IYHWrestling.com | WithoutYourHead.com

Welcome to In Your Head! Wrestling podcast, news and community!

Youve got to feel for Italy this week.Facing the All Blacks a week after the world champions suffered a first defeat in 19 matc

Posted in IYH Forums by jokergreen0220 at 23:10, Feb 18 2020

Youve got to feel for Italy this week.Facing the All Blacks a week after the world champions suffered a first defeat in 19 matches and have since come in for all kinds of criticism, including a poor attitude and a lack of respect for their choice of haka, the poor old Azzurri look to be on a hiding to nothing this weekend.Regardless, Saturdays Test in Rome at least gives Italian rugby fans the chance to watch the All Blacks in action for the first time since 2012 when New Zealand triumphed 42-10. Three years prior in Milan, the scoreline was a much more respectable 20-6 and perhaps thats where the Italians will look for inspiration.But after last weeks shock loss to Ireland, the All Blacks will be desperate to put in a performance that meets their impossibly-high standards; starting with a distinct improvement in discipline after they were on the wrong end of a whopping 12-4 penalty count in Chicago.Team newsItalyGiorgio Bronzini will make his bow for the Azzurri after being named as starting scrum-half alongside fly-half Carlo Canna for the match.Edoardo Padovani, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Benvenuti, Luke McLean, Angelo Esposito, Carlo Canna, Giorgio Bronzini; Sergio Parisse (c), Simone Favaro, Maxime Mbanda, Andries van Schalkwyk, Marco Fuser, Lorenzo Cittadini, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lovotti.Replacements: Ornel Gega, Sami Panico, Pietro Ceccarelli, George Biagi, Francesco Minto, Edoardo Gori, Tommaso Allan, Tommaso Boni.New ZealandSteve Hansen has made 12 changes to the starting side, with Liam Coltman and Rieko Ioane to debut from the bench.Damian McKenzie, Israel Dagg, Malakai Fekitoa, Anton Lienert-Brown, Waisake Naholo, Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Steven Luatua, Sam Cane (c), Elliot Dixon, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Charlie Faumuina, Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett.Replacements: Liam Coltman, Joe Moody, Ofa Tuungafasi, Brodie Retallick, Matt Todd, Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Rieko Ioane.Key matchup: Sergio Parisse vs Steven LuatuaOne shudders at the thought of just where Italy would be at Test level had it not been for veteran skipper Sergio Parisse. The Italian No.8 has led his country with distinction for the best part of a decade and is one of their few genuine world-class players. While he is prone to trying to do too much to get his side over the line, Parisse does possess a wonderful skill set and anticipates the game superbly. At 33 years of age, Parisse might be coming to the end of his career. But there can be no doubting Parisses pride in the Italian jersey and he is sure to savour what may be his final Test against the All Blacks.Steven Luatua is named to make his first Test start in more than two years, since the defeat to South Africa in Johannesburg in October 2014. He was dropped to gain strength and conditioning, and was then omitted from consideration due to injury and lost form. He now has an opportunity to impose himself as a replacement for the rested Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino, with Steve Hansen giving him a remit in an inexperienced backrow to be really physical and show us that he can do that job at this level of rugby. Fair to say this might be his last Test if he doesnt impress.Key stats- Italy have never beaten the All Blacks- New Zealand last lost back-to-back Tests in 2011- Sergio Parisse will break Martin Castrogiovannis Italian record for Test caps when he plays his 119th match this weekendWeatherRome is expecting a mostly sunny day on Saturday. There is next to no chance of rain, giving the players cool, but firm conditions for rugby.What they saidI would be delusional to say ... do you go out to every game and say you are going to win? Yes, you have to go out with that attitude. They are the best team in the world, they still are. Ireland havent overtaken them. They are on the way and now they have mental belief. Italy coach Conor OShea.The Irish probably found us a bit predictable, too. We struggled early in terms of ball supply and werent able to paint some pictures that we needed to paint. So when we did get the ball, eventually, we did become predictable. All Blacks assistant Ian Foster.VerdictItaly coach Conor OShea is right to go out with the attitude that his side can win; otherwise whats the point in turning up? But he will no doubt settle for a strong showing that limits the pain many think the All Blacks will inflict on the Azzurri this weekend. Italy enjoyed some success against the All Blacks through a dominant scrum in Milan a few years back and they will be banking on a similar set-piece showing to keep the scoreline respectable. The All Blacks, on the other hand, will want to run up a score, but more important will be the nature of their execution and discipline. After last weeks shock loss, anything other than perfection in Rome will leave All Blacks fans unhappy. Expect their supporters to be smiling come Sunday.New Zealand by 35. Vapormax 2019 Soldes . LUCIE, Fla. Vapormax Grossiste . On Mar. 16, coming off a "fight of the year" performance at UFC 154 the previous November, St-Pierre faced Nick Diaz at UFC 158 in what would be his eighth defence of the welterweight title. Using his superior athleticism, St-Pierre cruised to a five round, unanimous decision victory setting up a much-anticipated title defence against number one contender Johny Hendricks. http://www.vapormaxpaschersoldes.fr/vente-air-vapormax-flyknit-3/vapormax-flyknit-3-femme.html . