Italy v Scotland, 22 August

First topic message reminder :

 
ITALY v SCOTLAND
22 August 2015
KO: 19:00 BST
Stadio Olimpico di Torino, Turin

Live on BT Sport

Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant Referees: [TBC]
TMO: [TBC]

A. Head to Head

23 Played 23
8 Won 15
0 Drawn 0
15 Lost 8
416 Points 524

B. Recent Form

28 February 2015
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
19 – 22 to Italy

22 February 2014
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
20 – 21 to Scotland

22 June 2013
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, South Africa
30 – 29 to Scotland

9 February 2013
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
34 – 10 to Scotland

17 March 2012
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
13 – 6 to Italy

20 August 2011
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
23 – 12 to Scotland

19 March 2011
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
21 – 8 to Scotland

C. Teams

ITALY

15 Andrea Masi
14 Leonardo Sarti
13 Tommaso Benvenuti
12 Gonzalo Garcia
11 Giovambattista Venditti
10 Tommaso Allan
9 Guglielmo Palazzani

8 Samuela Vunisa
7 Alessandro Zanni
6 Francesco Minto
5 Valerio Bernabó
4 Quintin Geldenhuys (c)
3 Lorenzo Cittadini
2 Davide Giazzon
1 Matias Aguero

16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Michele Rizzo
18 Martin Castrogiovanni
19 Marco Bortolami
20 Mauro Bergamasco
21 Marcello Violi
22 Carlo Canna
23 Luke McLean

SCOTLAND

15 Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps
14 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) – 94 caps; 12 tries, 60 points
13 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors) – 21 caps
12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) – 26 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
11 Rory Hughes (Glasgow Warriors) – uncapped
10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps; 1 try, 5 cons, 6 pens, 1 drop
09 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby) – 6 caps

01 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps
02 Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped
03 Mike Cusack (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap
04 Richie Gray (Castres) – 44 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
05 Grant Gilchrist CAPTAIN (Edinburgh Rugby) – 9 caps, 1 try, 5 points
06 Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan) – 44 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
07 John Hardie (unattached) – uncapped
08 Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps

16 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 86 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 44 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
18 Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped
19 Jim Hamilton (Saracens) – 62 caps; 1 try, 5 points
20 Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 1 cap
21 Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) – 14 caps; 3 tries, 15 points
22 Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 8 caps; 1 try, 1 con, 1 pen 10 points
23 Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped

IanBru wrote:Sorry, am I the only one who's worried about facing the Japanese scrum? Maybe it's a bit like Malaya in 1942, but their reputation does rather precede them.

I'm worried about playing the Japanese full stop. I think they'll get one big scalp this year, and it'll be us or Samoa...

Riskysports wrote:
09 @ItalianSam  (Edinburgh Rugby) – 6 caps

I thought he was half Spanish???

tigertattie wrote:

Riskysports wrote:
09 @ItalianSam  (Edinburgh Rugby) – 6 caps

I thought he was half Spanish???

Anything with a o at the end is Italian to me...

Nice bit of "Boy done good" journalism about Rory Hughes on the bbc, "straight out o Castlemilk". Got me rooting for him to have a good game on Saturday. Would be nice if he was presented with a nice overlap finish from 5 meters out to get his test Career off to a flier.

I've been thinking about the leadership issues mentioned by a few commentators.

A problem in recent years is that we've looked a bit rudderless and, most criminal of all, not up for the big games. Traditionally passion was something that we did better than anyone else and got us across the line many times against the top sides.

So who are the most passionate guys in the full squad?

I'd say first and foremost Sean Lamont. He never takes a step backwards and has always been the one who fought on when all the other heads were down. Now I know he's getting on and losing pace, but is it worth having him in the RWC squad to help inspire (the Kellock effect) and do a solid shift when needed? I'm starting to think so.

Another of the feistier variety are Hagrid and Hogg. The latter is nailed on, but is Hamilton another worth bringing for his passion?

Any more for any more?

madmaccas wrote:I've been thinking about the leadership issues mentioned by a few commentators.

