Ireland v Italy, 4 October

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IRELAND V ITALY
4 October 2015
KO: 16:45
Olympic Stadium, London

Live on [tbc]

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Touch judges: Pascal Gaüzère (France) & Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

A. Head to Head

24 Played 24
20 Won 4
0 Drawn 0
4 Lost 20
772 Points 382

B. Recent Form

7 February 2015
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
3 – 26 to Ireland

8 March 2014
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
46 – 7 to Ireland

16 March 2013
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
22 – 15 to Italy

25 February 2012
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
42 – 10 to Ireland

2 October 2011
Otago Stadium, Dunedin, New Zealand
36 – 6 to Ireland

C. Teams

IRELAND

15. Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht)
11. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
10. Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster)
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

1. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster)
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster) captain
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
7. Sean O'Brien (UCD/Leinster)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster)

Replacements

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
18. Nathan White (Connacht)
19. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
20. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster)
21. Eoin Reddan (Old Crescent/Leinster)
22. Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
23. Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

ITALY

Luke McLean; Leonardo Sarto, Michele Capagnaro, Gonzalo Garcia, Giovanbattista Venditti; Tommaso Allan, Edoardo Gori; Matias Aguero, Andrea Manici, Lorenzo Cittadini; Quintin Geldenhuys, Josh Furno; Francesco Minton, Simone Favaro, Sergio Parisse (capt).

Replacements: Davide Giazzon, Michele Rizzo, Dario Chistolini, Alessandro Zanni, Mauro Bergamasco, Guglielmo Palazzani, Carlo Canna, Tommaso Benvenuti.

anybody knows who's the ref? his interpretation of the scrum will be the focal point, but I'm sure whoever he'll be can't be worse of the guy who turned Italy-France into a farce

SecretFly wrote:Exquisite little line from Donnacha Ryan, which kinda sets out beautifully the distinction between the big guys in the forwards section who shun (or are shunned!!!) by the spotlights and their hightailed, highly-preened and self obsessed cousins, the backs.

"Everyone imagines running 60 metres down the line for a try. Unfortunately as a second row you don't have that type of imagination"

Wonderful stuff.

brilliant

aqualung wrote:anybody knows who's the ref? his interpretation of the scrum will be the focal point, but I'm sure whoever he'll be can't be worse of the guy who turned Italy-France into a farce

Seek and you shall find....in other words look at the summary.

... or just ask Guns...

Yes lets all ask Guns...

Is Guns cocked?

ed

y

Is parisse back for this game?

cocked
cooked

If it's Wayne Barnes then I'll go for 50 nil to Italy.

well at least ref is a froggie, not too bad...

he could be slightly interested.....

The fix is in!

Golden wrote:Is parisse back for this game?

Ask Guns.

Possible Ireland team to face Italy:

15. Zebo
14. Bowe
13. Earls
12. Henshaw
11. D Kearney
10. Sexton
9. Murray

1. Healy/McGrath
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Henderson
5. O’Connell (capt)
6. O’Mahony
7. O’Brien
8. Heaslip

Is it announced today?

Guns will know

rodders wrote:Is it announced today?

Yes.

ME-109 wrote:Guns will know

That's because he's Murray kinsella.

rodders wrote:

ME-109 wrote:Guns will know

That's because he's Murray kinsella.

Isnt that an anagram for Coco the Clown...

Mickado wrote:Possible Ireland team to face Italy:

15. Zebo
14. Bowe
13. Earls
12. Henshaw
11. D Kearney
10. Sexton
9. Murray

1. Healy/McGrath
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Henderson
5. O’Connell (capt)
6. O’Mahony
7. O’Brien
8. Heaslip

I'll plump for:-

15. D Kearney
14. Bowe
13. Payne/Cave
12. Henshaw
11. Fitzgerald
10. Sexton
9. Murray

1. McGrath
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Henderson/Toner
5. O’Connell (capt)
6. O’Mahony
7. O’Brien
8. Heaslip

I think with Zebo and Rob not in full training this week he might go with DK at the back. Fitzgerald needs a start and I think Earls may need a break to stay fresh for France.

Payne has played 2 in a row but think he may play some part to get game time along side Henshaw but he may get the week off too.

I think Toner might start too.

Interesting the guys were still lifting heavy in the gym based on some of the pics released - I'd guess they will start to taper off, training wise, and peak fitness wise next weekend - a master stroke if it works.

Payne was on crutches this week Rods, can't see him starting. Reckon Healy will get the start, he's definitely not our best LH, but we can afford to let him play himself into form, Italy are stink.

Mickado wrote:Payne was on crutches this week Rods, can't see him starting.

Duck me, he's our best player! I wonder did eirebilly drop something on his foot?

rodders wrote:

Mickado wrote:Payne was on crutches this week Rods, can't see him starting.

Duck me, he's our best player! I wonder did eirebilly drop something on his foot?

