THIS WEEKEND 9 FEBRUARY

 

 

10.02.2008

England 23, Italy 19 in Rome (6 Nations International Championship)

England won by 4 points. I predicted Italy by 3.

 

Reviews

England stumbled along to a win against Italy today but only just. They looked to have the game sown up by halftime and then went to sleep in the second half and Italy very nearly secured the win I thought was possible.

 

Previews

Italy has never defeated England although recent encounters have been closer. England has been hit with injuries and is low on moral following their loss to Wales last weekend. Italy is on a high haven driven Ireland close last Saturday.

Article 1 Article 2 Article 3 Article 4

 

Last Five Encounters

10.02.2007 England 20-7 at Twickenham (6 Nations Int. Championship)

11.02.2006 England 31-16 in Rome (6 Nations Int. Championship)

12.03.2005 England 39-7 at Twickenham (6 Nations Int. Championship)

15.02.2004 England 50-9 in Rome (6 Nations Int. Championship)

09.03.2003 England 40-5 at Twickenham (6 Nations Int. Championship)

 

GWC Rankings-World Table: England 3rd, Italy 11th

                         -Europe Table: England 2nd, Italy 5th

 

Prediction: Italy to create rugby history with their first win over England by 3 points

 

Teams

 

England

15 Ian Balshaw (Gloucester), 14 Paul Sackey (Wasps), 13 Jamie Noon (Newcastle), 12 Toby Flood (Newcastle), 11 Lesley Vainikolo (Gloucester), 10 Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle), 9 Andy Gomarsall (Harlequins), 8 Nick Easter (Harlequins), 7 Michael Lipman (Bath), 6 James Haskell (Wasps), 5 Steve Borthwick (Bath), 4 Simon Shaw (Wasps), 3 Phil Vickery, Capt. (Wasps), 2 Mark Regan (Bristol), 1 Tim Payne (Wasps).

Replacements: 16 Lee Mears (Bath), 17 Matt Stevens (Bath), 18 Ben Kay (Leicester), 19 Luke Narraway (Gloucester), 20 Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks), 21 Danny Cipriani (Wasps), 22 Mathew Tait (Newcastle).

Coach: Brian Ashton

 

New caps: Wigglesworth

Injured: Sheridan, Tindall, Strettle, Rees.

Milestones: Wilkinson needs just 4 points to reach the 1000 test points milestone.

 

ITALIA

15 David BORTOLUSSI (Montpellier, 15 caps)

14 Kaine ROBERTSON (Montepaschi Viadana, 27 caps)

13 Gonzalo CANALE (Clermont-Auvergne, 37 caps)

12 Mirco BERGAMASCO (Stade Francais, 48 caps)

11 Ezio GALON (Overmach Cariparma, 15 caps)

10 Andrea MASI (Biarritz Olympique, 36 caps)

9 Pietro TRAVAGLI (Overmach Cariparma, 3 caps)

8 Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 49 caps) – capitano

7 Mauro BERGAMASCO (Stade Francais, 63 caps)

6 Josh SOLE (Montepaschi Viadana, 24 caps)

5 Carlo Antonio DEL FAVA (Ulster, 24 caps)

4 Santiago DELLAPE' (Biarritz Olympique, 48 caps)

3 Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Leicester Tigers, 50 caps)

2 Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Cammi Calvisano, 7 caps)

1 Andrea LO CICERO (Racing Metro Paris, 72 caps)

 

a disposizione

16 Carlo FESTUCCIA (Racing Metro Paris, 43 caps)

17 Salvatore PERUGINI (Stade Toulousain, 48 caps)

18 Carlos NIETO (Gloucester RFC, 21 caps)

19 Alessandro ZANNI (Cammi Calvisano, 18 caps)

20 Simon PICONE (Benetton Treviso, 11 caps)

21 Andrea MARCATO (Benetton Treviso, 3 caps)

22 Alberto SGARBI (Benetton Treviso, esordiente)

Coach: Nick Mallett

 

New Cap: Sgarbi

Injured: Carnivosio

Milestones: Parisse will play his 50th test for Italy

http://www.federugby.it/news.asp?i=54269&s=2

 

09.02.2007

Wales 30, Scotland 15 in Cardiff (6 Nations International Championship)

Wales won by 15 points. I predicted Wales by 25.

 

Reviews

Wales maintained their unbeaten record and join France at the top of the 6 Nations table.

Article 1

 

Previews

Up until last season Wales has had a winning advantage over Scotland both at home and away.

Article 1 Article 2

 

Last Five Encounters

10.02.2007 Scotland 21-9 at Murrayfield (6 Nations Int. Championship)

12.02.2006 Wales 28-18 in Cardiff (6 Nations Int. Championship)

13.03.2005 Wales 46-22 at Murrayfield (6 Nations Int. Championship)

14.02.2004 Wales 23-10 in Cardiff (6 Nations Int. Championship)

30.08.2003 Wales 23-9 in Cardiff (WC Warm-up friendly)

 

GWC Rankings-World Table: Wales 2nd, Scotland 9th

                         -Europe Table: Wales 1st, Scotland 4th

 

Match Data Sheet

 

France 26, Ireland 21 in Paris (6 Nations International Championship)

France won by 5 points. I predicted France by 19

 

Reviews

A late charge by Ireland could not prevent the French from remaining unbeaten so far in the 6 Nations Championship.

Article 1

 

Previews

Ireland last won in Paris in 2000. They have a daunting task facing a French side building successfully since the World Cup, whilst they, the Irish, have improved little if anything with much the same old guard. France has made changes but if anything those changes make the French side look even stronger.

