Showing posts with label Italian Rugby Team. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italian Rugby Team. Show all posts
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Sunday, 9 September 2007
New Zealand Thrash Italy
New Zealand 76 - Italy 14
The best news for All Black fans was that after a patchy Tri Nations - they seem to have hit the form we have all been waiting for. Admittedly - this match was against Italy who aren't exactly in the league of the Wallabies or South Africa. But keeping in mind that Italy did beat both Wales and Scotland in the Six Nations, on paper before the match, this could have been a much closer contest.
It wasn't to be. The Italians snubbing of the haka seemed to fire the All Blacks. The first twenty minutes looked like a game of touch between the All Blacks with six clean tries (the first two to McCaw) leaving Italy completely bewildered in their wake. The Italians had a strong scrum to match the New Zealanders and a couple of lucky tries to give them some consolation but this was really about an All Black team champing to get out of the blocks.
Wayne Smith acknowledged Carter's superb place kicking to create several tries for the ABs. Although you would have thought the NZ flyhalf was a complete dud if you read Paul Doyle's article in the Guardian. Interesting to note that Mr Doyle thinks Carter's kicking is shaky and presents a bad omen for the ABs. I see this as yet another British journalist clutching at straws but it still quite an interesting read. A more worrying omen for me is the fact that Carl Hayman was sinbinned once again. He needs to look at that.
The best news for All Black fans was that after a patchy Tri Nations - they seem to have hit the form we have all been waiting for. Admittedly - this match was against Italy who aren't exactly in the league of the Wallabies or South Africa. But keeping in mind that Italy did beat both Wales and Scotland in the Six Nations, on paper before the match, this could have been a much closer contest.
It wasn't to be. The Italians snubbing of the haka seemed to fire the All Blacks. The first twenty minutes looked like a game of touch between the All Blacks with six clean tries (the first two to McCaw) leaving Italy completely bewildered in their wake. The Italians had a strong scrum to match the New Zealanders and a couple of lucky tries to give them some consolation but this was really about an All Black team champing to get out of the blocks.
Wayne Smith acknowledged Carter's superb place kicking to create several tries for the ABs. Although you would have thought the NZ flyhalf was a complete dud if you read Paul Doyle's article in the Guardian. Interesting to note that Mr Doyle thinks Carter's kicking is shaky and presents a bad omen for the ABs. I see this as yet another British journalist clutching at straws but it still quite an interesting read. A more worrying omen for me is the fact that Carl Hayman was sinbinned once again. He needs to look at that.
Monday, 27 August 2007
Are the wheels coming off the Irish Wagon before the Rugby World Cup?
Ireland 23 - Italy 20
How can this be? Was this the luck of the Irish coming into play? Ireland dubiously won against a fired up Italy in the dying minutes of Saturday’s ‘friendly’. Some parts of the British media are saying the Azzuri may feel aggrieved the TMO Derek Bevan awarded Ronan O’Gara a fumbled try off an alleged forward pass as the clock ran into full time.
Eddie O’Sullivan must be slightly worried that without Brian O’Driscoll, the Irish team appear to be faltering on the home straight – just under two weeks now before the Rugby World Cup kicks off. The Italians shunted the Irish pack around the field, had superior defence and disrupted a disjointed Irish backline (missing the centre magic). In what was expected to be a walkover, the Irish stumbled but didn’t strive against the underrated Italians.
Some are saying Ireland’s weak showing in these build up games is a blessing, because resting on their laurels they will not be when the crunch games kick off next month. I think they have reason to panic. Without BOD they are looking increasingly one dimensional and Eddie O’Sullivan and co must consider themselves lucky to get away with this win over the weekend.
How can this be? Was this the luck of the Irish coming into play? Ireland dubiously won against a fired up Italy in the dying minutes of Saturday’s ‘friendly’. Some parts of the British media are saying the Azzuri may feel aggrieved the TMO Derek Bevan awarded Ronan O’Gara a fumbled try off an alleged forward pass as the clock ran into full time.
Eddie O’Sullivan must be slightly worried that without Brian O’Driscoll, the Irish team appear to be faltering on the home straight – just under two weeks now before the Rugby World Cup kicks off. The Italians shunted the Irish pack around the field, had superior defence and disrupted a disjointed Irish backline (missing the centre magic). In what was expected to be a walkover, the Irish stumbled but didn’t strive against the underrated Italians.
Some are saying Ireland’s weak showing in these build up games is a blessing, because resting on their laurels they will not be when the crunch games kick off next month. I think they have reason to panic. Without BOD they are looking increasingly one dimensional and Eddie O’Sullivan and co must consider themselves lucky to get away with this win over the weekend.
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