NPR

A place where Sturginho can talk to himself

Naaa i will talk to you, will Sergio get his final hurrah you think or he is gone for good now?

Thanks

He's signed on for another year with Toulon, so there's always a chance he might get a last hurrah in an Italy shirt: https://www.onrugby.it/2020/06/26/sergi ... un-titolo/

Under 20 Fly Half Paolo Garbisi aspires to be like Farrel :?

https://www.onrugby.it/2020/06/24/benet ... a-farrell/

Are Italy holding the under 20 WC in 2021 now instead do you know, due to this year's been cancelled

Good question, the only thing I can find is the initial statement saying that it was cancelled

Call ups for the first post corona training camp (including a "invitation" for Monty Ioane)

https://www.onrugby.it/2020/07/02/nazio ... -di-parma/

On Rugby has praise for the Zebre squad for next season for being younger and more Italian than before:

https://www.onrugby.it/2020/07/14/zebre ... d-azzurre/

For me it's a bit of a no brainer, what are Zebre for if not to give young Italian players a chance?

George Biagi has retired from rugby: https://www.onrugby.it/2020/07/14/georg ... -ritirato/

He won 23 caps for Italy having made his debut against England in 2014

He made 119 appearances for Zebre and captained them 51 times, before that he was also at Aironi

Treviso 13-17 Zebre

A pretty dull match by the sound of it. Garbisi and Sarto played from the start for TV, Rizzi cane off the bench for zebre

I watched the second half, not too impressed, bit like like watching a club fourths playing the colts. Hopefully it was just rust.

Not seen it, but apparently Varney impressed in the Glaws Bristol game.

Highlights:

Raggs wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2020 10:46 am Not seen it, but apparently Varney impressed in the Glaws Bristol game.

Two tries in two games for him now, Franco needs to call him up quickly!

sturginho wrote: ↑Mon Aug 24, 2020 7:33 am

Raggs wrote: ↑Sat Aug 22, 2020 10:46 am Not seen it, but apparently Varney impressed in the Glaws Bristol game.

Two tries in two games for him now, Franco needs to call him up quickly!

another game another try for Varney

Benetton lost 35-24 at Ulster, sounds as though Garbisi had a good game. It would certainly be something if Italy finished the 6 nations with Varney - Garbisi as their half back partnership having started the championship in the u20s

Thought Benetton looked quite good, just a couple of brain farts at crucial moments.

dkm57 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 03, 2020 2:11 pm Thought Benetton looked quite good, just a couple of brain farts at crucial moments.

Yes, I was pretty impressed with them and seemed happy to throw the ball about a bit. Also looked like they had a bit of steel and won’t be rolling over for anyone

Jake Polledri definately delivering the goods at Gloucester, you have a ready made replacement there for Sergio

ASMO wrote: ↑Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:17 pm Jake Polledri definately delivering the goods at Gloucester, you have a ready made replacement there for Sergio

So far they have been using Steyn at 8 in the post-Sergio world, but I like the idea of Jake at 8, Steyn at 6 and Mbanda captaining the side at 7

Sturginho, is there any young talent coming through that we won't have heard of that you think is potentially top class?

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Oct 05, 2020 2:42 pm Sturginho, is there any young talent coming through that we won't have heard of that you think is potentially top class?

The expectations were quite high for this year's u20 team at the world cup, but that all went to shit thanks to covid. Of that team I think the most exciting prospects are Mori and Garbisi.

Garbisi you can see scoring agains Ulster above, here is Mori scoring against Embra last year:

What position does Mori play? Wouldn't fancy that running at me.

sturginho wrote: ↑Tue Oct 06, 2020 8:45 am

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Oct 05, 2020 2:42 pm Sturginho, is there any young talent coming through that we won't have heard of that you think is potentially top class?

The expectations were quite high for this year's u20 team at the world cup, but that all went to shit thanks to covid. Of that team I think the most exciting prospects are Mori and Garbisi.

Garbisi you can see scoring agains Ulster above, here is Mori scoring against Embra last year:

I remember that Mori try, the lad is rapid and very physically developed for a teenager.

