RBS 6N - England v Italy 14/2/15 Pre match thoughts


By Kath
February 12 2015

England will not take Italy lightly this weekend at Twickenham, in fact they have given them full respect by putting out the team that faced Wales last weekend.  England have never lost to Italy in 11 previous meetings so let's Bring it On.  Good Luck England!

RBS Six Nations 2015

England v Italy

2.30 kick Off - Twickenham

 England hopefully will see off the Azurri this weekend but whilst I am feeling bullish abot this game, England Captain Chris Robshaw is giving full respect to the threat Italy pose.

Englands Captain Chris Robshaw during the media briefing at Twickenham Stadium, London.

Robshaw said: "It'll be a completely different pressure compared to Wales," "I'm sure most people will be coming to Twickenham expecting us to win comfortably, but we know what we've got to do and the aims we set for ourselves.  "You want to perform well and you also want to win. You hope as a team you'll be more cohesive and it's that different type of pressure.  "They're away from home and are the underdogs.  There's not really anything to lose.

"When you're the favourites, so to speak, it is a different type of pressure. "We've had tight games against Italy in the past. They almost beat us three years ago and two years ago, and on another day, they could have.   "As a team we're treating them with the utmost respect, like we treat every other side that we've played. "We had a great win in Cardiff, but it was the start to the campaign for us and that's all. Now it's about backing that up."

 

So what of the England line up, well it is a case of as you were.  Jonathan Joseph and George Kruis get their first start in an unchanged England side and unchanged bench.  So hopefully England will rack up plenty of points and maybe by the weekend they willbe topping the table.  The most important this is to win first.

    

England's Jonathan Joseph & George Kruis during a training session at Pennyhill Park

  And what does the 'House of Lancaster' think

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster: “It’s always good to be able to name an unchanged team and to build some consistency. We did the same last year after France heading into the Scotland game.

“Italy are going to be fired up, they always are when they come to Twickenham, especially after last week’s loss to Ireland. We know what’s coming at us but we have prepared well and are looking forward to getting back home and playing in front of our fantastic supporters.”

  `bergamasco italy

Mauro Bergamasco

Italy have made four changes, recalling Mauro Bergamasco who will get his 101 cap, and former captain Marco Bortolami, 34, along with prop Alberto De Marchi. Giovanbattista Venditti will play left wing, prompting a back-line reshuffle.   Luke McLean switches to full-back, Andrea Masi to inside centre and Luca Morisi to outside centre in place of the injured Michele Campagnaro.

 

 England: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby). George Ford (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), George Kruis (Saracens), James Haskell (Wasps), Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins), Billy Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby).

 Italy: Luke McLean; Leonardo Sarto, Luca Morisi, Andrea Masi, Giovanbattista Venditti; Kelly Haimona, Edoardo Gori; Alberto DeMarchi, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Martin Castrogiovanni; George Biagi, Marco Bortolami; Francesco Minto, Mauro Bergamasco, Sergio Parisse.

Replacements: Andrea Manici, Matias Aguero, Dario Chistolini, Joshua Furno, Samuela Vunisa, Guglielmo Palazzani, Tommaso Allan, Giulio Bisegni


 

 

Bookmark or share this story with: