[2018 November Tests] Italy vs New Zealand (24/11/18)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Stadio Olympico
Time: 16:00 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[Oliver Madden]

even a 2nd string AB's side should win this game very easily. would love to see Italy give NZ a run for their money but I don't think it will happen.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Italy for the win

 

[Bean]

Based on NZ's last performance, I expect the mighty Italians to lay waste to this 2nd tier rugby nation from the long white cloud.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Despite their loss last week, the ABs showed some ability to compete with the 6N nations. They are a side that show some promise in the medium to long term and they should enter this contest with no fear. But Tomasso Allan and the tactical masterclass of O'Shea may have come a week too early for them.

Regardless, this is a great fixture selection as it promises to be the keenly contested match that we have all been waiting for.

Italy by 10

 

[Umaga's Witness]

second stringers might have a point to prove, first stringers too. whoever is picked really.

 

[Five Meters Out]

Why are the AB's playing this match? I won't watch it. It's cricket season now and we're winning at that sport.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

1. Ofa Tuungafasi (25)
2. Dane Coles (59)
3. Nepo Laulala (16)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (20)
5. Scott Barrett (28)
6. Vaea Fifita (8)
7. Ardie Savea (34)
8. Kieran Read – captain (117)
9. TJ Perenara (54)
10. Beauden Barrett (72)
11. Waisake Naholo (25)
12. Ngani Laumape (9)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (32)
14. Jordie Barrett (8)
15. Damian McKenzie (22)

16. Nathan Harris (19)
17. Karl Tu'inukuafe (12)
18. Angus Ta'avao (1)
19. Brodie Retallick (74)
20. Dalton Papalii (1)
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (2)
22. Richie Mo'unga (8)
23. Rieko Ioane (23)


Barrett still starting and jordie is a wing option now? i really thought we'd see mo'unga at 10 and beauden at 15, just to see how that would work. BB has to fire, he has "his" halfback inside him and against a 'weaker" opposition

glad to see laumape get a run, he might have the "go forward' our midfield has been lacking

 

[Derpus]

1. Ofa Tuungafasi (25)
2. Dane Coles (59)
3. Nepo Laulala (16)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (20)
5. Scott Barrett (28)
6. Vaea Fifita (8)
7. Ardie Savea (34)
8. Kieran Read – captain (117)
9. TJ Perenara (54)
10. Beauden Barrett (72)
11. Waisake Naholo (25)
12. Ngani Laumape (9)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (32)
14. Jordie Barrett (8)
15. Damian McKenzie (22)

16. Nathan Harris (19)
17. Karl Tu'inukuafe (12)
18. Angus Ta'avao (1)
19. Brodie Retallick (74)
20. Dalton Papalii (1)
21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (2)
22. Richie Mo'unga (8)
23. Rieko Ioane (23)


Barrett still starting and jordie is a wing option now? i really thought we'd see mo'unga at 10 and beauden at 15, just to see how that would work. BB has to fire, he has "his" halfback inside him and against a 'weaker" opposition

glad to see laumape get a run, he might have the "go forward' our midfield has been lacking

BB is the ultimate flat track bully at 10.

By the end of next year your best team will have Mo'unga at 10.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

BB is the ultimate flat track bully at 10.

By the end of next year your best team will have Mo'unga at 10.

exactly, he has nothing to prove there but does have some more confidence to loose if he doesn't light it up

 

[Paulo]

exactly, he has nothing to prove there but does have some more confidence to loose if he doesn't light it up

Well he has his own 9 and 12 inside and outside him. Would have liked Mo'unga to get a run at 10 and BB at 15, but then if it worked, the argument might have been that it was "only" Italy and wasn't a true test. BB is a confidence player, so maybe the plan is to have him finish his season on a high in his preferred 10 spot.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Well he has his own 9 and 12 inside and outside him. Would have liked Mo'unga to get a run at 10 and BB at 15, but then if it worked, the argument might have been that it was "only" Italy and wasn't a true test. BB is a confidence player, so maybe the plan is to have him finish his season on a high in his preferred 10 spot.

i can only assume that's correct

 

[BobbyM]

Yet again they seem to be going for the "2 fullbacks at 14 and 15", rather than an out and out winger on the right. Perhaps a genuine tactic they're looking to develop?

