By Quin Kong
February 8 2009

England v Italy RBS Six Nations 2009 Match Review by Quin Kong. The opening game of the 2009 RBS Six Nations saw an injury plagued Italy take on an injury plagued England at Twickenham.

RBS Six Nations - Match Review

England 36 – Italy 11

The opening game of the 2009 RBS Six Nations saw an injury plagued Italy take on an injury plagued England at Twickenham.  

For England a paucity of fly-halves saw Martin Johnson looking to France in the form of Andy Goode to fill the role.   Italy were looking to progress from their year on year improvement but their lack of international strength in depth was highlighted in the flanker Mauro Bergamasco being named as their starting scrum-half.

A special mention should also go Steffon Armitage who joined elder brother Delon in the starting line-up which gave England the first brothers to play in the same team since the Underwoods.

  Englands Delon & Steffon Armitage following the RBS 6 Nations match at Twickenham

 All Pictures by Empics

It was from the kick-off that it became apparent that the risk with Mauro Bergamasco had been a bad gamble.   A poor pass leaving the ball loose to be hacked down field.   The Italian line-out was overthrown the ball was snaffled by a grateful Goode who after a series of attacks chipped through the defence and won the race to touch down within the first two minutes.   An Ellis try after running down the wing and sliding over was followed by another mistake by Mauro Bergamasco leading to another loose ball. Following a hack up-field by Goode, the chasing Flutey got the kind bounce and he scored next to the posts.

  Englands Harry Ellis scores their second try during the RBS 6 Nations match at Twickenham

Englands Ricky Flutey celebrates his try with Andy Goode during the RBS 6 Nations match at Twickenham

After half an hour an injury to Andrea Marcato the Italian fly-half saw him being replaced by Luke McLean. It would be McLean who would get Italy’s first points after England were penalised twice for being offside the second time McLean successfully converting. Goode nullifying it after England were awarded a penalty almost immediately.   Shortly before half-time Haskell had a moment of madness and was shown yellow for a deliberate trip.   Within two minutes McLean gained another penalty and could have had a third on the stroke of half time but the ball bounced off the posts. For England going in at half time the 22 – 6 lead looked unassailable and so it would prove.

The main change after half time was the expected replacement of Mauro Bergamasco with Giulio Toniolatti who had little international experience but is an out and out scrum half.   England stayed with the tactic of kicking away possession occasionally running with the ball but handling errors littered both sides however in possibly the first serious running attack by England saw Ellis score with a run from the half way line.   Shortly after this Foden came on to replace Ellis.   It was another England replacement, however, who stood out but for all the wrong reasons as Shane Geraghty was sent to the bin for taking out a player in the air.

It was Italy who celebrated next after a break by McLean saw the Italians attacking the try line and despite what appeared to be several players’ attempts not to score Mirco Bergamasco who finally touched down.    England had the final say though as a real attack saw Cueto score in the corner to leave the final score 36 – 11.

Englands Mark Cueto scores their final try during the RBS 6 Nations match at Twickenham

This game had the feel of a well supported warm up game.    Play was disjointed and the Southern Hemisphere tactic of constantly kicking the ball to the opponents did not make for good viewing, especially as there seemed to be no chasing runners whom are vital to put pressure on the other team.    All in all it felt lethargic and bitsy, although when a proper running attack went forward England scored.  Too much of the game was spent waiting for the Italians to make a mistake with which tactic they succeeded although it’s less likely against the better teams. 

We now know that England can win ugly, lets hope next week they can win pretty after all it’s not often a win feels like a loss.

England

D Armitage, P Sackey, J Noon (Tait 78), R Flutey (Geraghty 61), M Cueto, A Goode, H Ellis (Foden 61), P Vickery, L Mears (Hartley 55), A Sheridan (White 61), S Borthwick, N Kennedy (Croft 78), J Haskell, S Armitage (Worsley 55), N Easter.

Italy

A Masi, K Robertson, G Canale, G Garcia (Pratichetti 55), M Bergamasco, A Marcato (McLean 31), M Bergamasco (Toniolatti 40), S Perugini (Nieto 62), F Ongaro (Festuccia 55), M Castrogiovanni, S Dellape (Monaturiol), M Bortolami (Reato 56), J Sole, A Zanni, S Parisse.

England v Italy RBS Six Nations 2009 Match Review

Discussion started by Unofficial England Rugby Union , 08/02/2009 14:06

Unofficial England Rugby Union
08/02/2009 14:06

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UnofficialEnglandRugby
08/02/2009 14:30

Big Thank you to Quin Kong for our Review

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ChiddQuin
09/02/2009 12:48

Thanks QK. You're right, it's not often a win feels like a loss, but that's what I felt when I walked away from the ground.

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