Italy RWC Preview
By Rex
September 4 2011
Italy, ranked 12 in the world, has been drawn in Pool C with Australia (2), Ireland (4), Russia (19) and the USA (17). Therefore they must be outsiders to escape the pool but one good result against Ireland and no slip up against the more lowly ranked cold-war enemies, who are also much less experienced at playing matches at this level, would seem them through.
On that basis one may look at Six Nations form as a guide. Italy 11-13 Ireland was the score in Rome this year with Ireland winning by a late drop goal from Ronan O’Gara. Italy will not have home advantage in New Zealand but they must feel they have a shot at the upset result. They also very nearly beat France so the result against Ireland was no fluke.
Italy have traditionally been strong in the forwards but lacked a cutting edge in the backs. Success has often come on the back of field position and kicking penalties. In that respect they are a mini Argentina a country which seems to have strong links with Italy. Several Italian players were born in Argentina including our own Castro and the outstanding Sergio Parisse. There are a number of other players who qualify through an Italian parent or grandparent. However there is a core of players born in Italy itself who seem to represent the heart of the team. Who can ever doubt the passion of the Bergamasco brothers, for example.
In this year’s Six Nations Italy began to show that their backs have developed their play to an effective level with tries scored by McLean, Canale and Masi(2) and if that development continues and none of the key Italian players gets injured, I fancy Italy to upset the rankings and emerge from their group. I am convinced they will not progress any further than that unless there is an upset in pool D, which is not impossible. Italy could beat Wales to make a semi-final.
Italian Squad for RWC2011
Forwards: Robert Barbieri, Mauro Bergamasco, Marco Bortolami, Martin Castrogiovanni, Lorenzo Cittadini, Tommaso D'Apice, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Paul Derbyshire, Quintin Geldenhuys, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lo Cicero, Sergio Parisse, Salvatore Perugini, Fabio Ongaro, Alessandro Zanni, Cornelius Van Zyl Backs: Tommaso Benvenuti, Mirco Bergamasco, Riccardo Bocchino, Gonzalo Canale, Pablo Canavosio, Gonzalo Garcia, Edoardo Gori, Andrea Masi, Luke McLean, Luciano Orquera, Matteo Pratichetti, Fabio Semenzato, Alberto Sgarbi, Giulio Toniolatti.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:21:19:41:24 by Stephen Bath.
BTW, while Parisse was born in Argentina, he was born to Italian parents (both born in Italy).
Please delete 'very nearly'from the last sentence of the second paragrapgh.
Have to say, we'd take a QF place though.
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I particularly enjoyed the little jibe at the Welsh myself!
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Quote:Rich W
Given the weakest part of the USA game is pretty much Italy's strongest I don't see much in that game for them. Australia are obviously in another class.
Good point...