6N 2024 - Italy v England

[sparky]

Italy have offered almost nothing in the second half.

I do think Portugal and Georgia should get a chance to play some years in the 6 Nations. Promotion and relegation would give an edge to games like this.

[sparky]

Daly give a Yellow Card for a trip.

[sparky]

England ten points ahead with four and a half minutes to go.

[sparky]

Steward very solid at the back for England.

[sparky]

Ethan Roots named Man of the March on debut. Fully deserved for the number 6. He's carried well and been busy.

[sparky]

England deep on attack with seconds to go.

[sparky]

Can England finish with a try?

[sparky]

Catch and drive from a 5m line.

[sparky]

Ball lost forwards but England have a penalty advantage. Time up. A yellow card to one of the Italian forwards.

[sparky]

14 men each. England go for a 5m scrum off the penalty.

[sparky]

They fluff it. Penalty to Italy.

[sparky]

England living off side like the Springboks.

[sparky]

Ioane scores a try for Italy to finish it.

[sparky]

England will win the game but Italy have outscored them three tries to two.

[sparky]

Conversation over. It finishes Italy 24 England 27.

[sparky]

Poor quality game.

[sparky]

Felt like a wooden spoon decider.

[sparky]

Razor's All Blacks will put a hundred on these England boys if they play with that low level of intensity in New Zealand.

[MiketheSnow]

@sparky said in 6N 2024 - Italy v England:

Italy have offered almost nothing in the second half.

I do think Portugal and Georgia should get a chance to play some years in the 6 Nations. Promotion and relegation would give an edge to games like this.

Please sort your own house out

Italy are the best of the next

[MiketheSnow]

Can someone please explain why

If a restaurant critic has a poor meal experience they are allowed/expected to slate the joint

and a movie critic watches a dire movie they’re allowed/expected to slate it

But a rugby critic will espouse Italy as plucky & unlucky and readers will nod sagely when what should have been written is

An individual moment of athletic superiority from Monty Ioane which gave Italy a losing BP deflected the fact that a willing and capable Italian side played with the tactical nous of a schoolboy team handing possession, momentum, and ultimately victory to a lacklustre England who almost grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory