2023 RWC Buildup, Squads, Fixtures 'etc'

There won't be a sheep sh***** sheared in New Zealand for a week.

noc1980

Where are all the posters who claimed we'll be favourites against NZ? lol

If we start like we did against Tonga (scoreless after 20 minutes) or SA (scoreless after 30 minutes) they'll be out of sight.

Burkie1203

Italy have no defence shape at all

KH25

Italy started well, but completely gave up after the third NZ try. Now they don’t look like they even want to be on the pitch.

FrancieBrady

Italy are clearly banking on beating France?

Or maybe they are just awful.

fitz

Anyone who thinks after watching the SA game that NZ will be able to do this to our defense is deluded.

SaoPaulo41

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121174304#Comment_121174304

To be fair ,noway will NZ have this much ball against Ireland or even Scotland. Italy have shat the bed, the occasion got to them. Italy to be fair are equivalent to Georgia , I think in this WC even Portugal may beat them.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121174298#Comment_121174298

I think no team racks up points against mid rank teams like NZ. But if you're organised, have a good defence etc they look less impressive. Like v France, v us 2021 and 2022, v SA in Twickenham.

Spudmonkey

This is as bad as I've ever seen an Italian team play. They just haven't shown up.

CptMonkey

New Zealand pushing early in the scrum

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121174304#Comment_121174304

NZ were only 7-3 at 15 min.

You're dieing for us to lose, whatever is behind it. You were nowhere when we beat SA.

pixelburp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121174308#Comment_121174308

They look like they never had an ounce of belief they could win this game. What kind of dressing room set up has a team, that it's configured to be that negative, that half àssed? Maybe it's as @FrancieBrady says and they have their eye on France?

Cos I'll put money on the likelihood that Uruguay will make a much, much bigger showing against New Zealand than these guys are doing, while being paid N times more. The scoreline will probably be the same but you'll see way more determination than this ...

gameoverdude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121174304#Comment_121174304

Anseo!

FrancieBrady

Might see 100 here against a 6 Nations team. Where’s your pride Italy!

pixelburp

And of course somehow, someway, it all has to be interpreted as uh oh, we're gonna lose in the QF.

If Ireland play like Italy we deserve to lose. But we won't, cos our coaches aren't apparently afraid of the opposition.

SaoPaulo41

Ideally now NZ run in 70 or 80 or more , would mena no tough game before 1/4s

MaddChris

Nevermind the France v Namibia score line... this could be worse.

If only Italy got enough games against Tier 1 teams 😋

Burkie1203

Nz should hit 100 here

tobefrank321

You'd have to feel sorry for teams like Italy and similar. Very small pick of players, couple of professional teams, and they are never going to attract top international players like Lowe, Aki, Hanson etc to their league.

The gap between the haves and have nots continues to grow in rugby. Teams such as Samoa who were allegedly improving are still way off the pace. Argentina and Japan have stagnated or gone backwards. And Australia have fallen off a cliff.

There surely can't be another world cup like this without a radical overhaul of international rugby.

CptMonkey

What's with all the ireland are shite posters suddenly out of the woodwork?

Did ye even watch ireland v south africa? Totally different defense compared to this crap italy are doing

accensi0n

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121174304#Comment_121174304

Here

StevenToast

Italy putting in the worst half of rugby from ANYONE in this world cup.

A disgrace.

Italy have been given every opportunity in the last 2 decades....and they are getting worse...

Georgia now deserve the same opportunity....

Italy have downed tools, the hooker injury too.

It's like they said fcuk that we'll give France a go.

SaoPaulo41

Sad way for Crowley to go out, with this humiliation. Madness for Italy to let him go in general, but he deserves more than this from his team.

accensi0n

NZ playing against air here, they'll get a massive shock against Ireland in the QF

SaoPaulo41

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121174349#Comment_121174349

Irb have given Italy huge funding,so no excuses, they also milk the Granny rule as much as scotland

fitz

How is that not clearing beyond the ruck and a penalty to Italy?

SaoPaulo41

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121174357#Comment_121174357

Agree with most of this ,but Georgia also flatter to deceive, they really aren't great.Beating Belguim,Romania in Europe championship doesn't mean they should move up to 6 nations..but totally agree about funding Italy have received and done feck all with it .

It's no shock Italy are being beaten by so much. All the 6N teams put big scores on them and they were usually playing better than here.

The big test so far for NZ was v France and they were well second best.

Sanjuro

Easy for New Zealand to look flash when they're playing against no defense what so ever.