News

Preview - England v Italy

Thursday 08th February 2007

Enthralling: Jonny Wilkinson

England has its tail swishing in anticipation of the kill, the lion ready to pounce. Italy is arriving with tail between the legs - well beaten by France and without two significant players.

England have enjoyed a gentle introduction to the Six Nations 2007 while Italy have been flung straight into the deep end. England began with Scotland then move to Italy. Italy began with the Six Nations Champions and then the World Champions.

Both sides have been emerging from gloom. England had a long run of defeats, but suddenly people grasped at the tope of the victory over Scotland as heralding a new dawn. Under Pierre Berbizier Italy have been playing a much more attractive, rounded game. But winning where it counts remains a problem.

Rumour has it that they have the promise of plenty if they win two Six Nations matches and reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup - realistic goals but neither yet achieved by Italy. Scotland stand in the way of both this year.

Even in their period of gloom England had playing resources Italy can only dream of. Italy are playing better with a change of heart, and the same seems true of England, though there is a lot of pudding still to eat.

Stand the two teams up facing each other and still England would appear to have too much muscle for the Italians, especially in the centre, and too much speed for the Italians on the edges. Of the five Italians, Mirco Bergamasco will stand firm but the others could be shaky. They were shaky against France.

When pack meets pack at set pieces one can expect the Italians to hold their own. In the forwards, the line-out match-up could be interesting as the Italians did so well against France in the latter part of the second half. The loose forwards do not look too one-sided but the opportunities are liable to weigh heavily on the England side.

The big difference between the two dies could be in the halves - idol Jonny Wilkinson against untried Andrea Scanavacca and Harry Ellis against Alessandro Troncon. You have to back the English duo individually and together to win by miles.

Italian goal-kicking - Scanavacca and Roland de Marigny - was poor against France. England's goal-kicking was brilliant against Scotland.

Players to watch: You will watch Jonny Wilkinson (England), such an enthralling player. You may have a lot of opportunity to watch Ian Balshaw. This match may just suit him. If Italy gets the ball as far as Gonzalo Canale, he may just be the man to watch - on the attack. The other Italians to watch are Mirco Bergamasco and Alessandro Troncon, the former for his aggression and verve, the latter to see if he still has what it takes.

Head to head: Exciting, young Harry Ellis (England) against veteran Alessandro Troncon (Italy) - brazen exuberance against ageing guile. There could be an interesting battle at inside centre between burly Andy Farrell and intense Mirco Bergamasco. It's harder these days for front rows to have a full go at one another - fewer scrums and more regulations - but that could be a place of interest as well.

Prediction: It's impossible to imagine England winning by fewer than 25, even if the rain comes down. Twickenham absorbs water and Wilkinson controls matches. England by at least 25.

Recent results:

2006: England won 31-16 at Stadio Flaminio, Rome
2005: England won 39-7 at Twickenham, London
2004: England won 50-9 at Stadio Flaminio, Rome
2003: England won 40-5 at Twickenham, London
2002: England won 45-9 at Stadio Flaminio, Rome
2001: England won 80-23 at Twickenham, London
2000: England won 59-12 at Stadio Flaminio, Rome
1999: England won 67-7 at Twickenham, London
1998: England won 23-15 at McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield
1996: England won 54-21 at Twickenham, London
1995: England won 27-20 at King's Park Stadium, Durban
1991: England won 36-6 at Twickenham, London

The teams:

England: 15 Iain Balshaw, 14 Josh Lewsey, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Andy Farrell, 11 Jason Robinson, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Martin Corry, 7 Magnus Lund, 6 Nick Easter, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Phil Vickery (captain), 2 George Chuter, 1 Perry Freshwater
Replacements: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Julian White, 18 Tom Palmer, 19 Tom Rees, 20 Shaun Perry (Bristol), 21 Toby Flood, 22 Mathew Tait.

Italy: 15 Roland De Marigny, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Mirco Bergamasco, 11 Denis Dallan, 10 Andrea Scanavacca, 9 Alessandro Troncon, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Maurizio Zaffiri, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Marco Bortolami (captain), 4 Santiago Dellapč, 3 Martín Castrogiovanni, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 1 Andrea Lo Cicero
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Salvatore Perugini (Toulouse), 18 Valerio Bernabň, 19 Roberto Mandelli, 20 Paul Griffen, 21 Ramiro Pez, 22 Matteo Pratichetti

Date: Saturday, 9 February 2007
Kick-off: 13.30
Venue: Twickenham
Expected weather conditions: Rain with a high of 8°C and a southeaster of 28 km/h
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges: Joël Jutge (France), Christophe Berdos (France)
Television match official: Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (France)