Wallabies v Italy

[Burgs]

Mortlock and Smith return to Qantas Wallabies for Italy Test

November 08, 2006 - 6:03pm
Story by: ARU

The Qantas Wallaby selectors have made five changes to the Test team to play Italy in Rome this Saturday, with Stirling Mortlock, George Smith, Brendan Cannon, Guy Shepherdson and Mark Chisholm coming into the starting lineup.

Stephen Larkham has recovered fully from last Saturday's bruising encounter against Wales and will start the match at inside centre.

Mortlock, who has been out of action for more than a month due to an operation to removed a bursa from his knee, will captain the team for the second time.

George Smith and Lote Tuqiri will make their debuts as vice captains.

Mortlock's inclusion at outside centre sees Tuqiri move back to the wing, while last weekend's double try scorer Cameron Shepherd moves back to the bench.

There are four changes to the run-on forward pack, with hooker Brendan Cannon and prop Guy Shepherdson in the starting lineup while Stephen Moore and Nic Henderson have been named on the bench.

Lock Mark Chisholm comes in to fill the place of the injured Daniel Vickerman while George Smith returns to the starting line-up at openside flanker. Stephen Hoiles retains his spot in the reserves while Phil Waugh drops out of the 22 and will be on standby as 23rd man.

Qantas Wallaby coach John Connolly said the team was as close to full strength as possible for the dangerous Italians.

“It was a big blow to lose Daniel Vickerman, but Mark Chisholm has been in good form and deserves his place in the starting lineup.

“Guy Shepherdson and Brendan Cannon also deserve to start. The Italians have competed very well in the Six Nations and they pride themselves on their scrummaging, so it will be a big Test for our pack.

“George Smith and Phil Waugh are both world-class openside flankers, but it is important that Stephen Hoiles gets some Test time off the bench, so Phil will sit this one out after a bruising Test against Wales.

“It is good to have Stirling Mortlock back after his knee operation. He is very keen to get on the paddock after sitting out for the last few weeks.

“Despite what some people think, Italy will be very tough to beat at home. They have shown in the Six Nations that they are capable of beating any team in the world on their day, and we are expecting a stadium full of very passionate Italian fans in Rome on Saturday.”

2006 Spring Tour

Match: Australia v Italy

Venue: Stadio Flaminio, Rome

Date: Saturday 11 November 2006

Kick Off: 3.00pm (1.00am AEDST)

Broadcast times (check local guides)

Live on Fox Sports 2 (nationwide)

Live on Network Ten in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide (75 min delay in Perth at 10:45 WST)



Qantas Wallabies



1 Al Baxter

2 Brendan Cannon

3 Guy Shepherdson

4 Nathan Sharpe

5 Mark Chisholm

6 Rocky Elsom

7 George Smith (vc)

8 Wycliff Palu

9 Matt Giteau

10 Mat Rogers

11 Lote Tuqiri (vc)

12 Stephen Larkham

13 Stirling Mortlock (c)

14 Clyde Rathbone

15 Chris Latham

Reserves

16 Stephen Moore

17 Nic Henderson

18 Alister Campbell

19 Stephen Hoiles

20 Josh Valentine

21 Mark Gerrard

22 Cameron Shepherd


23rd Man - Phil Waugh

[The Lone Hydrangea]

Rathbone doesnt deserve another run on start, or Rogers,Palu and Baxter.
Incredible!

[Flat-top]

Italy will be very tough to beat at home. They have shown in the Six Nations that they are capable of beating any team in the world on their day

Just not sure when or if their day will ever come! Of course maybe some of our Scots friends can recall the famous Italian victories in the 6 nations since they joined in 2000. That is 3 wins out of 35 games, do you think Knuckles is slightly over-doing the build up to this game?

2000 Beat Scotland 34 - 20
2003 Beat Wales 30 - 22
2004 Beat Scotland 20 -14

To be fair they are certainly getting better each season and when the internationals get located to the Italian regions rather than in Rome they certainly attract a very passionate support. Rome sadly doesn't respect Rugby as much as it might, due to the overwhelming dominance of soccer in that city. One thing the Italians do is scrummage like demons, I expect Baxter to know he has been in a game by the end of this one.

I would imagine there is quite a large Italian community in WA, certainly a recipe for a good party.

[felixnelson]

what are they doing with smith and waugh?
captain one week then out the next

[Burgs]

Italy:

1 Andrea Lo Cicero, L'Aquilla (Sicilian)
2 Carlo Festuccia, Gran Parma
3 Martin Castrogiovanni, Calvisano
4 Santiago Dellape, Agen
5 Marco Bortolami (c), Narbonne
6 Alessandro Zanni, Calvisano
7 Mauro Bergamasco, Stade Francais
8 Sergio Parisse, Stade Francais
9 Paul Griffen, Calvisano (NZ)
10 Ramiro Pez, Perpignan
11 Pablo Canavosio, Calvisano (Arg)
12 Mirco Bergamasco, Stade Francais
13 Gonzalo Canale, Clermont Auvergne
14 Kaine Robertson, Viadana (NZ)
15 Gert Peens, L'Aquila (SA)
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, Calvisano
17 Carlos Nieto, Viadana (Arg)
18 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Bourgoin (SA)
19 Josh Sole, Viadana (NZ)
20 Simon Picone, Treviso
21 Andrea Scanavacca, Rovigo
22 Walter Pozzebon, Bristol


Most profiles can be found: http://www.rbs6nations.com/squad_italy.htm

[JediKnight]

what are they doing with smith and waugh?
captain one week then out the next

Resting?

