Pool C preview: Italy v Russia
Italy play Russia in a Pool C Rugby World Cup match at Trafalgar Park in Nelson on New Zealand’s North Island on Tuesday. Both will be looking for a first win at the tournament.
In their only matches so far, Italy lost to Australia and Russia – just – lost to the United States. Now they meet.
They used to meet regularly when Italy will still playing in FIRA, but since Italy’s entrance into the Six Nations there have been few meetings.
Still Russia will be giving their best in hoping for a first-ever World Cup win. Italy have moved up in the world and have been competing with top countries in the Six Nations and on tours. Russia have had none of that, confining their best opposition to Romania and Georgia.
Italy have had an injection of foreign players, though there are fewer than usual for this match, which suggests that this is not Italy’s top side. But surely it is strong enough for the eager but rawer Russians.
Nick Mallett, whether from cunning plan or petulance, has changed 12 of his starting team.
Only captain Sergio Parisse, fullback Andrew Masi and three-quarter Tommaso Benvenuti have survived the cut.
Italy have a serious problem at flyhalf. Argentinian Luciano Orquera was probably their weakest player against Australia. Mind you once-capped Konstantin Rachkov is a bit of an unknown quantity.
The match could be a hard battle up front where both side’s strength is concentrated.
Both sides have experienced men in their pack. The youngest Russian forward is No.8 Victor Gresev at 25, the oldest Viatcheslav Grachev who is 38. Prop Vladimir Botvinnikov is the youngest tight forward at 27. But then the Italians are no exactly bambini either. Salvatore Perugini and Fabio Ongaro are each 33, the locks Marco Bortolami and Quinton Geldenhuys 31 and 30 and Mauro Bergamasco 32.
Players to Watch:
For Italy: The Azzurri have two stars in fullback Andrea Masi and captain Sergio Parisse, both players who can hold their own in any company. Since the retirement of Alessandro Troncon, Italy have battled at scrumhalf, Young (21) Edoardo Gori could just be the answer.
For Russia: Both wings are fast, hard-working and daring – Vasile Artemiev, who plays for Northampton Saints, and Vladimir Ostroushko.
Head to Head: There could be a bit of fire in the locks when feisty Adam Byrnes, the most volatile Australian in Super Rugby, meets Marco Bortolami. There could also be some heat when Fabio Ongaro and Vladislav Korshunov meet at the scrums.
Recent Results:
2006: Italy won 67-7
1998: Italy won 48-18
1993: Italy won 30-19
1991: Italy won 21-3
1990: Italy won 34-12
1989: Russia won 15-12
1988: Russia won 18-12
1987: Russia won 12-9
1986: Russia won 16-14
1985: Russia won 15-13
* Before 1993, Italy played the USSR, mostly referred to as Russia but including, amongst others, Ukraine and Georgia, since 1993 Russia.
Prediction: Surely Italy, with all their opportunities and experience will win? We say so… by 10 points or more.
The teams:
Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Tommaso Benvenuti, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Luke McLean, 10 Riccardo Bocchino, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Paul Derbyshire, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 3 Lorenzo Cittadini, 2 Fabio Ongaro, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D’Apice, 17 Martin Castrogiovanni, 18 Cornelius van Zyl, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Pablo Canavosio, 21 Luciano Orquera, 22 Alberto Sgarbi.
Russia: 15 Igor Klyuchnikov, 14 Vasile Artemiev, 13 Andrei Kuzin, 12 Alexei Makovetskiy, 11 Vladimir Ostroushko, 10 Konstantin Rachkov, 9 Alexander Shakirov, 8 Victor Gresev, 7 Andrei Garbuzov, 6 Viatcheslav Grachev, 5 Adam Byrnes, 4 Alexander Voytov, 3 Ivan Prishchepenko, 2 Vladislav Korshunov (captain), 1 Vladimir Botvinnikov.
Replacements: 16 Valerie Tsnobiladze, 17 Alexander Khrokin, 18 Denis Antonov, 19 Artem Fatahov, 20 Alexander Yanyushkin, 21 Mikhail Sidorov, 22 Yuri Kushnarev.
Date: Tuesday, September 20
Kick-off: 19.30 (07.30 GMT)
Venue: Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Expected weather: Clear with a high of 15°C, dropping to 5°C.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
