England v Italy RBS Six Nations 2009 Match Preview

Steffon (left) and Delon Armitage pose for a picture at the team hotel, Pennyhill Park, Bagshot, Surrey Pictures by Empics

Ellis comes in for Danny Care who has suffered a ankle injury, we wish Danny well.  And back onto the International scene after 15 months out due to injury is Mark Cueto, good to see him back again and again we wish him well.

Englands Mark Cueto during the training session at the Madjeski Stadium Dome, Reading 

We also have the return of Mike Tindall, who liver permitting will do the job well and give solid experience to the team.  

  Englands Mike Tindall during the training session at the Madjeski Stadium Dome, Reading

Tindall said this week: "At the moment we need complete humility and complete respect for other teams and to go and get them. We shouldn't be thinking we are the best around at the moment because we haven't got the record to prove it.  We are not top of the pile, we have to get back up there and we should have the hunger to go and get it.  This is a hard time for English rugby. For players, it is a chance to be on the team to turn it around. This is a chance to start and turn Twickenham back into a fortress."

"That should be motivation for all the players and it is certainly motivation for me. We have had a tough time of it. We are not in a situation you would usually expect English rugby to be in and the challenge is to get back there."

Amen to all of that Mike!    

The other thing that springs to mind for this championship and the players of all  home nations is the possibility of  a Lions place.  Many players will no doubt be eyeing a plane ticket to South Africa next year and will be aiming to put in good performances to catch Ian McGeehan's eye!

As for Nick Mallett's Italy?  Well.............. he is wanting Italy to get meaner in defence, Oh! ........and Bergamasco, who has never played at scrum-half for Ital but has been working on his passing and kicking in training, it would seem?

Mallett blamed defensive problems for his side's home defeats to the Pacific Islanders and Argentina in tests in November.   Robust defending, he claims is what caused England trouble in their November defeats by New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

"If we want to get good results, Italy must play with more aggression and courage in defence," Mallett told a news conference.  '

England have great potential. The three matches they lost in November they lost against the opposition defences," he said.   The Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans played with less ball than the English, but their defences were very strong and lots of tries came from opponents stealing the ball and counter attacking.   "That's why every player has to be more aggressive."  

Have to admit to being a tad nervous at the beginning of this Six Nations but I am looking forward to the match and will be rooting for England the players and management to do well.

England: D Armitage (London Irish); P Sackey (Wasps), J.Noon(Newcastle Falcons) R Flutey (Wasps), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); A Goode (Brive), H Ellis (Leicester), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, Captain), N Kennedy (London Irish), J Haskell (Wasps), S Armitage (London Irish), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), J White (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), B Foden (Northampton), S Geraghty (London Irish), M Tait (Sale Sharks),