Some highlights of the weekend

Treviso vs Leinster:


Dragons vs Zebre:


Minozzi scores vs Bristol:


And the best for last, former Italy U20 wing Ange Capuozzo, who plays for Grenoble in D2, gets on the end of this superb try which starts off in Grenoble's 22:

Italy training squad for the remaining 6 nations:

Piloni
Pietro CECCARELLI (Brive, 9 caps)
Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 29 caps)
Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 3 caps)
Cherif TRAORE’ (Benetton Rugby, 10 caps)
Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Zebre Rugby Club, 5 caps)

Tallonatori
Luca BIGI (Zebre Rugby Club, 27 caps) – capitano
Leonardo GHIRALDINI (svincolato, 104 caps)
Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, esordiente)

Seconde linee
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 3 caps)
Riccardo FAVRETTO (Mogliano Rugby/Benetton Rugby, esordiente)
Marco LAZZARONI (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)
David SISI (Zebre Rugby Club, 9 caps)

Flanker/n.8
Maxime MBANDA’ (Zebre Rugby Club, 20 caps)
Johan MEYER (Zebre Rugby Club, 4 caps)
Sebastian NEGRI DA OLEGGIO (Benetton Rugby, 25 caps)
Giovanni PETTINELLI (Benetton Rugby, esordiente)
Jake POLLEDRI (Gloucester Rugby, 16 caps)
Abraham STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 39 caps)

Mediani di mischia
Callum BRALEY (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)
Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, esordiente)
Marcello VIOLI (Zebre Rugby Club, 15 caps)

Mediani d’apertura
Tommaso ALLAN (Benetton Rugby, 57 caps)
Carlo CANNA (Zebre Rugby Club, 42 caps)
Paolo GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, esordiente)

Centri
Giulio BISEGNI (Zebre Rugby Club, 16 caps)
Luca MORISI (Benetton Rugby, 32 caps)
Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)

Ali/Estremi
Mattia BELLINI (Zebre Rugby Club, 25 caps)
Jayden HAYWARD (Benetton Rugby, 26 caps)
Matteo MINOZZI (Wasps, 19 caps)
Federico MORI (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano, esordiente)
Edoardo PADOVANI (Benetton Rugby, 23 caps)
Jacopo TRULLA (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano, esordiente)

Since this was announced, Traore has picked up an injury against Leinster and is replaced by Tiziano Pasquali. Minozzi is busy with wasps, so Antonio Rizzi has been brought in, also Christian Stoian a lock who plays for Fiamme Oro has been called up.

Varney tests positive for covid: https://www.onrugby.it/2020/10/13/nazio ... giocatori/

He's not showing any symptoms, but he is isolating

Braam Steyn and Giada Franco talk about returning to test rugby after lockdown:

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2021/news ... qualifiers

Meanwhile the Ireland - Italy match has been given the green light to go ahead

Well fuck me sideways, Zebre have won a match!

https://www.onrugby.it/2020/11/02/pro14 ... k-o-23-17/

sturginho wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:37 pm Well fuck me sideways, Zebre have won a match!

https://www.onrugby.it/2020/11/02/pro14 ... k-o-23-17/

Yes but temper your joy with the fact it was only the pisspreys you beat ;-)

ASMO wrote: ↑Tue Nov 03, 2020 9:27 am

sturginho wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 9:37 pm Well fuck me sideways, Zebre have won a match!

https://www.onrugby.it/2020/11/02/pro14 ... k-o-23-17/

Yes but temper your joy with the fact it was only the pisspreys you beat ;-)

Yes, the comments section on the link above are still finding things to complain about

Italia – i convocati per la Autumn Nations Cup
Piloni
Pietro CECCARELLI (Brive, 11 caps)
Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 31 caps)
Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Rugby Club, 5 caps)*
Daniele RIMPELLI (Zebre Rugby Club, esordiente)*
Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Zebre Rugby Club, 7 caps)*

