Mamma Mia here we go again. The Wallabies are in Firenze, it’s raining and the Azzurri forwards have some real tough hombres.
How is the Wallabies’ head space at the moment after the England and Munster disasters? I’d say not bellisimo?
We’re at a fork in the road or un bivio della strada. What we have to do is go to the Opera? Yes, Cosi Fan Tutte. Although ours should be more about fighting rather than loving?
Cosi Fan Tutte loosely translated means: “This is how everyone does it.”
Well, this is how we need to do it. Go back to the basics and play to the strengths of Southern Hemisphere rugby: competitive set piece, physicality at the breakdown and unleash some bling out back, weather or not?
Because, if we let them dictate the tactics and get enveloped by their game we’ll be chewed up in a forward orientated arm wrestle.
They’ll be slowing it down. We need to conduct a high tempo, melodic aria which culminates in a finale of dramatic proportions.
Let’s hope this match doesn’t turn into a buffa? At the end it should be “bravo” and curtain calls, not tomatoes and boos!
What can the Azzurri offer to this game? They have a quality coach in Nick Mallett who’ll work out our vulnerabilities (it isn’t hard is it?) and devise tactics to counter.
And that’s where the Italians have always had a problem – lots of countering – but not much of anything else?
He’s made six changes to the side that were defeated in a tight game by Argentina last week. What’s not of interest to us are their forwards because we know they are damaging.
Their scrum “penalty try’d” the Argie eight last week on the 5m line. To do that to an Argie scrum you’ve got to be something.
Their forwards will play à la Munster – pick and drive, pods etc and hammer their advantage home. Castrogiovanni and his front row mates have 69, 72 and 79 caps respectively and world class No 8 Sergio Parisse will relentlessly run at Quade Cooper.
Mallett’s backs’ selection is a bit of a surprise, though. He’s doing a Robbie. Plenty of young blokes this time including an uncapped 20 year old halfback (Gori), Tommaso Benvenuti on the wing (1 cap), Alberto Sgarbi (6 caps) in the centres and Orquera at five eighth to replace an injured Craig Gower.
I suppose he’s preparing for the Six Nations, then?
Quality flanker Mauro Bergamasco is unfortunately out with a shoulder injury but brother Mirco is on the wing and is a reliable goalkicker.
As for the Wallabies, some would say we’ve got a conga line of non-performers but I think that’s a bit harsh.
The drums have been beating for Brown, Mumm and Gits for some time and it’s good that other blokes have an opportunity to show their wares amongst the divas and prima donna’s.
James Slipper has been a maestro of busyness this season and thoroughly deserves his chance at gloria.
Rob Simmons and Matt Hodgson have been some of the best Dirties on display, Lachie Turner is a class act and Barnes and Burgo, although they had Barry Crockers in the Thomond tornado, will bring a physical skillset into play.
Are the Azzurri going to do a “Pomallaby” and attack from everywhere? Not friggin’ likely as they just don’t have an Ashton, Cueto or Foden, nor a Gower to control this type of game from No 10.
Let me just say: if the Wallabies were to lose this match Robbie would be demoted to castrato, the tenor would be dire and for the libretto – read Götterdämmerung!
Alright – Wallabies by 3
ITALIA:
15 Luke McLean, 14 Tommaso Benvenuti, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (c), 7 Alessandro Zanni, 6 Paul Derbyshire, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero.
Reserves: 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Lorenzo Cittadini, 18 Santiago Dellape, 19 Robert Barbieri, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Andrea Masi.
AUSTRALIA:
15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper.
Reserves: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Benn Robinson, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Will Genia, 21 Matt Giteau, 22 Pat McCabe.
Saturday, 20 November, 2010
Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
Time: 3pm (local) (1am <AEDT> Sunday, 21 November)
Referee: Christophe Berdos (Fra)
