Italy v England - teams and prediction
SIX NATIONS, ROUND TWO: Eddie Jones says England “want to light up Rome” as they bid to bounce back from the narrow opening defeat by Scotland when they face Italy on Sunday.
Jones’ injury-hit side are hoping to inflict a record-extending 34th straight defeat in the competition on the Italians, who look set for another wooden spoon.
Despite the disappointment of losing in Edinburgh Jones could take heart the 20-17 defeat which was largely self-inflicted.
A penalty try drew Scotland level at 17-all – and his team was without stalwarts such as captain Owen Farrell and loose forward Courtney Lawes.
“We want to light up Rome,” said Jones.
“We want to play some really good rugby, we think we’ll get a lot of kick returns, and Italy will kick to us approximately 20 times to us, so we need to make sure we’re really good on our kick returns which is going to be our main source of possession.”
Jones expects a “tough game” as “these matches are called Test matches because the opposition tests you. It is not a festival game.”
However, the 62-year-old Australian has been pleased in the way his squad reacted to the Scotland loss.
“The thing about these situations is there’s a lot of outside noise, a lot of opinions, a lot of judgement on players,” he said.
“It’s important for the team to understand what is important, what we need to do rather than getting seduced by other comments.
“Staying committed to the team is the most important thing. I’ve seen a lot of that this week.”
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‘Path of growth’
England should have too much firepower for an Italian side which is in the early stages of their development under coach Kieran Crowley.
The Kiwi’s policy is to continue as his predecessor and now Head of High-Performance Franco Smith did in blooding youngsters.
Their most high profile player is one who was given their Test debut by Smith 21-year-old fly-half Paolo Garbisi in 2020.
The playmaker’s talent has seen him supplant Rugby World Cup winner Handre Pollard as starting fly-half at Top 14 club Montpellier.
Another youngster who may become a mainstay of the side in the years to come is 19-year-old wing Tommaso Menoncello, who on his debut became the Six Nations’ youngest ever try scorer when he put Italy ahead at the Stade de France.
Menoncello has been dropped from the 23 for this weekend instead of Bordeaux-Begles’ Federico Mori, who has scored three tries for the French outfit this season.
He is one of three changes to the starting line-up and Crowley says whilst there is much to work on they can make more progress on Sunday as there were encouraging moments against France.
“The match against France gave us indications on our work done so far,” Crowley said.
“With the right attitude and greater precision we have the possibility to continue on our path of growth,” he added.
Another Italian new boy is Toa Halafihi, a New Zealand-born No. 8 who has qualified for Italy through residency after joining Treviso in 2019.
Halafihi told AFP on Sunday he “never thought” he would play Test rugby but gets another run out after making his debut against France as Jake Polledri and Johan Meyer are injured.
“England is England, you can only expect the best, just like every team in the Six Nations,” he said.
“We’ll review and get better. We’ll get ready for England as best as we can and hopefully make our country proud.”
Players to watch
For Italy: Bordeaux-Begles wing Federico Mori comes in for Tommaso Menoncello, who made his debut in last Sunday’s opening loss to France. Among the forwards, South African-born Abraham Steyn replaces Sebastian Negri at blindside flank and tighthead prop Pietro Ceccarelli is in for Tiziano Pasquali for Sunday’s fixture in Rome.
For England: Ben Youngs have to wait to equal the England caps record, after being named on the bench for Sunday’s match in Rome. Harry Randall, capped just twice, will start at scrumhalf, although Leicester veteran Youngs will equal Jason Leonard’s record of 114 England international appearances if he comes off the bench at the Stadio Olimpico. Joe Marchant will start at outside centre, while Jack Nowell fills the space on the left wing vacated by Marchant’s move to midfield. Maro Itoje has switched from lock to blindside flank in the absence of the injured Lewis Ludlam, with Alex Dombrandt at No.8 in place of the benched Sam Simmonds and captain Tom Curry completing the back row.
Head to head
Prediction
@rugby365com: England by 20 points
Teams
Italy: 15 Edoardo Padovani, 14 Federico Mori, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Braam Steyn, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Pietro Ceccarelli, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: 16 Epalahame Faiva, 17 Cherif Traore’, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 David Sisi, 20 Sebastian Blacks, 21 Giovanni Pettinelli, 22 Alessandro Fusco, 23 Leonardo Marin.
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Max Malins, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Harry Randall, 8 Alex Dombrandt, 7 Tom Curry (captain), 6 Maro Itoje, 5 Nick Isiekwe, 4 Charlie Ewels, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Sam Simmonds, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 George Ford, 23 Elliot Daly.
Date: Sunday, February 13
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Kick-off: 16.00 (15.00 GMT)
Expected weather: Intervals of clouds and sunshine with a couple of showers. High of 16°C and a low of 4°C
Referee: Damon Murphy
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace; TBC
TMO: Brian MacNeice
