By Darren Walton
June 13th 2009 @ 2:08am
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Italians plotting to upset Wallabies
Armed with two key Australian attacking weapons, Italy are quietly confident of pulling off a rugby miracle against the Wallabies in Saturday night’s Test at Canberra Stadium.
Italy’s South African coach Nick Mallett, usually one to downplay his unfancied side’s chances, says a monumental upset is not out of the question.
Mallett’s optimism stems from Italy’s narrow [...]
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pothale said | June 13th 2009 @ 2:50am | Report comment
Quietly confident? This is Aussie media hype. Having publicly gone on the record saying that Italy playing Australia and new Zealand was a thankless task for the Italy, he could have hardly turned around and said that he’s quietly confident of a win.
They’ll be beaten handsomely – or else Australia don’t turn up to play. At all.
Kento said | June 13th 2009 @ 7:59am | Report comment
Keep dreaming guys. This game is the safest bet in the world right now…
whiskeymac said | June 13th 2009 @ 8:10am | Report comment
But pothale and Kento, they have Gower!
LeftArmSpinner said | June 13th 2009 @ 9:12am | Report comment
I expect a Wallaby win, but the greatest test will be to see if they can mantain concentration throughout the game. I am hoping that the incentive of remaining in Robbie’s good books and the pressure from a strong bench and fringe players such as tuqiri and Waugh will be sufficient. Lets hope that Kimlin is about to shake his current nickname of Noodles, as in two minute Noodles, because that was the sum total of his game time on the previous tour as a Wallaby!!
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | June 13th 2009 @ 9:35am | Report comment
Perish the thought of a loss. Could it happen? It’s hard to see how. But stranger things have happened in sport. That’s why we watch it.
Azzuri seemed to have our number in Padova but for a Cooper try that could so easily have been called back. So they’ll be up for it.
Will the weather play it’s role in helping the boys in blue? Coldest June night in Canberra in how many years?
Gower Power – Is there such a thing? He wasn’t bad at all in the NRL and has been learning his trade at a decent level in France. We know their forward pack will be competitive & Craig Gower may well pull off a few surprises.
I’m expecting the Wallabies to run riot after about 10 minutes. I’m hoping Robbie has put the fear of God into them and ‘Woe behold anyone who eases off…even a wee but’.
Let me check my list for tonight good coffee (check), tim tams (check), tawny port (buy some when in town), beanie (check), heaters (check). At least I’ll be warm & merry.
Here’s to the Wallabies starting as they finished last week. Keep on building chaps the Big Boys are waiting for us down the track.
Even looser said | June 13th 2009 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Blinky – What no trip to the local? Too cold eh!
I just can’t see what’s in this for Italy. I expect them to get absolutely hammered in what promises to be little more than a training run for the Wallabies. Better for their development for them to play a team of similar standard. Zimbabwe, Japan, Canada, USA, Uruguay, etc.
Working Class Rugger said | June 14th 2009 @ 12:02am | Report comment
I think Nick Mallet would prefer his charges to be running around in the Churchill cup at the moment. What is it with the Italians. A couple of years ago it looked like they took a couple of steps forward only to have gone backwards since then.
pothale said | June 14th 2009 @ 12:38am | Report comment
They’re looking for a balance of games against a variety of teams, according to Mallet when he arrived down under. New Zealand and Australia should not be on their playing list this summer. They should be in US and Canada or maybe Eastern Europe against Georgia/Romanaia every now and then, according to him.
These games do nothing for Italian rugby and probably lower team esteem and confidence unnecessarily.
Darryl said | June 14th 2009 @ 8:21am | Report comment
I think the Italians looked alright last night, but they really need to invest in a decent backs coach and look for some speedters.
Even looser said | June 14th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
I can’t figure if the Italians looked okay last night or whether the Wallabies played poorly thinking their game against the Baa Baas meant they would waltz it in.
How the hell the Azzuri number 9 had not practiced with Gower & yet was palying was beyond me. What kind of coaching decision was that? When the reserve 9 came on things went far better for Italy.
Not too sure what to make of Craig Gower’s efforts. He pulled off one nice inside flick pass to score a try & defended very well but apart from that he stood so far back from the 9 that we all wondered ‘what ploy is this’? Seems it wasn’t one. He also took a few dumb options even for a newish boy to Rugby. What’s with the field goal attempt when Italy had us under pressure? And general kicking in play was below poor. Still I reckon he’ll improve and hopefully next week in Melbourne he’ll take the next step up.
Justin said | June 14th 2009 @ 10:24am | Report comment
Gower was pathetic but he is much better than that. He will be better next week, a poor game, stood deep, kicked out on the full 3 times I think from halfway, a woeful option of a DG when well behind. Get rid of that 4 also he is soft as butter.
I have to disagree with the notion that Italy shouldnt be playing Australia though. To improve you need to play against better opposition. To play weak teams will not make them better. What will they learn from beating Georgia or Romania? Yes they will win but long term I dont believe it will improve them one iota.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen said | June 14th 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment
Italy are already playing better opposition in the 6 nations and didn’t register a win this year.
I think those of us who reckon they should be playing opposition closer to their level, are thinking that it’ll give the coaching staff a better chance of tinkering with team structures.
Italy need to know what it feels like to win a few on the trot. Constantly losing must be tough to deal with. If winning becomes a habit maye losing does too.
pothale said | June 14th 2009 @ 11:24am | Report comment
That’s what I said earlier. A balance of games – some of which they are more confident of winning, allow them to build and develop skills, develop tackling, backline moves, etc.
Playing 6 Nations and then Austrlaia and New Zeland isn’t a great prospect for any 12th placed team.