Official Italy v England thread

[Slick]

Great try.

England really are fucking horrible to watch

[sockwithaticket]

How the fuck does our defence put Marler defending out wide on a break?

[sturginho]

Garbisi Jr can't kick to save his life

[Jock42]

Great try.

England really are fucking horrible to watch

Oh I don't know. I'm enjoying watching them right now.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

That was so shit from England. They had an age to sort there numbers out there

They had put a lot of effort into ensuring all the slowest players in the team were in the defensive line.

[Sandstorm]

Great try.

England really are fucking horrible to watch

Oh I don't know. I'm enjoying watching them right now.

[Hal Jordan]

How the fuck does our defence put Marler defending out wide on a break?

Poor sod was left hanging for the first try, too.

[C69]

England will monster Italy second half with power.

[sockwithaticket]

Y'know Stuart's been pretty reasonable so far. Good carry from him just now.

[PCPhil]

Y'know Stuart's been pretty reasonable so far. Good carry from him just now.

He's always pretty reasonable

[sturginho]

England will monster Italy second half with power.

The way menoncello just monstered that tackle?

[Hal Jordan]

Y'know Stuart's been pretty reasonable so far. Good carry from him just now.

Just nice to see him not looking to chuck the pull back pass every time, unlike some props I could mention.

[sturginho]

Twice that's happened, they need to shoot the groundsman

[Hal Jordan]

WHAT THE FUCK IS ETHAN ROOTS' HAIRCUT ABOUT?

[sockwithaticket]

WHAT THE FUCK IS ETHAN ROOTS' HAIRCUT ABOUT?

The short mullet? Exeter special. I remember when slade was sporting one.

[Sandstorm]

17-14 Italy
HT

[sturginho]

Now just to lock the England dressing room and misplace the key

[Hal Jordan]

WHAT THE FUCK IS ETHAN ROOTS' HAIRCUT ABOUT?

The short mullet? Exeter special. I remember when slade was sporting one.

It looks like the barber shop caught fire halfway through the cut and he just thought, "Fuck it, that's fine."

Also, Daly has zero pace.

[Slick]

Great try.

England really are fucking horrible to watch

Oh I don't know. I'm enjoying watching them right now.

They have a few players that can really make some dents but ever time there seems a bit of momentum they slow it down, set the train up and kick it. So frustrating to watch

[ASMO]

England attack is just non existant, aimless passing, apart from the try, Italy are coping with it comfortably.

[Slick]

Now just to lock the England dressing room and misplace the key

2nd half will be all about the Italian teams mentality. They can win this on the pitch but not sure they can in their heads

[sturginho]

Great try.

England really are fucking horrible to watch

Oh I don't know. I'm enjoying watching them right now.

They have a few players that can really make some dents but ever time there seems a bit of momentum they slow it down, set the train up and kick it. So frustrating to watch

Let's hope they don't deviate from the plan for the next 40 minutes

[Slick]

England attack is just non existant, aimless passing, apart from the try, Italy are coping with it comfortably.

I don’t know, when they actually do let it go they look reasonably dangerous

[ASMO]

Now just to lock the England dressing room and misplace the key

2nd half will be all about the Italian teams mentality. They can win this on the pitch but not sure they can in their heads

100% this. They have the ability and skill, they just need the belief.

[Raggs]

England are definitely trying to play which is nice to see. It's not clicking properly just yet, but it's getting close at times.

[Hal Jordan]

England attack is just non existant, aimless passing, apart from the try, Italy are coping with it comfortably.

I don’t know, when they actually do let it go they look reasonably dangerous

Let Freeman feed would seem to be the approach.

[GrahamWa]

England attack is just non existant, aimless passing, apart from the try, Italy are coping with it comfortably.

That can't be true if you are listening to the ITV pundits, they must be in the lead they are playing so well.

[ASMO]

Watching the replays of the second Italy try, Stewards glacial pace really stands out.

[sturginho]

Now just to lock the England dressing room and misplace the key

2nd half will be all about the Italian teams mentality. They can win this on the pitch but not sure they can in their heads

100% this. They have the ability and skill, they just need the belief.

Yeah I've always thought our biggest problem is the mental side.

[sockwithaticket]

England attack is just non existant, aimless passing, apart from the try, Italy are coping with it comfortably.

That can't be true if you are listening to the ITV pundits, they must be in the lead they are playing so well.

Tbf, that second quarter England were playing pretty well, hence the gap on the scoreboard closing. We stopped arsing about with static forwards like Marler doing out the back offloads and had them just carry up the guts, which was starting to produce results. Italy were coughing up penalties when we got inside the 22

[Slick]

England are definitely trying to play which is nice to see. It's not clicking properly just yet, but it's getting close at times.

NURSE!

[sturginho]

Stadium looks a bit fuller than usual, which is good to see

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Watching the replays of the second Italy try, Stewards glacial pace really stands out.

He outpaced Marler.

Just.
<edit> TBF he's played well and his lack of pace is well known so should be factored in to the makeup of the defensive line. </edit>

[JM2K6]

England are definitely trying to play which is nice to see. It's not clicking properly just yet, but it's getting close at times.

NURSE!

Compared to any other game under Borthwick it's night and day, but it's still not great.

Defensively the system is a mess and both centres have really hurt us with missed tackles and bad decisions.

Underhill has been largely anonymous, Earl extremely busy both sides of the ball, Roots good on the carry. We're getting nowhere near their ball, though. This is Chessum's worst game for us so far, which isn't helping when there's a few anonymous players on the pitch...

Nice to see Steward playing alright.

Ultimately this performance will be a shock to anyone who wasn't paying attention to England's performances at the world cup, third place be damned.

Edit: not sure how I failed to mention how good Freeman has been, but I've expected him to shine

[Slick]

I like this Freeman chap, who does he play for?

[sockwithaticket]

I like this Freeman chap, who does he play for?

Saints. Best place for any English back who likes to attack.

[Margin__Walker]

Mitchell was held by the ankle there for me.

[Slick]

England are definitely trying to play which is nice to see. It's not clicking properly just yet, but it's getting close at times.

NURSE!

Compared to any other game under Borthwick it's night and day, but it's still not great.

Defensively the system is a mess and both centres have really hurt us with missed tackles and bad decisions.

Underhill has been largely anonymous, Earl extremely busy both sides of the ball, Roots good on the carry. We're getting nowhere near their ball, though. This is Chessum's worst game for us so far, which isn't helping when there's a few anonymous players on the pitch...

Nice to see Steward playing alright.

Ultimately this performance will be a shock to anyone who wasn't paying attention to England's performances at the world cup, third place be damned.

Edit: not sure how I failed to mention how good Freeman has been, but I've expected him to shine

Joking a bit, I did say earlier they looked much better going forward than when kicking.

Didn’t even realise Underhill was on playing!

[Hal Jordan]

Fine, I'll do it myself!

[PCPhil]

Fewer finer sights in Rugby than Steward scorching across the grass.