[RWC2023] Italy vs Uruguay (20/09/2023)

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

1645hrs UTC+1 - early kickoff midweek???

Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Lorenzo Pani, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Paolo Garbisi, 11 Montanna Ioane, 10 Tommaso Allan, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti

Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Dino Lamb, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Giovanni Pettinelli, 22 Alessandro Fusco, 23 Paolo Odogwu

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Arguably the biggest match of the pool stage (along with Wales vs Fiji) in terms of the possibility of a Tier1 missing out on auto qualification for RWC2027. It will be interesting to see if the ref 'does a Carley' if Uruguay start threatening for a win ( personally I suspect the ref will be totally impartial as I have a lot of faith in refs generally). Anyway, there are some large political implications for this match.

Uruguay will be slightly disadvantaged with a 6 day turnaround against a rested Italy, but that's not as bad as some of the joke scheduling in previous RWCs and you get the same in the 6N with a Sat game following a Sunday.

I don't think Allan is physical enough to play 12, so I like this alternative experiment to get him, Garbisi and Capuozzo on the pitch at the same time while maintaining a much more attacking outlook than Allan at fullback and Capuozzo on the wing (which frankly stank). I assume Morisi must be injured and this is an enforced experiment, but there does seem to be minor squad rotation by Italy, which is barking mad if that is the case. Forgive me ancestors, but I hope for this one game the experiment fails utterly.

The main thing will be whether Uruguay play safe with game manager Berchesi at 10 or roll the dice with Etcheverry. I hope the younger lad starts with it being close enough in the final quarter for Berchesi to coolly close it out.

A man can dream...

EDIT: Etcheverry it is. And he is 27, so not a pup. Berchesi is 32 which may explain him playing second fiddle.

 

[die_mole]

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I'm generally pro-ref but I'm not so big on Gardner. I've never thought he was partisan, just not the best and a has a condescending manner.

Anyway, apparently Garbisi has played 12 for his club so this isn't totally mad. I can't say I think it is an obvious option for him, he is pretty slow. I am quite fancying Uruguay to give Italy a minor heart attack, if they can kick penalties with any consistency. But with Allan and Capuozzo in their best position I think they will score enough points to distance Uruguay.

Italy 29 - 20 Uruguay

 

[SG59_]

I'm going with a Uruguay win. A close match, but I think they'll do it.

 

[Al Bangor]

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I reckon Italy won this by more than France did last week. Don't mind much either way, would like to see Italy have a run at NZ.

 

[die_mole]

Considering South America is now the new home of rugby I'd like to see a World Cup there at some point

 

[IT157]

No try imo.

Don't think even the player thought he had scored

 

[ntun82]

Was It try?
For me no

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

No downward pressure as his hand was under the ball. Early smells of Wales vs Fiji again.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Downward pressure is only a requirement for a loose ball isn't it? I think the TMO explained himself fairly well.

 

[ntun82]

Uruguay shirt is very nice
Any Uruguayan here able to tell me where to buy it?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Oh behave, that's not even a penalty

 

[IT157]

Okay good, Just a penalty

 

[ntun82]

He is headbutted by Brex not by Negri, come on

It cannot be a card this one

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Even a penalty is unlucky there. Never gets picked up if play continues another couple phases.

 

[big ginger 8]

I think even a penalty is a bit harsh on Negri, will happen at plenty more rucks today.

 

[ntun82]

Gardner "we cannot reset every scrum" at the second scrum of the game

Then, when he refs saf v NZ, everything is permitted

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Should eject that sub from the game, tbh