A problem in recent years is that we've looked a bit rudderless and, most criminal of all, not up for the big games. Traditionally passion was something that we did better than anyone else and got us across the line many times against the top sides.

So who are the most passionate guys in the full squad?

I'd say first and foremost Sean Lamont. He never takes a step backwards and has always been the one who fought on when all the other heads were down. Now I know he's getting on and losing pace, but is it worth having him in the RWC squad to help inspire (the Kellock effect) and do a solid shift when needed? I'm starting to think so.

Another of the feistier variety are Hagrid and Hogg. The latter is nailed on, but is Hamilton another worth bringing for his passion?

Any more for any more?

While I understand what you are saying -these guys have been in the squad a long time - and their passion has not transposed into wins - so seems like a pointless addition to have them for their 'Passionability' quota

Carefull with all this Passion talk we will be back to discussing national Identity in relation to the scotland team

I guess it that some players emotions are noticeable on the park where as other's are more internal, Im not sure what makes the more effective rugby player? Id rather have my Kicker be the more internal type.

If we keep talking about identity Macron will have the Scotland team in kilts for next season...

There are plenty of leaders, maybe just a bit of a lack of confidence though.

Euan Murray was alway's a joy to support passion wise. snarling at people, face like thunder, boiling over occasionally but never to the point of smacking anyone just focussed into the next scrum.

I remember him in the 6 nations a few years ago picking up the English? guy who tackled him and running with the ball under one arm and the tackler under the other. We wont see his like again, daft as a brush.

In a year's time, when Josh Strauss is captain, we will be on here wondering what all the fuss is about.

Is it just me or does Matt Scott look absolutely massive compared to everyone else in this picture??

https://twitter.com/Scotlandteam/status/634705742805770240?s=09

Riskysports wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

Riskysports wrote:
09 @ItalianSam  (Edinburgh Rugby) – 6 caps

I thought he was half Spanish???

Anything with a o at the end is Italian to me...

Sam?
Clyne?

No O's at all!

George Carlin wrote:In a year's time, when Josh Strauss is captain, we will be on here wondering what all the fuss is about.

He would need a shave first byjingo!, a chap cant expect to be taken seriously as captain material with all that ridiculous fuzz on his chin. Representing the union by jove.

It worked pretty well for Fidel Castro...

El Jefe wrote:I'm not thinking to cut my beard, because I'm accustomed to my beard and my beard means many things to my country. When we have fulfilled our promise of good government I will cut my beard.

tigertattie wrote:

Riskysports wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

Riskysports wrote:
09 @ItalianSam  (Edinburgh Rugby) – 6 caps

I thought he was half Spanish???

Anything with a o at the end is Italian to me...

Sam?
Clyne?

No O's at all!

You missed one

Hidalgo

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is it just me or does Matt Scott look absolutely massive compared to everyone else in this picture??

https://twitter.com/Scotlandteam/status/634705742805770240?s=09

All of those training sessions adhering strictly to Ben Atiga's Gutbuster Pie Consumption Training Regimen have paid off.

He has said himself that he wasn't at his fighting weight during the 6N and recently has managed to get that back. He does look bloody massive there.

Scott Johnson did say he has the same physical attributes as Nonu - let's hope he makes as much of that as Nonu does!

just for Friday fun

@willsbrother - George Carlin
@Redcelljock - RDW_Scotland
@hidingfromdentists - Tigertattie
@gingerfizz -  IanBru
@BaronErnl -  Prothero
@slinkyworm - Nematode
@confused - madmaccas  
@nearlyalady - nickj
@mincePotter  - Weegie Wizard
@Bakewelltart -  Tattie Scones RRN
@butlerbasher - funnyExiledScot

Risky!!

It's the sheer effort that went into that joke that's fantastic.


On Mr Scott, all I have to provide is this:

On the subject of captaincy, is it not a little odd that the first two captains, last week and tomorrow, probably won't be in the first choice starting XV. The Gray brothers will be lock and, God help us, Greg Laidlaw will be doing his Barnes Wallis impression by sending passes at all heights vaguely in the direction of his outside backs when not kicking the backside off the ball with aimless punts.

Sums up Laidlaw quite nicely that....one huge aimless punt.

