Pre-match meals, Italian style...
Italy have pulled out all the tricks for this one, from racking up an 80,000-strong partisan crowd to seducing the opposition with supermodels.
Ma'a Nonu, Anthony Boric, Mils Muliaina and Andrew Hore appeared all over the press on Thursday, being fed all manner of fishy goodies by glamorous Italian temptresses. A boon for them, and none of the sirens were called Susie, but apparently there was a stormy team selection meeting at the team hotel on Thursday morning. Not, we hasten to add, about the selection for Saturday's match.
But it's that kind of thing that has marked the All Blacks' visit to the Azzurri ever since the soccer clubs of Milan very graciously made the magnificent San Siro available to the FIR for this match. It's been glamour all the way, with the tourists welcomed like film stars. Soccer remains number one in Italy, but rugby is well and truly having its hour this week - even if the Azzurri players themselves have not quite been under the glare of the spotlight.
Would it were that Italy had a team that looked capable of creating something for the locals to really go bananas about. Not that it's a bad team as such, but New Zealand have palpably not lost their aura, as Wales claimed, and with so many players in New Zealand's side out to prove points Italy could have a long day at the office.
It's not going to be like the match in the June Tests, where the All Blacks looked laboured as they lurched to a 27-6 win against an heroic Italian defensive performance - apparently inspired by a stirring half-time team talk from Salvatore Perugini. New Zealand are a Tri-Nations campaign more cohesive now, more united and better organised. New caps are coming in and taking their places in an obvious structure. The rewards of this year's magnificent Air New Zealand Cup are becoming manifest.
Italy must continue to mould fly-half Craig Gower, who also played a significant role in Italy's impressive June displays. It will be interesting to see how his partnership with scrum-half Tito Tebaldi, who played excellently in only his second Test against the All Blacks in June, develops. Gower is apparently struggling far more with his Italian than his rugby and is booming confidence, but for the quieter and greener scrum-half Tebaldi, his perceived form can change quickly against the best in the world.
That said, the Italian weapon of choice will surely be the scrum and the rolling maul, combined with the occasional towering kick to move the whole fleshy mass a few metres forward and the baying of the 80,000 souls who will make this Italian rugby's biggest-ever occasion being used for the necessary adrenaline. The return of Martin Castrogiovanni is a significant boost to this end, as is that of Carlo del Fava.
For Italy it will be about how much pressure they can put on the opposition. For the All Blacks, about whether they can open the game up.
Gower has to be good with the kicks and the chasers - forwards or otherwise - have to be deadly and accurate. People call this a second-string New Zealand side, but that's still better than most first teams. Just because Ben Smith is yet to make a clean break in an All Black jersey, does not mean he will punish loose kicks just as lethally as he did for Otago in the Air New Zealand Cup. Just because Mike Delany is stuck behind Stephen Donald at the Chiefs, doesn't mean he is not a livewire and unpredictable number ten. This is a team that can cut Italy to ribbons given a chance and given the space.
All over this supposed second-string team are players who could easily slot into the first team. New Zealand looked weak after the exodus of 2007, but with their domestic rugby light years ahead of other countries, the strength in depth is building once again. On Saturday, we'll see how deep that currently goes.
Ones to watch:
For Italy: Tito Tebaldi continues to plug the scrum-half gap which so yawned in Italy's team a year or so ago that Nick Mallett placed a flanker there to fill it. The 26-year-old has enough time and talent to be Italy's main man heading into the 2011 World Cup, but only if he can build on the promise he showed in June.
For New Zealand: All the talk has been about the debut handed to Mike Delany this week, which seems a little hard on Ben Smith. Smith was devastating at times in the Air New Zealand Cup and is versatile in the back three - his attacking lines from full-back are sumptuous. Question marks linger over defence, as they always do when someone is so lauded for their attacking capabilities but the 23-year-old has a bright future ahead of him if he can prove himself.
Head to head: Sergio Parisse v Rodney So'oialo. Lots of talk of youngsters, bright futures and burgeoning partnerships thus far, but how about this for a classic clash? Parisse must have been nominated for every award going over the past two years as he continues to be Italy's heart and soul, while So'oialo is an ever-present for the All Blacks; both are peerless in their sides. They have different games: So'oialo provides line-out options, ball-carrying solidity and ceaseless endeavour, while Parisse polishes that up with sparks of mad genius. Both so vital to their sides, it's a good contrast of players in the same position to watch.
Recent results:
1987: New Zealand won 70-6 in Auckland
1991: New Zealand won 31-21 in Leicester
1995: New Zealand won 70-6 in Bologna
1999: New Zealand won 101-3 in Huddersfield
2000: New Zealand won 56-19 in Genova
2002: New Zealand won 64-10 in Hamilton
2003: New Zealand won 70-7 in Melbourne
2004: New Zealand won 59-10 in Rome
2007: New Zealand won 76-14 in Marseille
2009: New Zealand won 27-6 in Christchurch
Prediction: Difficult not to see New Zealand cutting loose here after last week's confidence-boosting win and with so many new players proving points. New Zealand by 25.
