.

Or he wanted to win the 6 nations and thought and thinks BOD is our best option there.

Nathan - and it was at HT when they were talking about it.

BOD turnover. 

Excellent turnover from BOD

Bod was the tackler and never released - wrong call by Owens.

o'connell missing antother tackle, very unlike him.

Oh now Nigel will be busy...fight! Fight! Fight!

Ha! Did POC have the Italian by the knackers?!   

See thats what happens when owens doesnt deal with the constant holding on after the ball has gone.

Golden wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Well when Olding comes back Nacho he'll get his chance. There are no other centres that are good enough currently.

True but I thought the reasoning behind JS's request for BOD to stay on was to introduce some younger players into the team.

Or he wanted to win the 6 nations and thought and thinks BOD is our best option there.

Aahh, sacrificing long term gain for short term glory. Thanks for clearing that up for me

I thought I was watching rugby not WWE wrestling.

POC showing fine ball handling skills ....  

Nachos Jones wrote:

Golden wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Well when Olding comes back Nacho he'll get his chance. There are no other centres that are good enough currently.

True but I thought the reasoning behind JS's request for BOD to stay on was to introduce some younger players into the team.

Or he wanted to win the 6 nations and thought and thinks BOD is our best option there.

Aahh, sacrificing long term gain for short term glory. Thanks for clearing that up for me

Who says he's sacrificing anything? Since when is the 6 nations not worth giving your best effort?

ooh bold call from Sexytoes. I hope that doesn't come back to bite him on the bum!

lostinwales wrote:POC showing fine ball handling skills ....  

  

Great defence by Italy

Quality from Heaslip.

Golden wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:

Golden wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Well when Olding comes back Nacho he'll get his chance. There are no other centres that are good enough currently.

True but I thought the reasoning behind JS's request for BOD to stay on was to introduce some younger players into the team.

Or he wanted to win the 6 nations and thought and thinks BOD is our best option there.

Aahh, sacrificing long term gain for short term glory. Thanks for clearing that up for me

Who says he's sacrificing anything?  Since when is the 6 nations not worth giving your best effort?

Most of the top tier rugby nations now work to a four-year cycle based on the RWC. For the IRFU, the 6Ns is crucial for filling their coffers therefore they want their coach to focus on that.

Italy did well to re-gather there, but well done Healy. He should come off now, looks like he's hurt himself.

Now that was proper pressure from Ireland. That will knock the stuffing out of Italy.

Here we go!!

Healy picks up a fair few knocks. Maybe he just likes chatting with the medic

He should share that try with poc. Healy took the ball over but poc took Healy over

How many players off so far in the game? Feels like a heck of a lot.

Ireland need to make some hay now... and keep up their defensive effort. They're starting to really dominate play now.

Chilli makes me chuckle when he runs...puffing like a train through his cheeks.

Jackson must come on if there's any doubt over sexton.

Can you still hear that heavy breathing in the background, Cari?   

Bod almost running backwards there. Hope he's ok

Wow... great inroad from Sexton but no support for BOD!

BOD INJURED!!!   

Looks like ribs to me for BOD.

Linebreaker wrote:Can you still hear that heavy breathing in the background, Cari?   

Ha yeah you'd think it was Chilli...

BOD back up... the tank he is.