Smal calls for big effort up front
Ireland forwards coach Gert Smal is expecting a gruelling scrum contest against Italy on Sunday as the teams battle it out for a place in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Ireland may have overwhelmed Australia at the set-piece during their shock 15-6 group stage win over the Wallabies but the Pool C finale at Dunedin’s Otago Stadium will see them up against a formidable Italian front row anchored by fearsome tighthead prop Martin Castrogiovanni.
The strength of Italy’s scrum was clear to see in their 27-10 win against the United States on Tuesday, being directly responsible for the late penalty try that gave them a fourth try and with it a vital bonus point.
Afterwards, Italy coach Nick Mallett said: “We know perfectly well we have a better front row than Ireland and we’re hoping to prove that on Sunday. If our front row put us on the front foot, we can win the game.”
Smal commented: “It will be a much bigger scrum challenge than the Australia game. They’re a heavier pack, Castrogiovanni is a great scrummager. They’ve a very good front row and a heavy back five.
“We respect the Italians but we also respect what we’re doing,” said Smal, who played South African domestic rugby alongside Mallett in the 1980s.
Ireland prop Tom Court added: “Italy would be regarded as one of the best scrums in the world, a very experienced front row. It’s always tough against them. They are a very passionate bunch of guys and have a lot of pride about the scrum and base a lot of their play around it.
“But our boys should take a lot of confidence out of our last few games, the confidence is a high and we are on the right path,” he added.
Italy are now just three points behind Ireland, who’ve won their last 15 matches against their Six Nations rivals, ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
And that means were Italy to win this weekend and Ireland claim a losing bonus point, the Azzurri would still go through to the quarterfinals on the head-to-head rule.
The only way Ireland can lose and still get through to the knockout stages is if they were to record try-scoring and losing bonus points, while hoping Italy that fail to score four tries.
“Winning three you think you’re in a good place but being Irish we never do things easy,” said Ireland utility back Keith Earlis.
“It’s a cup game but look at (Irish provinces), Leinster, Ulster and Munster. We are all good when it comes to cup mode and if we play to our potential on Sunday it will be happy days for us.”
Ireland fullback Rob Kearney (bruised knee), Earls (bruised leg) and star flank Sean O’Brien (bruised arm) all sat out Tuesday’s training session as a precaution to give another 24 hours rest to allow their injuries to settle, but all three are expected to return to training later on Wednesday..
Meanwhile Ireland wing Tommy Bowe (calf) and Paul O’Connell (hamstring) both took part in some light training and a team spokesman said it was hoped they would both increase their training during Wednesday’s session.
Experienced centre Gordon D’Arcy has also continued his recovery programme from a hamstring strain and took a full part in Tuesday’s session without any adverse reaction.
Ireland and Italy are effectively in a shoot-out for a place in the knockout stages given Australia are set to finish on 15 points should they, as anticipated, secure a bonus point win over minnows Russia on Saturday.
AFP