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Vapormax Plus Destockage . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Vapormax Plus Soldes .ca. Hey Kerry, big fan of yours, just finished reading your book. I think that we all saw the Canucks/Flames line brawl just after puck drop. It was obvious that something was about to happen, even to the referees because the fourth lines were on to start. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Packers coach Mike McCarthy got everything he wanted out of the preseason.Two series for Aaron Rodgers and a bunch of work for his backups.That includes rookie Joe Callahan, who capped a strong preseason by throwing for 143 yards and a touchdown as the Packers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-7 in their preseason finale Thursday night.I thought it was a quality training camp. I thought like we accomplished a lot, said McCarthy, who like Chiefs counterpart Andy Reid played almost entirely backups on Thursday night.Callahan played almost the entire way in a game featuring second- and third-teamers on both sides. The product of Division III Wesley College has been trying to earn the No. 3 job behind Aaron Rodgers and Brett Hundley, who has been sidelined by an ankle injury this preseason.You try not to think about things too much, Callahan said of making the team. When its out of your hands its always hard. But Ive been confident since Ive been here.In fact, the only first-stringers to see much of the field were specialists.They needed some practice, too.After the Chiefs third straight three-and-out in the first quarter, Dustin Colquitts punt was blocked by Green Bay wide receiver Ty Montgomery. The Packers only needed two plays for Callahan to hit tight end Jared Cook for the games opening touchdown.The game also featured the debut of Green Bay punter Jacob Schum, who was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay this week. Schum replaced veteran punter Tim Masthay in a surprising roster move.The coaches didnt want to fill my head too much, Schum said. But were professionals and were kind of expected to know how to do things.Kansas City running back Knile Davis, who could be traded by the weekend, ran 15 times for 58 yards and a touchdown. The former third-round draft pick also caught a pass out of the backfield.Darrin Reaves also had 63 yards rushing and a touchdown for Kansas City.I just wanted to have a clean game, you know? Do everything right, Davis said. I wanted to hit my holes, catch a couple of balls, and just fine tune.PED ISSUE IN PASTThe Packers Julius Peppers saiid after the game he was happy to be cleared by the NFL this week in a performance-enhancing drug probe.dddddddddddd The league found there was no evidence Peppers, teammate Clay Matthews and Steelers linebacker James Harrison were provided with or used prohibited drugs, allegations that were raised in an Al Jazeera America documentary.BERRY SITS OUTAs expected, Chiefs SS Eric Berry sat out the preseason finale. Berry signed his franchise tender last weekend and finally reported to training camp, but only practiced a couple of days. Reid said he expects Berry to be ready for the regular season.ROOKIE WATCHPackers: SS Marwin Evans had six tackles for Green Bay before getting shaken up on special teams. RB Brandon Burks had 31 yards rushing on 12 carries in the contest.Chiefs: SS Eric Murray had a pair of tackles as he tries to win a backup job. WR Tyreek Hill was targeted four times without a reception, dropping one pass that would have been a first down.POSITION BATTLESPackers: The wide receiver depth after Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb remains in flux. Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery and Jared Abbrederis are in the mix. Abbrederis had two catches for 49 yards Thursday night, while Adams caught two passes for 20 yards.Chiefs: LBs Ramik Wilson and Justin March are competing for Kansas Citys inside linebacker spot alongside Derrick Johnson following a season-ending injury to Josh Mauga. Wilson had a nice tackle for loss early in the game and appeared to have the inside track.INJURY UPDATEPackers: Rookie WR Trevor Davis left the game with a shoulder injury after making a nice catch along the sideline on the first series of the game. Geronimo Allison replaced him on the next possession.Chiefs: The Chiefs rested RB Jamaal Charles and LB Tamba Hali, just as they did their first three preseason games. Both are coming off knee surgery but are expected to play in the season opener.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '

Quick Reply

Sorry, commenting is currently disabled.

IYH ON FACEBOOK
Follow IYH on Twitter Subscribe to IYH on iTunes
Upcoming Events

Date

Event