2018 6Nations - Game 1: Italy

[p/d]

I wasn't looking

You'll just have to srtat again then...

ensuring to expand on minute 3. Comes across all too brief.

[Which Tyler]

Dont worry mate - that's about 1 in 5 of the over 40s; it happens, it's nothing to be ashamed of. You don't even need to see the GP these days, just go chat to a pharmacist.

[Digby]

I'm not following, but that's no unusual

[Digby]

Minute 11

The game restarts, sort of. Just the 30 seconds or so for the ball to come into the scrum as England restart the match. England run right off the scrum, May beats Boni, Watson beats Boni, England score.

How Italy have care reaching into the scrum on the blindside before floating a slowish pass to Ford and still end up with no cover I'm not sure. They don't really drift, then some push up and some hold. It's a mess, and one I suspect Venter and COS are not happy with. Still Watson leaves the ball in his outside arm this time.

Minute 12

Farrell misses a tricky conversion

Minute 13

Decent restart from Italy, good take from Itoje. England run a couple of phases and then spend 11-12 seconds admiring the ball on the floor, I suppose technically this counts as ball in play time but is it bollocks. Care makes a box kick, it's much too long. Ford does well with the help of a forward to hold up Parisse, Italy move the ball right, it looks nice enough but it's too slow and they're going backwards on attack. To celebrate going backwards on attack Italy admire the ball for 8 seconds or so, and then make another attempt to limp forward and this time Blue 5 carries strongly. Itoje nearly gets over the ball but on another day might find a ref saying he's not exactly supporting his body weight. Play on and that's the 13th minute done

Minute 14

Italy potter about a bit, and after a few more phases going nowhere send a box kick ahead which is comfortably taken by Brown. England kick the ball away, Hartley continues to make little effort though possibly he feels having made a major contribution of injuring off Youngs his work is done. England having not had much ball kick the ball away via Care, it's not too long, Watson chases well, and then the ref pings Hartley, but as before Hartley likely feels he's already done enough so why not give up a soft pen. I suppose there was at least effort from Hartley even if poorly directed

Minute 15

Italy win ball at the lineout, very little challenge at the lineout from England even with Launch, Lawes and Itoje, ah well, and then Italy set about going backwards on attack.

Minute 16

Italy potter about, finally make a couple of positive runs and then kick the ball away. A shame as they were finally going forwards, but having done so they weren't able to work hard enough off the ball to keep options open for their 10, it is I suppose a nice kick just into the England 22

Minute 17

It takes England almost 40 seconds to get the ball back into play. It's almost like we don't want to play at pace and we're slowing the game to look after our big pack. Ghiraldini gives up a stupid pen to allow England a free exit and the lineout, it'll not be his only shit play of the day.

Minute 18

We don't really see the lineout as the TV director decides we'd rather watch a replay of a collapsed maul, it's not a decision that'll be met with universal praise, but perhaps he's merely surprised England haven't brought out the deck chairs before restarting the game. England start reasonably going open off the lineout, and then get into a right mess going back down the shortside, Brown does his best to stay on his feet going into contact, but we lasted 2 plays off our own lineout ball before Italy force a scrum turnover. Nothing happens in the half of the minute as the forwards are so slow forming a scrum

Minute 19

Starts with the scrum yet to form. After only 57 seconds the ball finally goes into the scrum. Italy just have time to run left (or open) off the scrum and carry up into the England half

Minute 20

Italy break down the left with minimal disruption from England. Italy set a ruck wide left on England's 5m line. They play right and score with a (very) nice floated pass sending Benvenuti clear in behind May. A good score from Italy

[Digby]

Minute 21

Nothing happens

Minute 22

Italy make the conversion.

Decent restart from England, well chased by May until he gives a needless pen away for contact with the man in the air.

Minute 23

Italy kick their pen to touch and win the lineout. Hartley tries to get in over phase 2 ball but as so often in such scenarios it's nothing doing. However maybe by dint of Hartley doing some work Robshaw is then able to slow the 3rd phase, which sees Italy kick, the ball is deflected and claimed by Ford.

