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'Gripping start to this wooden spoon decider' - Italy shock England with outstanding try after just 3 minutes
Those forecasting an English hammering of Guinness Six Nations whipping boys Italy were given a rude awakening when a fired-up Azzurri broke England’s defence after just 3 minutes.
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A well-worked try saw Italian newbie Monty Ioane race in on the left wing after some sustained offensive pressure from Franco Smith’s men at Twickenham.
WHAT. A. START
England unpicked and it's a dream Italian start
Watch LIVE
? @ITV
? https://t.co/K9pPPwLQEG#ENGvITA #GuinnessSixNations #ITVRugby pic.twitter.com/kK2EnXcLLB— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) February 13, 2021
Italy’s early dominance wasn’t to last. Owen Farrell struck back with a penalty before Exeter Chiefs’ lock Jonny Hill barged his way over from close range.
@SixNationsRugby #ENGvITA brilliant start by @azzurri @EnglandRugby now they need to play some rugby so good to see tap and go early.
— Kyran Bracken (@KyranBracken) February 13, 2021
“Gripping start to this wooden spoon decider. Two plucky sides playing for pride here,” wrote humourous Welsh account Dai Lama.
Gripping start to this wooden spoon decider. Two plucky sides playing for pride here. #ENGvITA
— Dai Lama (@WelshDalaiLama) February 13, 2021
Graham Love was quick to get the boot into England with this perfectly aimed barb at Eddie Jones’ Englishmen: “Moments like that are why we love sport. So heartwarming to see a struggling team eventually get their first try of the tournament,” referring of course to England’s first try of the competition.
Moments like that are why we love sport. So heartwarming to see a struggling team eventually get their first try of the tournament ?#ENGvITA
— Graham Love (@glove931) February 13, 2021
‘I see Eddie Jones has got his mask on this week, nearly got a £15k fine for not wearing it last week so at least that’s a lesson learnt!,’ wrote Andy Goode.
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I see Eddie Jones has got his mask on this week, nearly got a £15k fine for not wearing it last week so at least that’s a lesson learnt!
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) February 13, 2021
Prior to kick-off, head coach Smith had no qualms about spelling at the task facing the men in blue, who have never beaten England in international rugby.
“The mountain in front of us is high, very high, but there is a road that goes up there and we will be on that road,” Smith said. “It’s up to us to plot that journey and that is what we are doing. Our main opponents are not England, but ourselves. That is who we must focus on.
“We must also not be worried about getting the monkey off our back, looking to get one win in the Championship at any cost.
“If that is all we work towards then it will be another five or six years before the next victory. It’s time for new faces, new icons in Italian rugby.
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“I firmly believe that ending this drought will come from concentrating on how we play, on our basics, on quality actions, on being clinical and accurate.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
7 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to comments