Saturday, February 11, 2012

6 NATIONS INTERNATIONAL RUGBY TEST: England face Italy

11.02.2012
England v Italy in Rome

Venue: Stadio Olimpico

Referee: Jérôme Garces (France)

Preview
England has kept to the same 22 that struggled against Scotland last weekend. With such a new-look side that is not surprising. It will take several games for this new English side to gel, if they do gel.

Italy has made two changes to their starting lineup. Veteran of 89 tests Marco Bortolami moves into lock replacing Van Zyl, whilst Canale is in for Scgabi. Coming in onto the bench is another veteran, 88 capped Mauro Bergamasco.

Italy will be out to cause another major upset. They defeated France in Rome last year. Can they ambush a rookie English side and grab their first win against England? I think they might just do it!

Last Five Encounters
12.02.2011 England 59-13 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
14.02.2010 England 17-12 in Rome (6 Nations)
07.02.2009 England 36-11 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
10.02.2008 England 23-19 in Rome (6 Nations)
10.02.2007 England 20-7 at Twickenham (6 Nations)

England Last Five
04.02.2012 v Scotland W 13-6 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
08.10.2011 v France L 12-19 in Auckland (World Cup, Quarter Final)
01.10.2011 v Scotland W 16-12 in Auckland (World Cup, Pool B)
24.09.2011 v Romania W 67-3 in Dunedin (World Cup, Pool B)
18.09.2011 v Georgia W 41-10 in Dunedin (World Cup, Pool B)

Italy Last Five
04.02.2012 v France L 12-30 in Paris (6 Nations)
02.10.2011 v Ireland L 6-36 in Dunedin (World Cup, Pool C)
27.09.2011 v United States W 27-10 in Nelson (World Cup, Pool C)
20.09.2011 v Russia W 53-17 in Nelson (World Cup, Pool C)
11.09.2011 v Australia L 6-32 in Albany (World Cup, Pool C)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-England 8th, Italy 12th
Europe Table-England 2nd, Italy 6th

IRB Ranking Points
England 82.34, Italy 73.99

Prediction: Italy by 4 points

Teams

England

2[1]

15   Benjamin Foden Northampton Saints
14   Christopher Ashton Northampton Saints
13   Bradley Barritt  Saracens
12   Owen Farrell Saracens
11   David Strettle Saracens
10   Charles Hodgson  Saracens
9   Benjamin Youngs  Leicester Tigers
8   Phillip Dowson  Northampton Saints
7   Christopher Robshaw (Capt.) Harlequins
6   Thomas Croft Leicester Tigers
5   Thomas Palmer  Stade Francais, France
4   Mouritz Botha Saracens
3   Daniel Cole Leicester Tigers
2   Dylan Hartley Northampton Saints
1   Alexander Corbisiero  London Irish
       
16   Robert Webber London Wasps
17   Matthew Stevens  Saracens
18   Geoffrey Parling  Leicester Tigers
19   Benjamin Morgan  Llanelly Scarlets, Wales
20   Lee Dickson  Northampton Saints
21   Jordan Turner-Hall  Harlequins
22   Michael Brown  Harlequins
       
    HEAD COACH: Stuart Lancaster

Italy

6[1]

15   Andrea Masi Aironi
14   Giovanbattista Venditti Aironi
13   Tommaso Benvenuti Treviso
12   Gonzalo Canale  Clermont Auvergne, France
11   Luke McLean Treviso
10   Kristopher Burton  Treviso
9   Edoardo Gori  Treviso
8   Sergio Parisse (Capt.) Stade Francais, France
7   Robert Barbieri  Treviso
6   Alessandro Zanni Treviso
5   Quintin Geldenhuys  Aironi
4   Marco Bortolami  Aironi
3   Martin Castrogiovanni Leicester Tigers, England
2   Leonardo Ghiraldini  Treviso
1   Andrea Lo Cicero  Racing Metro, France
       
16   Tommaso D'Apice  Aironi
17   Lorenzo Cittadini  Treviso
18   Antonio Pavanello Treviso
19   Mauro Bergamasco Aironi
20   Fabio Semenzato  Treviso
21   Tobias Botes  Treviso
22   Luca Morisi Parma
       
    HEAD COACH: Jacques Brunel

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