Should we rest players for the Eyetie Test?

[en_force_er]

We need to be very, very careful about how to approach this.

Rest a couple of key guys like Rocky, Sharpe and Pocock for sure, but the Italians are no mugs and I'd be keeping some of the front line players at least on the bench should they be needed.

I wholeheartedly agree.

Were it not for some QC (Quade Cooper) magic and perhaps an incorrect reffing call we would have already lost a test against these fellows.

The Italians will needs everything to go their way to beat an Australian side even if it is missing it's mainstays but this is still far from impossible.

 

[Thomond78]

It is relevant that Treviso, in the ML, are winning games. Leicester were absolutely haunted to beat them in a game in Treviso where there were nine tries scored, and a 5-2 points split. As more of the Italian team are getting more and more frequent decent games, it's quite possible that they'll be closer to the pace than in other years.

 

[en_force_er]

It is relevant that Treviso, in the ML, are winning games. Leicester were absolutely haunted to beat them in a game in Treviso where there were nine tries scored, and a 5-2 points split. As more of the Italian team are getting more and more frequent decent games, it's quite possible that they'll be closer to the pace than in other years.

Absolutely. Instead of playing in a Shute Shield level comp with a couple playing in France they are now playing in the 2nd best comp in the World regularly and are getting not-so-awful results.

They will be at home and overall used to playing at a higher standard of competition. There is no reason why this won't be the best situation Italy has ever been in to knock over the SH sides.

 

[Thomond78]

And, while not wishing it on ye, gentlemen; it would be a bloody great thing for world rugby if they did.

Treviso are going to make the knock-out stages of the HEC sooner rather than later. I'd reckon they've an excellent chance of being in the top half of the ML.

 

[en_force_er]

And, while not wishing it on ye, gentlemen; it would be a bloody great thing for world rugby if they did.

It would be but it's our to lose rather then theirs to win and we'd have to mismanage our squad badly.

 

[Hawko]

Maybe bench a few of the front running forwards, but keep them in the squad... Italy were a Quade cameo from rolling us last November...

If the eye-tie game were tomorrow then something like

1. Robinson
2. Moore
3. Alexander
4. Mumm
5. Simmons
6. Elsom
7. Hodgson
8. Brown (can't believe I just said that)
16. Saia
17. Slipper
18. Pocock
19. Sharpe

Higgers please!!!

 

[Langthorne]

Some of these issues also discussed here:

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/forum/threads/6380-Teams-for-the-rest-of-the-EOYT