Minute 24

Some reasonably effective picks from England, Mako to the fore. England celebrate by kicking the ball away and into the Italian 22. Italy however don't even try to make an exit play and cough up a knock on turnover after a rip from Maro, a needless error after some needless play in the wrong area. England don't make anything of the ball and it's back for the scrum on the Italian 22

Minute 25

Almost nothing to this minute as it takes the forwards 50+ seconds to get around to restarting play, maybe at times instead of allowing them a scrum they should send all the forwards to the bin (or naughty step). Again England are specifically not even trying to play at fast tempo. Simmonds plays the ball right from the scrum, Care sends it back the other way, and it's a nice move from England as they're dragged the 10 and 15 right over towards the scrum with the work from Care and Simmonds. England have a couple of phases going left and making progress

[Digby]

Minute 26

England running the phases, lovely hands from Mako, and then a strong carry from Cole. It's back to back positive plays putting England on top in the Italian 22. Italy simply can't reload fast enough in defence and Farrell scores a nice try.

Minute 27

So easy is the conversion it's knocked over quickly and there's even time to restart the game. Clearly the Italian chasers are surprised by the quick restart and forget they're not supposed to be ahead of the kicker. It's long kick taken well by Simmonds who goes forward into contact setting up and England ruck nearly on their 22.

Minute 28

Italy are offside at the ruck and give away another stupid penalty to allow England to clear. It's a good long king from Farrell going out well into the Italian half then again Farrell was well ahead of where the pen was awarded when he finally got around to kicking the ball. England win the lineout and there's a nice carry from Te'o but then the presentation is crap and everything slows up. Not sure what England might have done next, but they're in an unusual shape with the ruck in centre field, and what looks like Ford and 6 others stood more or less direct behind the ruck. Even with bad ball presentation England move forwards through May and Watson, the pace of our wingers is causing their defence to have kittens. And then Ioje carries decent into contact to bring the ruck back toward the middle

Minute 29

And again England have Ford and 6 others stood behind the ruck in centrefield. Robshaw the anointed one to carry into contact, and England move left. Italy prat about on England's side but the ref wants to see the game flow and not blow for it, fair enough really. England into 7 phases now and going forwards nicely until Hartley carries and then we're pegged back a little, great player Hartley. Lawes with a recovery pass and then England move the ball left with Te'o sending Brown into a little space, and I'm left to wonder what if we had Daly back and a faster fullback. Brown seeks contact, plus ca change, and then it's Launch carrying up nicely. Italy are just unable to slow England enough to make it hard.

Minute 30

Hartley carries again, BOOM, other than he's again caught behind the gaineline, great player Hartley. Itoje carries up and the picture is screaming for the ball to get played out the back, but Itoje seeks contact, ends on his back like a turtle and Italy force a pen for holding on. Not only does the ball not make it into Itoje's hands and back out, but with the spacing of Lawes and Itoje it's not really leaving Ford much option to put the ball behind those two where Mako, Watson, Te'o and May are lurking, had the ball gone out the back we could well have been in again. I don't know if it was intentional but when Blue 12 tackled Maro he spun around on the England side knocking over Lawes and preventing him supporting, doubtful he could have helped Maro once he was in turtle position but Italy well and truly had control of that breakdown, one of those examples too of England having players ready to play the next phase but not always to support the current phase.

[Digby]

Meant to say minute 30 rather dragged after the pen was awarded, Lawes stayed down for treatment which slowed the game and the ref too a moment to stop the clock

Minute 31

Excellent linekick to touch by Italy. Ghiraldini told not to take a step toward the Italian side of the lineout, he does, play on with Italy winning the ball. Italy drop the ball, it goes backwards but puts them under pressure, they move the ball out to the centres where good work from Farrell supported by Mako turns the ball over. England this time presented with turnover ball manage to hold onto it for entire seconds before they give the ball back as Lawes gets stripped. Italy move the ball out to Boni who crosses halfway before being tackled by Itoje, Boni decides he doesn't want to be tackled so crawls further (not far in fairness) and it's ignored by the ref. Italy carry another couple of times and Maro gives away a pen, one which you're not going to get pinged for every time, but the ref did should release and he didn't, so...

I realise at this point I've meandered into minute 32, but I can't be bothered to rewind so this is the first double entry

Minute 33

Italy have kicked to touch, they win the lineout, and are promptly driven back into touch, Crap play from Italy.


Minute 34

England win the lineout, maul a few yards and Italy give away another penalty to spare England making an exit play. Italy backing up crap plays at this point.

Minute 35

England sent Simmonds up the middle off the lineout, ball back to Ford, launch a high ball. It's hardly ambitions stuff from England but it's safe, at least until Mike Brown is inspired to copy Italy in giving away pointless penalties as he's rightly pinged for a high tackle.

