NPR

When: Sat 14 Nov 2020, 12:45 kick off

Who:


vs



Where:


Teams:

Italy:
15 Matteo Minozzi
14 Jacopo Trulla
13 Marco Zanon
12 Carlo Canna
11 Mattia Bellini
10 Paolo Garbisi
9 Marcello Violi
8 Jake Polledri
7 Bram Steyn
6 Sebastian Negri
5 Niccolò Cannone
4 Marco Lazzaroni
3 Giosuè Zilocchi
2 Luca Bigi (C)
1 Danilo Fischetti

A disposizione:
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Simone Ferrari
18 Pietro Ceccarelli
19 Johan Meyer
20 Maxime Mbandà
21 Stephen Varney
22 Tommaso Allan
23 Federico Mori

Scotland:
15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Ali Price, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Stuart McInally, 1 Rory Sutherland
16 George Turner, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 WP Nel, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Nick Haining, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 James Lang, 23 Blair Kinghorn


Rule 1:

Jackie Stewart > Alberto Ascari by 7

Looking forward to this, think it is going to be pretty close and an awesome forwards battle.

We have to expect to win and I think we will. At the same time I want Italy to do well in this tournament, get a couple of wins and get a few people off their backs.

Slick wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 9:23 am ..... I want Italy to do well in this tournament, get a couple of wins and get a few people off their backs.

Same, it took France 25 years to win the 5N and in fact Italy have more wins than France did for the same number of years of participation (11 v 7) after starting

Italy looking quite good this year and I do hope they get some wins, just not against Scotland.
If Scotland go in with the right attitude we should have enough to win comfortably. On the other hand we have form for f#cking things up so I'm nervously optimistic.

Aye, forza and all that. Would actually be quite helpful if Italy could do a job on France and Fiji in this tournament.

For Saturday, mainly looking forward to Ritchie v Polledri in the battle of the brilliant back rows, and seeing if Weir on his own can be a better 10 than Canna and Garbisi (or is Allan playing?) combined.

Speaking of which, and assuming that Italy do indeed pitch up with two fly halves, I quite like what they are doing with Canna at 12.

If both those battles fall Italy's way, this could be a close one..

We should have enough to win this with a bit to spare but this is exactly when we shit the bed and give Italy a much needed win.

I've really enjoyed my Rome trips and the eyeties are good value as fans, they may be few in number but they are a very passionate bunch.

Fingers crossed we dont shit the bed and they get their wins against others.

Northern Lights wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 10:29 am We should have enough to win this with a bit to spare but this is exactly when we shit the bed and give Italy a much needed win.

I've really enjoyed my Rome trips and the eyeties are good value as fans, they may be few in number but they are a very passionate bunch.

Fingers crossed we dont shit the bed and they get their wins against others.

Yup, there are some selfish reasons for wanting them to do well from next week - Rome is easily my favourite 6N trip these days.

clydecloggie wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 10:18 am Aye, forza and all that. Would actually be quite helpful if Italy could do a job on France and Fiji in this tournament.

For Saturday, mainly looking forward to Ritchie v Polledri in the battle of the brilliant back rows, and seeing if Weir on his own can be a better 10 than Canna and Garbisi (or is Allan playing?) combined.

Speaking of which, and assuming that Italy do indeed pitch up with two fly halves, I quite like what they are doing with Canna at 12.

If both those battles fall Italy's way, this could be a close one..

Not been announced yet (it usually happens on a Thursday lunchtime) I'm hoping that Garbisi will get an extended run in the team. It does look like he wants to continue with Canna at 12, not sure if I like this idea, our wingers don't seem to be seeing any more of the ball than they did before...

Here's the Italy team (I'll update the OP)

15 Matteo Minozzi
14 Jacopo Trulla
13 Marco Zanon
12 Carlo Canna
11 Mattia Bellini
10 Paolo Garbisi
9 Marcello Violi
8 Jake Polledri
7 Bram Steyn
6 Sebastian Negri
5 Niccolò Cannone
4 Marco Lazzaroni
3 Giosuè Zilocchi
2 Luca Bigi (C)
1 Danilo Fischetti

A disposizione:
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Simone Ferrari
18 Pietro Ceccarelli
19 Johan Meyer
20 Maxime Mbandà
21 Stephen Varney
22 Tommaso Allan
23 Federico Mori

Some interesting things here, Edoardo Padovani is injured, so Trulla makes his debut on the wing. Marco Zanon makes his long awaited return replacing Luca Morisi at 13, Canna continues at 12. Garbisi also keeps his place (Allan is back from injury and is on the bench)

The forwards are unchanged, the big news is on the bench. As I said Allan is back, and Stephen Varney makes his debut
And Leonardo Ghiraldini makes comes back into the team after almost 2 years

Some quick thoughts, the team looks pretty decent, although Ruzza's exclusion is a bit of a head scratcher. Also would have liked to see Mbanda in for either Steyn or Negri (Ideally I'd have him as captain but hey ho)

Also, Ghira is back, but Parisse who seems to be rejuvenated at Toulon isn't involved in the team any more. Whilst I get that we have to move on, if he's back at (or near) his best, can the team ranked 15th really afford to leave him out??

