All posts tagged: Italy Rugby Union Team

Wales claim first Six Nations win in three years by outclassing Italy in Cardiff

Wales claim first Six Nations win in three years by outclassing Italy in Cardiff

Published by Sam Flores

Wales take on Italy at the Principality Stadium in the penultimate match of this year’s Six Nations. Italy have won the last two meetings and three of the last four. Wales are bottom of the table and on course for a third straight wooden spoon. After back-to-back heavy defeats against England and France to start the tournament, they came agonisingly close to beating Scotland before pushing Ireland close last time out. “Having an unchanged team reflects the cohesion and the consistency in the group and the consistency of performance out in Ireland,” Wales head coach Steve Tandy said. “This week we need to go up another level. We have had some good performances. There were parts against France, then we built up into the Scotland game where I thought we were very good. Against Ireland we stepped up to the plate physically. Now it is putting it all together and creating our best performance this weekend.” They go in search of their first Six Nations win in over 1,000 days, with their last victory in …

England’s Six Nations in ruins after first defeat by Italy

England’s Six Nations in ruins after first defeat by Italy

Published by Sam Flores

The frustration for Borthwick is that his side had shown glimpses of progress for the first hour – the aerial contest was largely productive, with Cadan Murley winning a number of high balls. Ben Earl had another impactful game, Guy Pepper carried strongly and Smith had some nice touches. The build-up to the try by Freeman in the first half reflected their desire to get their forwards to pass and offload, with a flick by Joe Heyes allowing Earl to carry strongly. Smith’s cross-kick also stretched the Italy defence allowing Tom Roebuck to score in the right-hand corner to give England a two-point lead at the break. Yet there were too many errors in between and England have looked defensively vulnerable out wide, where Ioane was a handful and Menoncello cut through too easily the tackles of Heyes and Underhill for his first-half score. The two penalties by Smith gave England a false hope that their graft and doggedness would be enough. But instead of using their heads to close the game out, England totally …

France continue bulldozing procession towards Six Nations Grand Slam

France continue bulldozing procession towards Six Nations Grand Slam

Published by Sam Flores

“France were unbelievably good at taking their opportunities, especially in the first half,” Michele Lamaro, Italy’s captain, told ITV. “Any little errors… it was a very good reaction by them. The scoreboard is the truth of the game. “Second half, we could not keep the ball, especially at the line-out. Even the last phase [of the match], we were five metres out, playing one of the best teams in the world, so you have to be precise and concrete. We have been there in moments but in others we were not able to execute well enough.” Italy were ultimately well beaten but Lamaro was right – they were playing one of the best sides in the world. There is plenty that Italy can take forward for their hosting of England in just under a fortnight. Italy have never beaten England but, with the confidence of Steve Borthwick’s side in the gutter, the Azzurri will be fancying their chances to make history. Given their improvements and the Welsh decline, two Six Nations victories should be the …

Ireland look in decline as questions mount for Farrell after narrow Six Nations win over Italy

Ireland look in decline as questions mount for Farrell after narrow Six Nations win over Italy

Published by Sam Flores

Farrell preferred to accentuate the positives, noting the blooding of Edwin Edogbo and the return of Baloucoune. “The experience that some of these lads are getting is absolutely huge,” he said. “The lads that have been there and done that, they’ve been through this type of pressure and come out the other side and they’ve grown because of it. These lads that managed to do that today, to stand up tall, and that will certainly stand them in good stead. I’m delighted with the win against a very good Italian side.” There are plenty of questions piling up for Farrell. And with England away at Twickenham next weekend, they are only going to get louder. Match details Scoring sequence: 5-0 Osborne try, 5-3 Garbisi pen, 5-8 Nicotera try, 5-10 Garbisi con, 10-10 Conan try, 15-10 Balacoune try, 17-10 Crowley con, 20-10 Crowley pen, 20-13 Garbisi pen. Ireland: J Osborne; R Baloucoune, G Ringrose, S McCloskey, J Lowe; S Prendergast (J Crowley 56), C Casey (J Gibson-Park 52); J Loughman (T O’Toole 67), D Sheehan (R …

Pressure piles on Townsend after Scotland slump to Six Nations defeat against Italy

Pressure piles on Townsend after Scotland slump to Six Nations defeat against Italy

Published by Sam Flores

There was purpose about the Scottish start but there was little by way of accuracy. The line-out was a mess early on and it fed Italy’s belief. Louis Lynagh pounced on a Brex grubber to open the scoring before the wing was at it again in the air moments later, pilfering possession for Menoncello’s try. No 8 Jack Dempsey, one of few shining lights for Scotland, pulled one back before half-time but a Paolo Garbisi penalty gave Italy an eight-point lead at the break which, with the weather setting in, felt far healthier. And so it was. Italy managed just a sole Garbisi penalty in the second half but that was all the hosts needed to secure a second consecutive victory over Scotland in Rome. George Turner’s sin-binning for a dodgy ruck clean-out on Zuliani did nothing to help the visitors’ cause but there was a rearguard: Russell kicked three points and the lively George Horne slid over but Italy held on in a thrilling last stand which saw Scotland cycle through nearly 30 phases …