[Mikey Brown]

Some interesting enough bits in here.

https://www.crashballrugby.com/articles ... es-it-mean

[p/d]

Some interesting enough bits in here.

https://www.crashballrugby.com/articles ... es-it-mean

I'll give that a read once we get to half time.............

[Digby]

Minute 36

Italy kick to touch, win the lineout and make a couple of driving/pick plays.

Minute 37

Italy move left, first getting some momentum after finding Ford in the line. England give away a pen going offside. Parisse taps and goes, England are stood the full 1m back, perhaps even twice as far at 2m back and the ref's fine with that, Italy go blind from a ruck sending 3 attackers into 4 defenders but they retain the ball and then head back to the openside.

Minute 38

Italy play to centrefield but can't keep pace on the ball with good work from Hartley and Lawes to slow the ball. Italy continue to probe the fringes, not much to see other than maybe Simmonds has a gap to close to get his bounce time as low as Robshaw's. In the end Mako gives away a pen for hands on the floor before getting onto the ball, not a great pen, but much more sensible than most given away (by either side)

Minute 39

Italy kick the 3 points

Minute 40

England restart and May chases well to knock the ball back to Maro. Next phase has England heading backwards as Mako is jumping a little to take the pass (such as it is) from Care. England go open and there's a nice inside ball to May who initially drives nicely but then loses the ball forward. At the scrum England go penalty hunting and are pinged for an early drive, Italy kick the ball off to end the half.

[Digby]

Some interesting enough bits in here.

https://www.crashballrugby.com/articles ... es-it-mean

I'll give that a read once we get to half time.............

Done

[Banquo]

Some interesting enough bits in here.

https://www.crashballrugby.com/articles ... es-it-mean

Worth a read, its Digby with GIFS , and some sane focus on Teo and Simmonds.

[p/d]

Some interesting enough bits in here.

https://www.crashballrugby.com/articles ... es-it-mean

Worth a read, its Digby with GIFS , and some sane focus on Teo and Simmonds.

Nothing we didn't know though.

Glad he made a point expressing the influence Mako brings to the party . Looked every bit the motm

[Digby]

Some interesting enough bits in here.

https://www.crashballrugby.com/articles ... es-it-mean

Worth a read, its Digby with GIFS , and some sane focus on Teo and Simmonds.

If I said Te'o ran some good lines, made some alignment mistakes in defence, didn't look as good as JJ but was only just back from a lengthy timeout would I save myself some time?

Simmonds was excellent, though I don't know there's much evidence he's what Eddie wants in a 7. Likely it'd be be better to look for an Exeter game he was at 7

[Banquo]

Some interesting enough bits in here.

https://www.crashballrugby.com/articles ... es-it-mean

Worth a read, its Digby with GIFS , and some sane focus on Teo and Simmonds.

If I said Te'o ran some good lines, made some alignment mistakes in defence, didn't look as good as JJ but was only just back from a lengthy timeout would I save myself some time?

Simmonds was excellent, though I don't know there's much evidence he's what Eddie wants in a 7. Likely it'd be be better to look for an Exeter game he was at 7

wasted time as I've read it

[Banquo]

Some interesting enough bits in here.

https://www.crashballrugby.com/articles ... es-it-mean

Worth a read, its Digby with GIFS , and some sane focus on Teo and Simmonds.

Nothing we didn't know though.

Glad he made a point expressing the influence Mako brings to the party . Looked every bit the motm

That's true, but didn't want to appear a smart-ar5e

Its a good article, and good to bring a bit of Simmonds-sanity, as well as he played.

[p/d]

Worth a read, its Digby with GIFS , and some sane focus on Teo and Simmonds.

Nothing we didn't know though.

Glad he made a point expressing the influence Mako brings to the party . Looked every bit the motm

That's true, but didn't want to appear a smart-ar5e

Its a good article, and good to bring a bit of Simmonds-sanity, as well as he played.

It is a good article, and probably highlights the challenge we face v Wales. The only bit I found somewhat disconcerting was the suggestion the gap between Simmonds & Mercer isn't as big as we think

[Mikey Brown]

Nothing we didn't know though.

Glad he made a point expressing the influence Mako brings to the party . Looked every bit the motm

That's true, but didn't want to appear a smart-ar5e

Its a good article, and good to bring a bit of Simmonds-sanity, as well as he played.