Oh and Risky.....quality post that pal!

I personally think Gilchrist may be in line to captain Scotland during World Cup. Gilchrist gray was meant to be his starting locks vs Argentina last year. Now they are starting vs Italy and I wouldn't be surprised if that is the starting pair vs Japan. Really excited for today's game, I think a win is important today. I don't want to be reading about how Scotland have lost 7 in a row tomorrow

Looking at that Italy team we really should be winning this!

Is this game on TV? OP says sky sports but can't see it on the schedule..

Bt sport

That's a pretty decent looking Italian team.

Should be good game

Riskysports wrote:just for Friday fun

@willsbrother - George Carlin
@Redcelljock - RDW_Scotland
@hidingfromdentists - Tigertattie
@gingerfizz -  IanBru
@BaronErnl -  Prothero
@slinkyworm - Nematode
@confused - madmaccas  
@nearlyalady - nickj
@mincePotter  - Weegie Wizard
@Bakewelltart -  Tattie Scones RRN
@butlerbasher - funnyExiledScot

If you'd just swapped the second 'i' in IanBru's handle for a 'u', you'd have had the perfect one for me!

Nearly kick off time.

I want Vern to have one hell of a headache after this.

I want the lesser Meatball to run everything at 10 and the family sized Meatball to reminds us of how good he can be.

I want the scrum to...well scrum actually. This would represent a real improvement on last week.

I want Strokes off at half time and Hardie at 6 with Watson running off the centres.

I want something to cheer about.

With Matt Scott and Vernon outside him and Lamont and Hughes in the wings, Weir is spoilt for choice with big runners outside him.

Hopefully he can make the most of it!

Gilchrist has pulled out ill so Hamilton is starting and Bryce on the bench.

So we have no 2nd row subs.

Strokosh captain!

Gilchrist doesn't have much luck does he?

So, do we have a squad of 22? Or has someone else been called up?

Strokes to 2nd row in emergency then.

What is wrong with GG? No, Schiz don't go there. What is wrong with him today?

Ill apparently.

Bryce will have been the 24th man, so he'll have just come into the bench.

So we have 4 front rows and Hamish Watson on the bench!

Aye, but we can put Strokes in the second row and Hardie to 6. Rambo can also go to flanker and Bryce to hooker.

Don't forget if it gets really bad we have Richie V who would love to prop against Castrogiovanni.

really hope Watson gets a full half, and at 7 not in the second row or anywhere else equally mental!

have link if anyone needs one.

Meatball on kicking duty and slots an early penalty

Hardie tackling his heart out so far!

Rowdy in here tonight!

Anyone else watching?

Putting the little one to bed then will be locating a dodgy stream.

EWT Spoons wrote:Putting the little one to bed then will be locating a dodgy stream.

Exactly what I've just done.

Let me know if you want a stream.

That pitch in Turin looks tiny.

George Carlin wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:Putting the little one to bed then will be locating a dodgy stream. 

Let me know if you want a stream.

Yes please! Stuck with BBC Scotland MW

our scrum once again getting minced

A Simply Mesmeric Try wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:Putting the little one to bed then will be locating a dodgy stream. 

Let me know if you want a stream.

Yes please! Stuck with BBC Scotland MW

check pm

Sam is kicking beautifully out of hand. Also been pretty impressed with Weir so far, he's not been afraid to attack the line

Scrum is a worry - hopefully our first choice front row stabilizes things

George Carlin wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:Putting the little one to bed then will be locating a dodgy stream.

Exactly what I've just done.

Let me know if you want a stream.

That pitch in Turin looks tiny.

Thanks for the offer, but I'm all set. Not great quality but I can get the gist of what's happening.

How's the first 30 mins been?

We must give away more penalties than any other modern rugby nation!

The execution of that cross kick was terrible. Italy will settle for drawing at half-time but they should have taken the lead!

Notch wrote:The execution of that cross kick was terrible. Italy will settle for drawing at half-time but they should have taken the lead!

That'll be Scotland reject Tommy (Tommaso) Allan!

9-9. half time. flattering score

same old deficiencies.

shipping pens at scrum & maul. only 1 turnover.