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Thursday

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Zanni to win 100th cap as inexperienced Italy face England

By Nicholas McGee

02 Feb 2018

Alessandro Zanni wins a lineout

Italy have selected seven Six Nations debutants for their opening match at home to England on Sunday, when lock Alessandro Zanni will win his 100th cap.

Head coach Conor O’Shea has opted to field an inexperienced starting XV at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, with nine players having won 10 caps or less.

Fullback Matteo Minozzi, centres Tommaso Boni and Tommaso Castello, forwards Dean Budd, Simone Ferrari and back row pair Sebastian Negri and Renato Giammarioli will all feature in tournament for the first time.

Zanni, meanwhile, last played for Italy in March 2016 against Wales.

Though the side is lacking experience, there will be a familiar face at captain, with Sergio Parisse set to skipper the side for an 83rd Test match.

Italy XV: Matteo Minozzi, Tommaso Benvenuti, Tommaso Boni, Tommaso Castello, Mattia Bellini, Tommaso Allan, Marcello Violi; Andrea Lovotti, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Simone Ferrari, Alessandro Zanni, Dean Budd, Sebastian Negri, Renato Giammarioli, Sergio Parisse (captain).

Substitutes: Luca Bigi, Nicola Quaglio, Tiziano Pasquali, George Biagi, Maxime Mbanda, Edoardo Gori, Carlo Canna, Jayden Hayward.

Jones and Hartley look ahead to Natwest 6 Nations opener with Italy

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Comments on RugbyPass

Tom 10 minutes ago

Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode

I'm flabbergasted that our pundits are so obsessed with a poor substitution and have failed to notice the only time we got anywhere near the tryline was an interception. England have no attack. It's a shambles and it's exactly what I've always expected from Borthers and the Wiggler.

16 Go to comments

Tom 12 minutes ago

Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode

Borthers should go. He hasn't got what it takes. England's defence was the only thing we had going for us with Felix Jones and Borthers couldn't keep him. Set piece is ok. Our attack is AWFUL and he's shown zero sign of trying to do anything about it.

16 Go to comments

Bigal52 15 minutes ago

Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

And what do you call a professional grade. Explain how you would coach them. It's very obvious you've been there done that. So let us all into your secret

7 Go to comments

Tom 16 minutes ago

Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode

Yep

16 Go to comments

Tom 18 minutes ago

Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode

It's got nothing to do with Slade.

It doesn't matter who you put in what shirt, they have no attacking gameplan except chasing kicks. The whole backline is muddled and static.

16 Go to comments

Tom 20 minutes ago

Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode

Agree. England's defence was passionate but poorly organised and their attack was terrible. England have gone backwards. We created nothing and NZ made a lot of clean line breaks.

16 Go to comments

Tom 22 minutes ago

Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode

Completely and utterly agree mate. The whole George Ford kick substitution issue pales into significance compared to the issue that we didn't get anywhere near the bloody tryline except with an interception. Our attack is nonexistent. If we're only getting a maximum of 3 points on an entry to the red zone it doesn't matter who's on the damn bench! Borthers and Wigglesworth spent their careers trotting after kicks and taking set pieces, that's how they think rugby should be played. The scoreline was incredibly flattering, England were poor.

16 Go to comments

HJ 27 minutes ago

The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim

Best article ever

1 Go to comments

Bull Shark 37 minutes ago

Borthwick, it's time to own up – Andy Goode

You can’t knock the defence.

The entire England defence was on the wrong side of the break down.

England conceded three tries. There defence was poor. And they only scored one (intercept) try. So their much lauded attack was also poor.

England are worse than they were last year.

16 Go to comments

fl 41 minutes ago

Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'

That's what you get with Smith! He's still a player who is more likely to provide a moment of brilliance than a well structured attack.

Meanwhile Ford is someone who will give you brilliant phase play throughout a test match, but he's not fast enough to properly take advantage of a tired defence in the last 20 minutes.

Picking Smith to start and Ford off the bench, rather than the other way around, or giving either one of them the full 80, is a baffling decision.

18 Go to comments

Bull Shark 54 minutes ago

Everyone is saying the same thing after agonising England loss

I’d love to be a fly on the wall at the next England team meeting.

Reckon Felix Jones will keep his camera off ”to save bandwidth”.

65 Go to comments

DA 55 minutes ago

Jake White: It isn't only the All Blacks who have lost their aura

so what???? They also beat 4 of the worlds top 5 sides to win the world cup which your team could not do.

20 Go to comments

Bull Shark 56 minutes ago

Scotland vs South Africa | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

This is going to be a tough old match at Scottish gas stadium.

The boks will need to be sharp and well prepared. Can’t be complacent.

But then they can relax for their easy game against England.

Boks by 10.

1 Go to comments

fl 56 minutes ago

Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'

I think everyone is aware that Ford is poor defensively. He's actually improved significantly recently, and looked really strong in the tackle in the six nations, but still I think if we're judging fly-halves purely on their defence, Ford is a long way off the standard set by Farrell, Smith, and Smith.

But that isn't why he keeps getting picked. Its because of what an incredible attacking fly-half he's been for over a decade.

18 Go to comments

DA 1 hour ago

Jake White: It isn't only the All Blacks who have lost their aura

"If the Boks are not switched on 100% against the top 8/9 teams, they could lose." This applies to every other team as well, not just the Boks

20 Go to comments

DA 1 hour ago

Jake White: It isn't only the All Blacks who have lost their aura

you lot with the Irish are the biggest boasters and so you do care about your"aura"

20 Go to comments

Bull Shark 1 hour ago

Ireland vs New Zealand | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

New Zealand by 1.

Please God.

And if an Irishman so much as farts during the haka - I’m going to write a strongly worded complaint in the comments section. Possibly convulse from outrage.

1 Go to comments

Bull Shark 1 hour ago

Australia vs England | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Wallabies by 3.

And a final nail in the coffin for SB?

1 Go to comments

Bull Shark 1 hour ago

England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

At no point with 12 minutes to go, if you paused the game and said to everyone that it’s going to come down to a moment at the end, a five-metre scrum and a drop goal to win it, everyone would have gone ‘Nah, England will see this out.’

Half the problem I think. Complacency.

1 Go to comments

Mark 1 hour ago

Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'

The reason that Borthwick is currently escaping more intense scrutiny Is simply because of the recent exodus from his coaching team, with Aled Walters and Felix jones choosing to jump ship, the RFU can't now appear to be doubting the wisdom of Borthwicks appointment.

If England do end up with a 50% win ratio from this series, then surely questions must be asked.

18 Go to comments

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