Re Parisse, I think it's a good call to not have him involved anymore. I think it's needed to allow Negri, Mbanda, Polledri in particular to be as good as they can be.

In recent years, I always had the feeling the other back rows were only there to service Parisse.

clydecloggie wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 2:26 pm Re Parisse, I think it's a good call to not have him involved anymore. I think it's needed to allow Negri, Mbanda, Polledri in particular to be as good as they can be.

In recent years, I always had the feeling the other back rows were only there to service Parisse.

Totally agree. From the outside looking in it felt he was really holding back development and anyway had become quite selfish in his play. In saying that I can obviously see why you would want him in your team.

Has he said he is available?

Slick wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 2:36 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 2:26 pm Re Parisse, I think it's a good call to not have him involved anymore. I think it's needed to allow Negri, Mbanda, Polledri in particular to be as good as they can be.

In recent years, I always had the feeling the other back rows were only there to service Parisse.

Totally agree. From the outside looking in it felt he was really holding back development and anyway had become quite selfish in his play. In saying that I can obviously see why you would want him in your team.

Has he said he is available?

If you speak to any number of Italian fans they would agree that O'Shea or even Brunel before him should have had a very frank conversation with Parisse a long time ago. (If one were being very unkind you could say that Franco Smith has also avoided having this conversation by leaving him out completely.) When he was playing for Italy, he would always play from the start, he'd always play the full 80 and he was always captain. And I agree that in the last few years he also seemed to play very selfishly too.

It was interesting to hear him on the BBC before the Ireland match when he admitted that his presence had become counter productive and that the team was probably better off not having his "massive ego" around. But he still does want to play for Italy again.

Perhaps bringing him back would send the wrong message, but I just find it bloody typical that this year when he's not playing for us any more he'd suddenly rediscover his form

Any tips of where you can watch this. The games are on Amazon prime but I cant find them scheduled on any other channels

Blackmac wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:15 pm Any tips of where you can watch this. The games are on Amazon prime but I cant find them scheduled on any other channels

There's your answer. Amazon Prime only, worldwide, with the exception of Ireland and Wales games I believe, which will be on their local gobbledegook channels as well.

Blackmac wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:15 pm Any tips of where you can watch this. The games are on Amazon prime but I cant find them scheduled on any other channels

In italy it is being shown free to air on Mediaset 20 so there'll undoubtedly be a stream somewhere

clydecloggie wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:17 pm

Blackmac wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:15 pm Any tips of where you can watch this. The games are on Amazon prime but I cant find them scheduled on any other channels

There's your answer. Amazon Prime only, worldwide, with the exception of Ireland and Wales games I believe, which will be on their local gobbledegook channels as well.

That's fine. I have Prime, just thought it was odd that it wasn't anywhere else.

sturginho wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:01 pm

Slick wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 2:36 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 2:26 pm Re Parisse, I think it's a good call to not have him involved anymore. I think it's needed to allow Negri, Mbanda, Polledri in particular to be as good as they can be.

In recent years, I always had the feeling the other back rows were only there to service Parisse.

Totally agree. From the outside looking in it felt he was really holding back development and anyway had become quite selfish in his play. In saying that I can obviously see why you would want him in your team.

Has he said he is available?

If you speak to any number of Italian fans they would agree that O'Shea or even Brunel before him should have had a very frank conversation with Parisse a long time ago. (If one were being very unkind you could say that Franco Smith has also avoided having this conversation by leaving him out completely.) When he was playing for Italy, he would always play from the start, he'd always play the full 80 and he was always captain. And I agree that in the last few years he also seemed to play very selfishly too.

It was interesting to hear him on the BBC before the Ireland match when he admitted that his presence had become counter productive and that the team was probably better off not having his "massive ego" around. But he still does want to play for Italy again.

Perhaps bringing him back would send the wrong message, but I just find it bloody typical that this year when he's not playing for us any more he'd suddenly rediscover his form

His form coming back is possibly also because he is just focusing on club rugby, he is not the first and wont be the last player that this happened to, it is a good way to lengthen their career.

Also agree that its a shame that the conversation wasnt had with him before, one of the best 8's to have played the game but he was counter productive for the last few years as too much went through him which stifled others and the opposition also knew what was going to happen to far easier to shut him down as well.

Northern Lights wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 4:14 pm His form coming back is possibly also because he is just focusing on club rugby, he is not the first and wont be the last player that this happened to, it is a good way to lengthen their career.

Also agree that its a shame that the conversation wasnt had with him before, one of the best 8's to have played the game but he was counter productive for the last few years as too much went through him which stifled others and the opposition also knew what was going to happen to far easier to shut him down as well.

Sadly I think you're probably right

Blackmac wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:22 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:17 pm

Blackmac wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 3:15 pm Any tips of where you can watch this. The games are on Amazon prime but I cant find them scheduled on any other channels

There's your answer. Amazon Prime only, worldwide, with the exception of Ireland and Wales games I believe, which will be on their local gobbledegook channels as well.