Squad rotation?

[inactive]

What stumps me is how rathbone is still in what has he done to deserve to be in starting line up nothing so much for finding the right back line combo and what is rogers doing in there as well. I swear if i ever saw connelly in person .....

[Burgs]

From Sportal and ARU:

Last Time

Australia 69 - 21 Italy, Telstra Dome, Melbourne, June 25, 2005.

Walking wounded & team changes

Italy has introduced only one new cap to its international squad for the upcoming Test series starting with the Wallabies this weekend. English-born half Warren Spragg, who represented England at Schools and Under-21 level but is free to play for the Azzurri through an Italian-born grandparent, has been included in the squad. In a late blow, Italy will be without veteran prop Salvatore Perugini, who was recently suspended for five-weeks for heat-butting while playing for Toulouse.

John Connolly has made five changes to the Wallabies starting line-up that took on Wales last week in the drawn match in Cardiff. Stirling Mortlock has recovered from his knee operation and is rushed back into the team to play at outside centre. Lote Tuqiri moves back to the wing with last week's two-try hero Cameron Shepherd pushed back to the bench. Mortlock will also take over the captaincy duties. Vice captain Dan Vickerman has injured his shoulder and out of the rest of the tour, Brumbies lock Alistair Campbell comes into the run-on side alongside Nathan Sharpe in the second row.

George Smith makes his return to the starting line-up at openside flanker with Phil Waugh given a rest from last week's bruising encounter against Wales. There have also been some changes in the front row. Experienced hooker Brendan Cannon comes into the starting team in place of Tai McIsaac while Guy Shepherdson is at prop at the expense of Rodney Blake. Back-up rake Stephen Moore and Brumbies prop Nic Henderson have been named on the bench.

Form

Italy has endured a tough year in international rugby finishing last in the Six Nations and its only wins of the season being a 52-6 thrashing of Japan in June and similar floggings of rugby minnows Portugal and Russia last month. However, in what could be a prophetic omen, the Azzurri drew with Wales 18-18 in March and had tight matches against Ireland and Scotland before finishing on the losing end of the ledger. Italy coach Pierre Berbizier has been giving the squad double training sessions the whole week so fitness for this Saturday's Test shouldn't be a problem but on-field cohesion could be tested.

The Qantas Wallabies looked great in the first 20 minutes against Wales last week but really failed to maintain the intensity, letting the Welsh get back into the match. Connolly will be looking for a full 80-minute commitment from his troops this weekend. The backline experiment continues with Matt Giteau again named at scrumhalf, Mat Rogers at flyhalf and Stephen Larkham at inside centre. Giteau did exceptionally well in his first trial at No.9 as did Larkham at No.12 but Connolly will be looking for more from Rogers at pivot after the rugby league convert squandered possession on a number of occasions. The Australian coach will also expected an improved effort from the scrum, particularly after it was exposed again towards the end of the match when Wales won the ball against the feed as the Wallabies were on the attack.

Who's hot

Lock and skipper Marco Bortolami has been in great form for Gloucester this year in the Heineken Cup and will be looking to continue that trend against the Australians this weekend. Winger Kaine Robertson is a genuine try-scorer and his pace will be a key factor on the flanks while fullback David Bortolussi has a magic right boot. He kicked 10 goals against Russia and the Wallabies will have to be well disciplined in its own half or risk leaking points to the No.15.

Chris Latham had an outstanding game for the Wallabies last weekend and it was a couple of flashes of individual brilliance from the dynamic No.15 that kept Australia in the game against Wales. Matt Giteau was electric in the opening stanza and equally devastating when he moved to inside centre late in the match while Nathan Sharpe had a strong game in the forwards.

[Burgs]

Poll added, predict the result tonight.

[Burgs]

Italian Team now correct, any help with Clubs for the following appreciated:

15 Gert Peens, ??? (SA)
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, ???
22 Walter Pozzebon, ???

[tdevil]

Italian Team now correct, any help with Clubs for the following appreciated:

15 Gert Peens, ??? (SA)
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, ???
22 Walter Pozzebon, ???

Gert Peens plays for the french club L'Aquila.
Leonardo Ghiraldini plays for Ghial Calvisano
Walter Pozzebon plays for the English club Bristol Rugby

[Burgs]

Have updated thanks tdevil

[GIGS20]

Poll added, predict the result tonight.

Man, this is a tough one. if the backline do what they did for the first twenty minutes against Wales and can keep it up for the whole game, I don'tthink it'll matter too much that our forwards are going to get their spines handed to them in a compressed state, a healthy win would ensue. On the other hand, If it goes like Wales, we might be lucky to come out with a draw or a narrow victory. There is always the possibility of things going pear shaped because there is no consistency, if that happens, we're stuffed!