It is a good article, and probably highlights the challenge we face v Wales. The only bit I found somewhat disconcerting was the suggestion the gap between Simmonds & Mercer isn't as big as we think

It seemed overly down on Simmonds to me, to be honest. Though I don’t know what they made of Hughes repeatedly getting knocked backwards rather than just stopped at the line.

[Digby]

Minute 41

Italy restart the game, there is a runner ahead of the kicker but it's rather immaterial. Itoje takes an easy catch, England maul Italy for around 10m and Ghiraldini gives away yet another stupid penalty, this time for lifting both legs of Itoje in the maul. Just unacceptable for a senior player like Ghiraldini to be letting his side down in such fashion. England kick up almost to the Italy 10m line.

Minute 42

Lawes wins the lineout after the ref spend some pointless time talking about gaps in the lineout. England send up Launch who actually gets drive back in contact, but Robshaw makes a nice pick for a metre or so to tidy the situation up. Next up there's a short ball from Care to Simmonds and the ball is lost forwards in contact, not a great play in the wet, in the dry it's... poor.

Minute 43

England get a little pressure on the Italian scrum, and Care gets a lot of pressure on Blue 9 trying to clear the ball. Blue 10 directs the ball back the other way and 12 makes a decent carry up the gut, Italy run one more phase to get into position for a box kick and send a good box kick ahead. May takes the ball and it's overlooked he's (very marginally) received contact whilst still in the air.

Minute 44

England run one phase with Simmonds trucking it up before the forwards form a line to allow for a box kick back. Hartley joins said effort from the side and ahead of the ball, but when you're a great like Hartley you can do as you wish. Care sends a contest kick ahead and only 7-8m infield, which May does very well to chase and gather. England might have had an advantage on the openside but with Blue 9 lying on the wrong side we see 4 forwards drawn into supporting May, Care spotting a lack of sweepers sends a kick in behind. Ghiraldini in one of his few redeeming moments chases back, collects, and flips a ball inside to Blue 15 who sends a very tidy kick out into touch just into England's half.

Minute 45

Lawes just about wins the lineout, but it's a messy tap down. Care to Ford, and Ford's already had enough and sends up a high kick. The kick is a little long, and the chasers don't bust a gut and instead keep a line. Blue 15 takes the ball and sets a ruck, Italy seal off a ball England aren't even contesting. Italy then work the shortside twice, don't bother sealing the ball and first up Robshaw nearly gets onto the ball, and then on the 2nd attempt Italy give away a pen for coming in at the side. England kick down into the Italian 22 for a lineout

[Digby]

Minute 46

England win easy ball with Itoje who taps down to Mako at acting half. Mako sends what might be the pass of the day out to Te'o on a hard line, you hardly ever see a ball now a player can really run onto. Good work though at the ruck from Blue 12 who might feel on another day Farrell, Simmonds and Mako might be required to at least pretend their not in at the side. England have Launch carry next, and then Lawes, Lawes isn't as good into contact and Parisse is getting in the way but England move the ball one out again and this time it's the pace of Watson who very nearly goes clear for a hatrick but simply drops the ball over the line off a forward pass from Care. Scrum Blue.

Minute 47

Italy can't hook the ball and under pressure the flanker uses his hand to move the ball back. England kick an easy 3 points.

Minute 48

It's along restart by Italy. Simmonds returns the ball, initially winning contact but then getting pushed back by 2 players, Blue 12 and 6. Hartley is there, and errm, well he's there and in theory driving into Blue 12 but given the outcome might just be leaning on him to save some energy. Hartley does have minutes left to play in fairness. England pass back to Ford who's deep and sends a kick down the middle and almost up to halfway, a bit of a nothing kick, but he wasn't spoiled for choice. The hardest worker on the chase initially is Farrell (who is a bloody hard worker in fairness) but Robshaw spots Farrell and lifts his own efforts, they arrive in a line with Te'o to challenge Blue 15 who tried to fool them by sliding to the floor. Still excellent footwork from Blue 15 sees Robshaw partially make a tackle and then Launch follow up to complete. Italy look to work the shortside, but England aren't under resourced there as we so often have been in recent years. Still, even with defenders in place Watson loses contact with Boni and Italy have some momentum down the left.

