Stepping it up

Italy pose a real threat, say the Rugby Club panel

Last updated: 10th February 2012   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Stepping it up

Italy: looking for their first win against England

The Rugby Cub panel explains why Italy will pose a bigger threat to England than Scotland.

Stuart Lancaster is sticking with the same team that launched England's title defence with a unconvincing 13-6 victory over Scotland last weekend and Stuart Barnes, Dewi Morris and Will Greenwood all agree that England have to play a lot better if they are to avoid their first defeat to the Azzurri.

"If Italy can replicate what they did for 40-45 minutes against France, then I think England will need a much better performance that we saw at Murrayfield to win this game," said Barnes.

"Can England handle this Italian back row? Everyone goes on about Parisse, Parisse, Parisse which is fair enough because he is one of the best back row forwards in the world.

"But they also have got balance on either side. Alessandro Zanni wears six but he will play at open side a lot, he always goes forward in the tackle. Robert Barbieri never plays more than 60 minutes but in those 60 minutes he is incredible.

"Italy will want good ball from the back of the lineout and get Barbieri running into the midfield and targeting the likes of Charlie Hodgson. I don't care how good your defence is, if you get on the front foot and get quick ball then you are in with a sniff. Even though Italy were barren in terms of try scoring against France, I think they pose more of a threat than Scotland."

Greenwood agreed and said that Italy's forwards can handle anyone.

"The forwards are really starting to handle themselves and I am enjoying the balance they have in the back row with Zanni, Barbieri and Parisse, said the 2003 World Cup winner," he said.

"Parisse will be thinking finally have someone else who can carry the ball up with me. Then Tommaso Benvenuti in centre has an outside break but we did not get to see it against France."

Morris said that England cannot afford to let Italy get in their stride and must close them down as soon as possible.

"France let Italy play - the structure of their defence was almost 'we'll go for it...no we won't'.

"They just let Italy have phase after phase. It will be interesting to see if England will go and try and stop the ball or let Italy just play."

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