Eirebilly's been out with the EireRifle methinks

Mickado wrote:Payne was on crutches this week Rods, can't see him starting. Reckon Healy will get the start, he's definitely not our best LH, but we can afford to let him play himself into form, Italy are stink.

hard to swallow but don't feel like replying this time...

rodders wrote:

Mickado wrote:Payne was on crutches this week Rods, can't see him starting.

Duck me, he's our best player! I wonder did eirebilly drop something on his foot?

Nah, Payne is that useless that he twisted his ankle trying to sidestep a wall

eirebilly wrote:

rodders wrote:

Mickado wrote:Payne was on crutches this week Rods, can't see him starting.

Duck me, he's our best player! I wonder did eirebilly drop something on his foot?

Nah, Payne is that useless that he twisted his ankle trying to sidestep a wall

Don't be nicking quotes from William's scripts though. That's one of his Sunday lines that he was keeping for the special occasion.

McGrath, Best, Ross, Henderson, O'Connell, O'Mahony, O'Brien, Heaslip, Murray, Sexton, D. Kearney, Henshaw, Earls, Bowe, Zebo

Earls at 13?

Bench; Cronin, Healy, White, Toner, Henry, Reddan, Madigan, Fitzgerald

eirebilly wrote:Earls at 13?

50 nil to Italy.

Seriously, I think it gives the game away as to the pecking order.

Payne and Kearney to come back in - Earls will start on the left wing, Zebo on the bench and Dave K and Fitzgerald to drop out.

https://www.ultimaterugby.com/match/ireland-vs-italy-at-olympic-stadium-4th-oct-2015/2418/lineup

Parisse is in, no worries. Ireland by a lot.

Zebo
Bowe
Earls
Henshaw
DK
Sexton
Murray

When you look at it, that's a unit with some potential if they all click!  And adding in O'Brien and Henderson to cut some space for them.....
This could be the beginnings of Ireland really casting off the tag of 'safe and pragmatic'.  This could be Schmidt's Golden Goose selection.

...and now time for our Number 10 to grab this competition by the balls and squeeze. Ireland from here on in need our conductor to take control and stage manage. Other bucks are looking for his crown (Biggar and maestro Michalak being two that have hit the ground running).
Sexton needs to now show his box of tricks and get the 'fury' back into his demanding and driven game.

SecretFly wrote:
Sexton needs to now show his box of tricks

The loop, the double loop, the dummy loop and the up and under?

Yeah, man!!! Those sexy telegraphed loops!!! Everybody knows they's a comin' but few can still stop them happenin'.

But with Balls attached, rodders. He's missing the balls added to turn the loops into gold-dust rings.

I can see this game creating a lot of 'nailed on' positions.........

...okay, I might as well keep going with this:

Not one Kiwi would get onto this Irish team.

SecretFly wrote:...okay, I might as well keep going with this:

Not one Kiwi would get onto this Irish team.

Conrad Smith could carry Jared's kit bag though.

rodders wrote:Seriously, I think it gives the game away as to the pecking order.

Payne and Kearney to come back in - Earls will start on the left wing, Zebo on the bench and Dave K and Fitzgerald to drop out.

Or it could mean that after two excellent performances at 11 from Earls and a couple of so so performances at 13 from Payne that Schmidt is looking beyond the France game and thinking that Earls may be the better option. I would not be surprised to see Cave Henshaw against France now as Schmidt may be searching for a better combination in the centres.



Waiting for imminent implosion from Payne fans

No, we are

Payne will start v France, along with Henshaw. It is written.


or it will be next Friday.

No, Munch. I think Zorro Earls will cut such a dashing figure in the middle that the great hordes of Irish followers will demand that he isn't dropped.

Payne will be back for New Zealand as a result

Never heard Munster fans describe as 'the great horde' before. Sounds fitting though

If Henshaw-Payne isn't the starting centre partnership against France, barring injury, then post me all of your hats and I will eat them and go viral. Someone can send me their GoPro as well to tape it.

Fair play to Schmidt, he got Earls into the 13 jersey well under the radar and he had Payne taking all the flac!

ROG reckons its a bit soon to move Earls to 13 - he would preferred if he had waited until the 6Ns.

I don't think that it is too soon for Earls but he has made himself almost un-droppable at 11.

SecretFly wrote:No, Munch.  I think Zorro Earls will cut such a dashing figure in the middle that the great hordes of Irish followers will demand that he isn't dropped.  

Payne will be back for New Zealand as a result

Whatever about the lineup, one thing is definitely certain, we're arriving very late to this party! Our World Cup is only about to begin and England are already out after having two titan games!

We have to really throttle up the machine now to be ready for some of these sides that have certainly been hardened by battle these last few weeks. I hope we're ready for them, because some of them have definitely had a valuable warm-up run in to the play off stages.

Ireland may play with flair and Verve
But beyond the Pool awaits the Curve

According to many of our critics around the world.... the only curve available to us is up, Ruby!!

I know, I know. Shocked me too. But I guess the world thinks we don't really amount to a hill of beans when you put us through the number crunching machine of excellence rater.

So the only Curve is UP!