The teams:
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Tito Tebaldi, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Alessandro Zanni, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replpacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Ignacio Rouyet, 18 Antonio Pavanello, 19 Simone Favaro, 20 Simon Picone, 21 Kristopher Burton, 22 Alberto Sgarbi
New Zealand: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Tom Donnelly, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Richie McCaw, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Mils Muliaina.
Date:Saturday, October 14
Venue:San Siro, MilanKick-off: 15.00 (14.00 GMT)
Weather: Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), David Changleng (Scotland)
Television match officials: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (France)
By Richard Anderson
Comments
catchyname says...
yes they should have hosted the rwc in a developing rugby nation, but they opted for the big bucks. It would do wonders for the game and of course make it more exciting than it is now, dominated by 6 r 7 teams in the world. The USA, CAnada japan and italy are going from strenght to strenght and hopefully one of them will break into the top 8 ranked teams in the world....for the good of the game.
Posted 04:26 14th November 2009
ForzAzzurri says...
First I wanna thank nikid40 , couse believe it or not he's very much right.
Second I have to agree with aeddanberry too.
Well it's a long shot , but of course everything is (almost) possible.
Third once again, I want to repeat my disappointement with the IRB decision to give England and then Japan the next two RWCs. What a shame. Especially in the light of tomorrow match , 80018 spectetors a massive crowd that has taken Milan as a storm, and more then 60000 for next match versus the springboks.
And all that in a country that rugby is almost unknown, a RWC would have been a massive boost to increase the knoweledge of this marvellous sport ,and also a boost for rugby itself to develope in different reality other than England.
Have a nice week end.
Posted 16:33 13th November 2009
nikid40 says...
Brazilrugger: Couldn't agree more. There are a few teams that could become competitive with the weaker tier one nations within ten years. Japan has publicly announced that it wants to be a top 8 team by the time they host the RWC in 2019. Considering their wealth, genuine talent and pre-existing domestic proffesional structure this is a real possibility.
Japan is a realistic possibility. However the admission of 7's to the Olympics could help encourage professionalism in Canada (who have already produced several upsets), the US and some of the tier 2 European nations. Russia for example already has a professional domestic compeition and is likely to qualify for RWC 2011. We will just have to keep our fingers crossed.
Fun fact: the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia has a capacity of 80,000 where the temprature is on average just above freezing. We talk about Auckland or Twickenham as rugby fortresses, imagine playing infront of 80,000 drunk Russians in the snow.
Posted 16:16 13th November 2009
catchyname says...
italy are up and coming, but the all blacks are far too strong for them now to lose to italy. hoing italy will make life difficult for NZ, and keep the scoreline tight, but in 10 years or so italy will have a far stronger side
Posted 15:58 13th November 2009
brazilrugger says...
hey nikid40, yes it would be wonderful for the sport if italy won. i agree that its highlyt unlikely but what a treat that would be. Rugby really needs a few more powerhouses globally to make it more interesting.
Posted 14:47 13th November 2009
aeddanberry says...
i think nikid40's right, italy always have a great forward pack and will be great competition for the allblacks there but Italy need to find more than just a scrum half for their backline for aside from mirco bergamasco,gower and on occassion canale they really lack international talent and try scoring ability, allblacks will win well in my opinion just because of the italians inability to score tries and the clinical ability of the ABs that sets them apart, really hopeit is a great occassion to convert the italians who havnt seen the light yet to rugby!
Posted 11:23 13th November 2009
Apefarmer says...
Certainly will be a different match, compared with the last time they played in June, and should make for a great spectacle indeed. Looking forward to this one with baited breath..
The AB's side is packed full of players with points to prove, and individually, the backline is star-studded with players possessing the size, pace, and strength to potentially tear the Italians to ribbons.
You can guarantee McAlister will be putting his body on the line, and look for him carving numerous holes in the Italian defense(provided things go his way early and he keeps a cool head!). Corey Jane at fullback with space to move will be a pleasure to watch, and he will no doubt be cherishing this opportunity to secure his place in the starting line-up. Also, look for an impressive debut from utility man Tamati Ellison at 13 - Big powerful lad with a ton of gas and won't be holding back. Also look for Sivivatu dropping the ball plenty and performing ridiculous acts of brainlessness at the breakdown. He must go.
Once they settle, the tries will flow. 50+ points for the AB's and maybe a try or two through the net from the Italians early in the piece.
Good luck guys.. give it heaps.
Posted 10:49 13th November 2009
nikid40 says...
Wouldn't it be great if Italy actually won this game? Not because the All Blacks deserve to lose, they certainly do not. But because if we want to have a truly international sport (e.g. soccer) we have to have a world cup were more than just five teams can win it. I don't think Italy will win, although it is a possibility (stranger things have happened - RWC dark horse Ireland nearly lose to Georgia for example).
Even though half the AB backline is on debut, they still look stronger on paper than their opposites. The forwards on the other hand are atleast even, if slightly in the Italians favour. The Kiwi's out there will berate me but Sergio Parisse, Mauro Bergamsco, Martin Castrogiovanni and Salvatore Perugini are all better then their AB equivalents and Ghiraldini is just as good as Flynn. If the Italians defend well and keep the score close then adrenaline and the absence of Carter might get them home. Having said that, it's a 1/100 shot.
Posted 09:56 13th November 2009