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Oh FFS that is a needlessly strong selection by the ABs. Triple Barrett brothers for crying out loud!

I can't find the Italian team selection. They do realise you still have to turn up and take your beating even if you don't announce a team? The fixture doesn't just magically disappear from the calendar.

 

[mania]

yay naholo to start. hopefully has a great game and doesnt get subbed off
good midfield with laupmape and ALB
good seeing some more of tuipolotu, sBarret and fifita.
not sure about jordie on the wing
dont rate nHarris or tahuriorangi
papalii shouldve got more game before this test but at least he's gonna get a run.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

yay naholo to start. hopefully has a great game and doesnt get subbed off
good midfield with laupmape and ALB
good seeing some more of tuipolotu, sBarret and fifita.
not sure about jordie on the wing
dont rate nHarris or tahuriorangi
papalii shouldve got more game before this test but at least he's gonna get a run.

annoyed theses guys are only getting this game though, if they perform the neigh-sayers will say it was only Italy and if they dont then they'll forget how little time to gel they get for one off games and say they cant even perform against Italy

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Italy:

15 Jayden HAYWARD (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)*
14 Tommaso BENVENUTI (Benetton Rugby, 54 caps)*
13 Michele CAMPAGNARO (Wasps, 37 caps)*
12 Tommaso CASTELLO (Zebre Rugby Club, 14 caps)
11 Luca SPERANDIO (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)*
10 Tommaso ALLAN (Benetton Rugby, 42 caps)
9 ***o TEBALDI (Benetton Rugby, 28 caps)
8 Abraham Jurgens STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 24 caps)
7 Jake POLLEDRI (Gloucester Rugby, 5 caps)
6 Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 11 caps)
5 Dean BUDD (Benetton Rugby, 15 caps)
4 Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Rugby, 108 caps)
3 Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 16 caps)
2 Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Stade Toulousian, 98 caps) – capitano
1 Andrea LOVOTTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 29 caps)*

a disposizione
16 Luca BIGI (Benetton Rugby, 14 caps)
17 Cherif TRAORE' (Benetton Rugby,4 caps)*
18 Tiziano PASQUALI (Benetton Rugby, 12 caps)
19 Marco FUSER (Benetton Rugby, 32 caps)*
20 Johan MEYER (Zebre Rugby Club, 3 caps)
21 Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 27 caps)
22 Luca MORISI (Benetton Rugby, 19 caps)
23 Edoardo PADOVANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 14 caps)*
*è/è stato membro dell'Accademia Nazionale "Ivan Francescato

 

[bushytop]

Fancy Italy to win this one...

 

[Steeler]

Jordie Barrett at 14? Deary me Steve...

Meanwhile Bridge and Lam sit at home watching it on the tele having a beer.

Why's he trying to play fullbacks on the wing? NMS had that skillset because of his pace and sidestep and his form was hot last RWC, J.Barrett doesn't have the same skillset and pace, it's not going to happen. Stick Bridge out there, all great All Black teams have had the best wingers in the world... This selection does no one any favours, Jordie isn't going to play there in the RWC knockout games is he? It's pointless.

definitely a bit worried about the direction of the team and this selection confirms my fears of their mindset and what they want to be doing and I don't think it works

bring back the physicality in the loose forwards (by picking a real blindside like Tuafua or Fifita), bring back the offload, bring back the pacey outside backs

Hansen keeps telling us all Jordie is going to be special in the media, filling the kids head with BS and he keeps bottling it on the pitch, he's got a strange favouritism for him. Currently there's heaps of better players than him missing out.

Read's comment in the media about the coaching staff over-analyzing the SA loss and then changing the teams direction and game plan is a concern too and Steves comments in the media about a new game plan, the team really feels lost at sea at the moment and is playing like it.

 

[CraigWarrior]

Remember the spoiling tactics O Shea used in the ist half v England a while back. Do that again. Hope the ref does not clamp down on it. Then you never know. Otherwise it will be a easy victory for NZ.