Minute 49

Watson and Te'o both make the tackle. 'tis interesting for Italy as they've now twice had 1 attacker draw 2 tacklers to floor so they are showing they can move the ball and they've some agility around the tackle. Italy are now presented with a huge openside, and England with a midfield defence that runs in order, Launch, Hartley, Cole, Vunipola and Itoje, it's a nice midfield to attack, but Italy seemingly only have forwards offering for the ball for which the England front five must be grateful. Blue 6 takes the ball into contact. After another phase Italy make two wide(ish) passes which baffles the England push on the inside shoulder with just how easily they get to the edge on our defence, Farrell and Lawes react well enough. Italy though are getting some quick play the balls and some momentum. Next phase and Farrell starts to rush out of the line and Italy work to the inside of Owen. Italy keep playing one out and then when Parisse has the ball on a carry he's able to pop the ball from the floor having been tackled and Blue 11 breaks through a hole, there needn't have been a hole but one England player had assumed the ball was dead when Parisse was tackled and stopped working across, I don't want to single the England player who'd stopped working across out for criticism but his name rhymes with Hartley. Anyway, Blue 11 carries forward and Italy are heading well into England's 22, Italy head right from the breakdown which looks the only right thing about that call, on the other side England have Lawes, Cole and Launch before I think Care and Watson wider out and Lawes, Cole and Launch aren't remotely in a line, indeed Cole and Launch aren't even back to be in a line. Nonetheless intrepid Italy go right and initially beat Simmonds on the inside when he has too much space to cover, but then Itoje almost gets on the ball allowing us to recover a tad, and then Brown gets at Blue 9. Italy are still able to head back left but Robshaw has worked hard to get across (and outside Launch and Cole too) so Italy go a little wider into a hole Te'o is working across to fill. Maybe it's having only just worked across but Te'o identifies the wrong carrier and goes into contact with Parisse leaving Allen free to send Boni in for a score, sadly it's a forward pass and England have a scrum.

Minute 49 it would seem was a big one in the game, lots happened and it very nearly gave us a scoreline of Italy 17 - England 20

Minute 50

Ref calls for TMO. Eventually we get a call and the scrum starts to form

[Digby]

Minute 51

England win a scrum penalty and kick up to near halfway. Truly you don't get less entertainment in rugby than the scrums, and it's a shame as done properly they're brilliant.

Minute 52

Another mess tap down, but this time Italy are pinged and Owen launches another touchfinder. England are just into the Italian 22 after a pen on a technical restart and hand grabbing an arm in the lineout. Sometimes you slog your guts for 6m, sometimes you get 60m almost for nothing. England win a lineout, don't quite get the maul set, Italy don't mark up and Simmonds goes through for an easy try given how quick he is

Minute 53

England kick the conversion

Minute 54

Italy restart long to Simmonds, and this time the ref should be able to tell they're easily ahead of the kicker and one of the props is the other side of halfway actually alongside the ref. Perhaps fat mean in blue tops with gold trim aren't as visible as one might suppose. Simmonds gathers and carries not quite to the edge of the 22, Itoje looks to be blatantly not supporting his body weight, he probably could be he just isn't, but it's not deemed material if it's seen and Care sends up a truly awful box kick. I'm not convinced England can all be onside but play on was the call, maybe everyone just expected a whistle but the ball was allowed to bounce and Itoje gets a toe to the ball to send it up the right touchline. Italy with a lineout 5m or so into the England half. Italy win the lineout and hint they'll drive a maul before the openside pulls the ball back, 10 sends it on again, and Boni carries well into the gap between Ford and Farrell.

Minute 55

With Boni have taken them to near enough the England 10m line Italy move left, and George gets into a poor position to tackle Parisse. Simmonds helps but again its 2 defenders into 1 tackle. And then with Te'o and Watson pushing up rather than drifting Italy work right around our defence. Italy are moving along nicely in our 22 before a Williams low tackle and then Italy losing sight of the ball in their own ruck give us a chance to get a little organised. Italy's one out game is much better though, not many offloads even when winning contact, but the footwork is much better.

[Mellsblue]

Please make it stop. This is the longest 80 mins I’ve experienced since England v Argentina at HQ in ‘09.

[p/d]

Please make it stop. This is the longest 80 mins I’ve experienced since England v Argentina at HQ in ‘09.

can't be far off until we get the first unforced replacement on the pitch.............. you can cut the tension with a knife.

[Digby]

Please make it stop. This is the longest 80 mins I’ve experienced since England v Argentina at HQ in ‘09.

So you don't want the slides that go with the review to follow?

[Mellsblue]

Please make it stop. This is the longest 80 mins I’ve experienced since England v Argentina at HQ in ‘09.

So you don't want the slides that go with the review to follow?

Not if it’s photos from your lamp posts of the British Isles holiday coach trip.