Article 1 Article 2

 

Last Five Encounters

21.09.2007 France 25-3 in Paris (World Cup, Pool D)

11.02.2007 France 20-17 in Dublin (6 Nations Int. Championship)

11.02.2006 France 43-31 in Paris (6 Nations Int. Championship)

12.03.2005 Ireland 24-18 in Dublin (6 Nations Int. Championship)

14.02.2004 France 35-17 in Paris (6 Nations Int. Championship)

 

GWC Rankings-World Table: France 5th, Ireland 10th

                         -Europe Table: France 3rd, Ireland 5th

 

Match Data Sheet

 

Georgia 22, Romania 7 in Tblissi (European Nations Cup, Division 1, Antim Cup)

Georgia won by 15 points. I predicted Georgia by 5.

 

Reviews

Georgia’s convincing win in Tblissi places them firmly in the lead of the European Nations Cup. Only Russia poses a serious threat.

Article 1

 

Previews

Georgia has several advantages over Romania in this match. Firstly they are playing Romania at home. Secondly, Georgia out-performed Romania at the recent Rugby World Cup in France. Thirdly, Romania have what would appear to be a weaker than normal home-based team, i.e. they are not calling upon their very experienced France-based pool of players (who, admittedly, underperformed at the World Cup). This could well be the closest of the weekend’s international fixtures. A loss by Romania could well see them out of contention for the 2006-08 European Nations Cup.

Article 1

 

Last Five Encounters

03.02.2007 Georgia 20-17 in Bucharest (European Nations Cup Div.1)

07.10.2006 Romania 20-8 in Bucharest (WCQ Europe, R5, Pool B)

25.02.2006 Romania 35-10 in Bucharest (European Nations Cup Div.1)

12.03.2005 Georgia 20-13 in Tblissi (European Nations Cup Div.1)

27.03.2004 Romania 25-18 in Iasi (European Nations Cup Div.1)

 

GWC Rankings-World Table: Georgia 14th, Romania 15th

                         -Europe Table: Georgia 8th, Romania 9th

 

Teams

 

Romania

15. Florin Vlaicu (Steaua Bucarest – 14 caps), 14. Gheorghita Bigiu (Dinamo Bucaresti – 1 cap), 13. Csaba Gal (Universitat Cluj – 14 caps), 12. Catalin Dascalu (Steaua Bucaresti – 12 caps),

11. Stefan Ciuntu (Universitat Cluj – 3 caps), 10 Ionut Dimofte (Contor Zenner Arad), 9. Valentin Calafeteanu (Dinamo Bucaresti – 14 caps), 8. Costica Mersoiu, Capt. (Dinamo Bucaresti – 30 caps), 7. Marius Tincu (Perpignan, France), 6. Mihai Macovei (Baia Mare – 5 caps), 5. Alin Coste (Narbonne, France – 1 cap), 4. Valentin Poparlan (Dinamo Bucaresti – 1 cap),

3. Ion Paulica (Bath Rugby, England – 23 caps), 2. Bogdan Zebega (Steaua Bucaresti – 18 caps), 1. Radu Basalau (Steaua Bucaresti – 1 cap).

Replacements

16. Marcel Mihalache (Steaua Bucaresti – 1 cap), 17. Mihai Adascalitei (Dinamo Bucaresti– 1 cap), 18. Vasile Rus (Steaua Bucaresti – 2 caps), 19 Stelian Burcea (Dinamo Bucaresti – 6 caps),

20. Ciprian Caplescu (Dinamo Bucaresti – 4 caps), 21 Dan Vlad (Steaua Bucaresti – 10 caps), 22. Catalin Fercu (Steaua Bucaresti– 19 caps),.

Coach: Marin Mot

Thanks to ‘rosior’ and ‘FLIDTA RISXVA’ http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2616&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15

 

Georgia

15 Otar Barkalaia( VPC, Andorra) Aged 23, 26 tests

14 George Shkinini* (Blois, France) 24, 22

13 David Katcharava (Nantes, France) 22, 15

12 Irakli Guiorgadze* (Bourgoin, France) 25, 30

11 Irakli Chkhikvadze (Aia) 20, 3

10 Lasha Malaghuradze (Kredo-63 Odessa, Ukraine) ?, 1

9 Irakli Abusseridze CAPT. (Orleans, France

) 30, 49

8 Dimitri Bassilaia (ASM Clermont-Auvergne, France) ?, 1

7 George Chkhaidze (Massy, France) 26, 24

6 Shalva Sutiashvili (Bobigny, France ), 23, 6

5 Mamuka Gorgodze* (Montpellier, France) 23,26

4 Kakha Uchava (Farul Constanta, Romania) 31, 3

3 David Zirakashvili* (Clermont, France) 24, 16

2 Irakli Natriashvili (Farul Constanta, Romania) 24, 4

1 Goderdzi Shvelidze (Clermont, France) 29, 41 

Reserves

16 David Dadunashvili (Massy, France) 25, 15

17 David Kubriashvili (Montpellier, France) ?, 1

18 Rati Urushadze (Nice, France) 32, 26

19 Zviad Maissuradze (Nantes, France) 26, 23

20 Bidzina Samkharadze (Farul Constanta, Romania) 24, 29

21 Meko Kvirikashvili (Pau, France) 24, 25

22 Rezo Guigauri (Montlucon, France) 23, 15

Coach: Tim Lane

 

New Caps: None

Injuries: Not known

Milestones: Abusseridze earns 50th cap!

Notes: * Added after v Portugal