Italy player ratings vs Ireland | 2024 Guinness Six Nations
Italy player ratings: Ireland may have made six changes but if you turn up in Dublin without your two best ball carriers and with replacements who lack the same impact then an upset is not on the cards. Italy were just too lightweight up front, particularly in the second row and paid the penalty in the scrum where their impressive props went back wards too often because the men behind them were unable to counter the power coming from the Irish engine room.
Having a test class mid-field is a comfort for Italy but they have to spend too much time defending when the pack is being put under pressure which is a shame as Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello were able to build on their growing reputations. The return of Ange Capuozzo at full back from a spark if excitement and Monty Ioane can make an impact but it all came down the forward effort and that was second rate on the day as they failed to score a single point.
15. Ange Capuozzo – 6
Early rustiness quickly disappeared although he was left grasping at air for the first Irish try. An awful kick pass was another indication that he needs game time but he got better and was always willing to run the ball back.
14. Lorenzo Pani – 4
He doesn’t give the impression he is the kind of wing to burn you with pace or clever footwork. A poor early tackle was erased by a good turnover and a clever defensive read which got his team out of trouble in the first half as Ireland turned up the heat.
13. Juan Ignacio Brex – 7
Great leg drive after the tackle makes him a difficult opponent to stop on the gain line and this was another example of why the Azzurri can build an effective back line around the hard-running centre who had good hands and a big heart.
12. Tommaso Menoncello – 6
Forms a great double act with Brex and has boundless energy which is needed when you have to defend as much as Italy. Made a crucial tackle on Robbie Henshaw when teammates were missing their tackles and then led a great counter ruck to win the ball. The yellow card for a trip was not his finest moment.
11. Monty Ioane – 6
Likes to go looking for work and is a solid defender able to use his pace to halt Irish raids while looking to get his team on the front foot. Should try to take his physical impact more into mid-field where he could be very effective.
10. Paolo Garbisi – 5
A mixed bag from the outside half with a couple of poor kicks and one big tackle he had to absorb by the impressive Joe McCarthy. Stopped Lowe on the Italy try line with a well-timed tackle that dislodged the ball.
9. Stephen Varney – 5
Charge down kicks undermined his performance and tried to fly out of the defensive line like Faf de Klerk but not his best game and he was not helped by the diminishing returns from his pack. Made an outstanding try-saving tackle on Sheehan.
1. Danilo Fischetti – 6
Busy in defence and combative in the rucks to enhance his reputation which was not hurt by a couple of poor scrums due to the lack of power coming to support him from the second row. Good all-around prop who is going to be important for Italy.
2. Gianmarco Lucchesi – 3
Given that Ireland opted not to compete very often the fact his line outthrowing was so awful is very disappointing. He was busy in the loose but when your bread and butter work is so lamentable it hardly makes up for it.
3. Pietro Ceccarelli – 6
Like his prop mate this is a forward who does not shirk work although his scrum effectiveness did wane against an opponent who was having a great day in this key area. Has a good engine for a big man and will get better, particularly with a better second row behind him
4. Niccolo Cannone – 3
Not exactly sure what this player brings to the team as he doesn’t ball carry with any effect and his scrum work is substandard given his props are capable of holding their own but cannot do it without some test class support coming through from lock.
5. Federico Ruzza – 4
Won a couple of lineouts and had a romp in the second half which ended with a rib-tickling hit that left him sore and unable to offer any more physical help. Like Cannone, he lacks the physical size to be a truly effective lock at this level.
6. Alessandro Izekor – 4
Had big boots to fill and apart from the odd lineout win and tackle, he was not able to give his side the go-forward they needed and does not appear to have the sort of impact that would make him a regular pick.
7. Manuel Zuliani – 6
Up against a much better back row and while he kept battling it was in a losing cause that he could not influence to any great degree. Will have learnt a lot from the experience against a good Irish unit.
8. Michele Lamaro – 6
Tough for him to lead an Italy team lacking their big ball carriers and while he provided much-needed experience it was tough for him to change the momentum as his team was ill-equipped to handle the mauling and scrum power of the Irish.
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Giacomo Nicotera – 5
Well the throwing couldn’t have got much worse so he was onto a winner.
17. Mirco Spagnolo- 5
Tried to bring some much-needed physicality to the equation and handled himself well.
18. Giosue Zilocchi – 5
Like the rest of the replacement front row he couldn’t make a significant impact on a very good Irish eight.
19. Andrea Zambonin – 4
Another long-limbed lock who doesn’t really have the equipment to impact a game.
20. Ross Vintcent – 4
Debut for the Exeter man but not much time to show his worth.
21. Martin Page-Relo – 5
Tried to get things going but has trouble evading the Irish chasers.
22. Tommaso Allan n/a
23. Federico Mori – 4
Not much he could do except join the defensive action.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments