RBS 6N 2016 Italy v England thoughts!

By An Opinion
February 15 2016

England Won but was I really impressed?  In a word No!  A great deal to work on and the next two matches will be the real Tests!

 

 

 

 

RBS Six Nations 2016

Italy 9 v 40 England

Well we won but???

England started well in the first few minutes of this match but then Italy piled on the pressure and the England personnel on the field of play started to fall apart, making mistakes and putting themselves under tremendous pressure!  Not at all what I had expected of the outfit that played against Scotland the previous week.  They suddenly looked very vulnerable and at one point I thought Italy looked the better side.   The line out was not working however, George Ford's try off turnover possession was the highlight of the first half and England were lucky at half time to be 9 - 11 up.  

England's George Ford scores his sides first try during the 2016 RBS Six Nations match at the Stadio - Empics

 

In the second half  as the match went on the Italians tired and England took full advantage with Jonathan Joseph running riot with a hat trick of tries and Farrell adding one for good measure.  Although we looked much better in the second half, a lot of that had to do with the substitutions coming on which I felt made a big difference.  The energy seemed to go up and the game started to sparkle. 

 

England's Jonathan Joseph scores his sides third try- and Owen Farrell gets the 5th Try of the Match -  Empics

 

Italy unbelievably had 61% Possession and 63% Territory in this match, if Italy could play for the full 80mins they will be a huge threat to any side.   Throughout this match the discipline by England once again was woeful!    Those of us who remember the class of 2003 will know their discipline was exemplary and in that memorable final I remember Phil Vickery being pinged as many times in the front row and Woodward replacing him with the 'Fun Bus'.     If England continue down this route of indiscipline then referees will be looking out for us.  England gave away 13 penalties in this match which to my mind is 12 too many!

England although they won, need to look long and hard at the first half of this match because their next two opponents will not let them get away with the mistakes and infringements - Ireland and Wales will be looking at the VT on this match and will no doubt think they can take England easily and you know what sadly so do I!

 

Italy: McLean; L Sarto, Campagnaro, Garcia, Bellini; Canna, Gori; Lovotti, Gega, Cittadini, Biagi, Fuser, Minto, Zanni, Parisse.Replacements: Pratichetti for Garcia (32), Padovani for Canna (60), Palazzani for Gori (75), Zanusso for Lovotti (62), Giazzon for Gega (41), Castrogiovanni for Cittadini (58), Bernabo for Fuser (14), Steyn for Zanni (30).

Italy (9) 9  Pens:  Canna 3

England: Brown; Watson, Joseph, Farrell, Nowell; Ford, Youngs; M Vunipola, Hartley, Cole, Lawes, Kruis, Robshaw, Haskell, B Vunipola. Replacements: Goode for Brown (69), Care for Youngs (49), Marler for M. Vunipola (47), George for Hartley (69), P Hill for Cole (69), Launchbury for Lawes (47), Clifford for Robshaw (62), Itoje for Haskell (54).

England (11) 40  Tries: Ford, Joseph, Farrell Pens: Farrell 2 Ford Cons:  Farrell 2

 

Good Support from the Fans - Empics