That's fine. I have Prime, just thought it was odd that it wasn't anywhere else.

I've not seen them advertised on prime like the tennis they're always flogging but it's there if you search for it.

I'm going to take out a month's subscription for the games, can you watch the matches after the fact or do you have to watch them live?

Tichtheid wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:33 pm I'm going to take out a month's subscription for the games, can you watch the matches after the fact or do you have to watch them live?

Going by tennis etc they are there for a while, not sure how long, before they go.

westport wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:39 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:33 pm I'm going to take out a month's subscription for the games, can you watch the matches after the fact or do you have to watch them live?

Going by tennis etc they are there for a while, not sure how long, before they go.

Cheers, I've just read that the games can be downloaded to watch on a ipad, but I want to use the tv, ideally.

Oh well, I'll just have to watch them all live and say "but I can't record the stream" when the protests come in.

westport wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:39 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:33 pm I'm going to take out a month's subscription for the games, can you watch the matches after the fact or do you have to watch them live?

Going by tennis etc they are there for a while, not sure how long, before they go.

We talking days? Please say we are. Hopefully at least 5 or 6

Jock42 wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 6:48 pm

westport wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:39 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:33 pm I'm going to take out a month's subscription for the games, can you watch the matches after the fact or do you have to watch them live?

Going by tennis etc they are there for a while, not sure how long, before they go.

We talking days? Please say we are. Hopefully at least 5 or 6

I reckon they will be, the problem with tennis is the sheer number of matches so they only kept the “big” names for longer. So this will be fewer games likely to be held for longer

Northern Lights wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 7:09 pm

Jock42 wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 6:48 pm

westport wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:39 pm

Going by tennis etc they are there for a while, not sure how long, before they go.

We talking days? Please say we are. Hopefully at least 5 or 6

I reckon they will be, the problem with tennis is the sheer number of matches so they only kept the “big” names for longer. So this will be fewer games likely to be held for longer

Jock42 wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 6:48 pm

westport wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:39 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:33 pm I'm going to take out a month's subscription for the games, can you watch the matches after the fact or do you have to watch them live?

Going by tennis etc they are there for a while, not sure how long, before they go.

We talking days? Please say we are. Hopefully at least 5 or 6

Just had a look, they have tennis matches from 2 Nov still up on their list.

ETA tomorrow for this game programme starts at 12.00

westport wrote: Fri Nov 13, 2020 8:01 am

Jock42 wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 6:48 pm

westport wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 5:39 pm

Going by tennis etc they are there for a while, not sure how long, before they go.

We talking days? Please say we are. Hopefully at least 5 or 6

Just had a look, they have tennis matches from 2 Nov still up on their list.

ETA tomorrow for this game programme starts at 12.00

Cheers.

As an aside, 12.45 is a bloody annoying time to stat a game of rugby

Slick wrote: Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:02 am As an aside, 12.45 is a bloody annoying time to stat a game of rugby

It means you can have a beer with breakfast though.

Begbie wrote: Fri Nov 13, 2020 1:44 pm

Slick wrote: Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:02 am As an aside, 12.45 is a bloody annoying time to stat a game of rugby

It means you can have a beer with breakfast though.

It's good for us exiles, a rare occasion where a match can be watched at a civilised time.

Tichtheid wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 9:35 am

Slick wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 9:23 am ..... I want Italy to do well in this tournament, get a couple of wins and get a few people off their backs.

Same, it took France 25 years to win the 5N and in fact Italy have more wins than France did for the same number of years of participation (11 v 7) after starting

Didn't the French get chucked out and told to come back when they were better?

Hal Jordan wrote: Sat Nov 14, 2020 11:56 am

Tichtheid wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 9:35 am

Slick wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2020 9:23 am ..... I want Italy to do well in this tournament, get a couple of wins and get a few people off their backs.

Same, it took France 25 years to win the 5N and in fact Italy have more wins than France did for the same number of years of participation (11 v 7) after starting

Didn't the French get chucked out and told to come back when they were better?

It was down to paying players I think

FFS coverage of Italy Scotland starts 12.00.

5 minutes in they start blathering about England, never f#cking changes, think I'll take the dog for another walk!!

Gents

Will I be able to catch up with this match on Amazon Prime later today?
Never used it before

Looking forward to this - hoping Italy can keep this fairly close

SaintK wrote: Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:33 pm Gents

Will I be able to catch up with this match on Amazon Prime later today?
Never used it before

It would be odd if not given that's their main premise of business, but no idea, the US open was available to rewatch when they aired that in September

Stream
https://www.mediasetplay.mediaset.it/di ... diaset_cLB

with VPN

Anyone know how to watch this in France - it is not showing on my Amazon France prime. If I switch to prime UK it comes up as unavailable.

Stranger wrote: Sat Nov 14, 2020 12:41 pm Anyone know how to watch this in France - it is not showing on my Amazon France prime. If I switch to prime UK it comes up as unavailable.

See above!!!

OR use a VPN to convince Prime you are in the UK.