Tallonatori
Luca BIGI (Zebre Rugby Club, 29 caps) – capitano
Leonardo GHIRALDINI (svincolato, 104 caps)
Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)*

Seconde linee
Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 5 caps)*
Marco LAZZARONI (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)*
David SISI (Zebre Rugby Club, 11 caps)
Nicolae Cristian STOIAN (Fiamme Oro Rugby, esordiente)*

Flanker/n.8
Maxime MBANDA’ (Zebre Rugby Club, 22 caps)*
Johan MEYER (Zebre Rugby Club, 6 caps)
Sebastian Luke NEGRI DA OLEGGIO (Benetton Rugby, 27 caps)
Jake POLLEDRI (Gloucester Rugby, 18 caps)
Abraham STEYN (Benetton Rugby, 41 caps)

Mediani di mischia
Guglielmo PALAZZANI (Zebre Rugby Club, 40 caps)
Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester Rugby, esordiente)
Marcello VIOLI (Zebre Rugby Club, 17 caps)*

Mediani d’apertura
Tommaso ALLAN (Benetton Rugby, 57 caps)
Carlo CANNA (Zebre Rugby Club, 44 caps)
Paolo GARBISI (Benetton Rugby, 2 caps)*

Centri
Luca MORISI (Benetton Rugby, 34 caps)*
Marco ZANON (Benetton Rugby, 1 cap)

Ali/Estremi
Mattia BELLINI (Zebre Rugby Club, 26 caps)*
Matteo MINOZZI (Wasps Rugby, 20 caps)*
Federico MORI (Kawasaki Calvisano Robot, 2 caps)*
Luca SPERANDIO (Benetton Rugby, 6 caps)*
Jacopo TRULLA (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano, esordiente)*

Autumn Nations cup to be shown on Mediaset 20: https://www.onrugby.it/2020/11/04/rugby ... tions-cup/

I do get that channel so I'll have my pick of whether to watch there or on Prime, i guess it will depend on how good the commentary is :)

My attempt at picking a team for Fiji (what I'd like to see, not what FS will actually do)

15 Minozzi
14 Trulla
13 Mori
12 Zanon
11 Bellini
10 Garbisi
9 Violi (liked what I saw of Varney, but he's perhaps a bit small yet to be playing against Fiji!)
8 Sergio (Polledri has knee ligament damage)
7 Mbanda
6 Negri
5 Cannone
4 Ruzza
3 Zilocchi
2 Bigi (c)
1 Fischetti

Polledri needs an op on his injured knee and is out for at least 6 months

Just watched the extended highlights of us vs Italy, why can't they take that first half performance into every game? Italy were particularly good in that half although they have been excellent in some other first halves for a few years, why can't they replicate it in second- is it a fitness thing, Sturginho (or any Italian fan)?

Caley_Red wrote: ↑Wed Nov 18, 2020 8:53 am Just watched the extended highlights of us vs Italy, why can't they take that first half performance into every game? Italy were particularly good in that half although they have been excellent in some other first halves for a few years, why can't they replicate it in second- is it a fitness thing, Sturginho (or any Italian fan)?

I think fitness does play a part, but I think it's more of a mental problem. Italian teams are not used to winning, so when there is a victory in sight it becomes even harder to get over the line. FS talked about this in his post match interview (a rare case of an italian coach actually giving some insight instead of the usual platitudes.) https://www.onrugby.it/2020/11/14/itali ... n-il-maul/

FrancoSmith wrote:Things became more complicated when we started looking at the scoreboard. Thinking more about what we wanted from the match than what we wanted from ourselves....

....This is a bit of an endemic problem with Italian rugby. We fight hard up to a certain point then something happens that makes us give up.

Add to this the fact that our replacements on Saturday were not up to the standard of the players that started, it does go some way to explaining why we always seem to drop off midway through the second half

Whilst Zebre got absolutely thumped by Ulster, at least there was one positive to come out of the match and that is this try scored by Pierre Bruno:



The rugby equivalent of "in off his backside"?

Zebre win the Italian derby 15-24