Areas where Italy could do damage at Twickenham
Azzurri are going to be high on confidence for England game after gutsy showing in defeat on opening day
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Italy head coach Kieran Crowley kept his cards close to his chest when asked whether his side’s performance in the narrow loss to France – coupled with England’s failings at Twickenham – gave him confidence ahead of next Sunday’s meeting.
What should give Crowley confidence, however, is that there are notable similarities between the way in which Gregor Townsend’s side caught their hosts napping last Saturday, and how Italy made France toil a day later in Rome.
When Scotland played at pace, with Finn Russell on the front foot, their dynamic forwards caused overlaps in the wider channels, unlocking space for pacier teammates. That happened numerous times, most notably for the beautifully sweeping match-winner scored by Duhan van der Merwe.
In Rome, the narrative was similar. Italy had clearly identified France’s defensive width, or lack thereof, as a potential area to exploit and, at times, the results were just as astounding for the Azzurri as they were alarming for Les Bleus. When Italy got their loose forwards in those more expansive areas, Federico Ruzza and Sebastian Negri showed delightful touches.
Cutting edge in the backfield
Italy, even on their torrid 36-match losing streak, always had heart and courage. They had a passionate forward pack, and backs who would never cease in trying to run through a brick wall.
What they often lacked, however, was a flourish; players with match-winning abilities. No longer. In Tommaso Menoncello and Ange Capuozzo, Italy possess two outside backs who would be pushing for selection in the starting XVS of all other Six Nations sides.
Gregory Alldritt is one of the most intelligent forwards but Capuozzo’s stop-start finish made the French No8 appear rather foolish in Rome. Menoncello is not far from an Italian Van der Merwe: hulking, hungry and agile. For the Scottish wing’s first try, England’s kick-chase was lethargic and lackadaisical; if that is repeated on Sunday, then Twickenham might see more magic from a visiting wing.
Set-piece surprise
Danilo Fischetti and his lock on the loosehead side of Italy’s scrum, Niccolo Cannone, surrendered around 7st to the French behemoths of Uini Atonio and Paul Willemse. Yet the London Irish loosehead held his own in the set-piece maelstrom.
At the line-out, while Italy occasionally faltered on their own throw, Cannone and Ruzza did a tremendous job at reading and picking out some French darts. While Jamie George was adamant England’s line-out was not a cause for concern after the Calcutta Cup, it did have a bit of a roughing-up at the hands of Richie Gray, Grant Gilchrist et al, and it will have to improve.
Midfield direction
The midfield has rapidly developed into England’s cause celebre. While it is true that there were signs of improvement in attack on Saturday, the combination of Marcus Smith, Owen Farrell and Joe Marchant did not deliver a performance with enough harmony and ferocity to suggest that they were the longterm trio.
Both Farrell and Marchant were, at times, exposed defensively by the directness of Scotland’s midfield, and question marks still linger about which of Smith and Farrell should be leading England in the fly-half jersey.
Italy faced similar half-back issues. Stephen Varney and Tommaso Allan were eventually outclassed by Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, but in midfield Crowley has found a pair of outand-out centres who are establishing an underrated partnership.
Juan Ignacio Brex is an intelligent outside centre with a low error count and the size and dynamism of London Irish’s Luca Morisi inside him is capable of restarting a stalling attack. Brex and Morisi are not a flashy pairing, but are developing a symbiotic, cohesive relationship.
Three inferior players who read each other’s every move and combine gracefully are more valuable than three superior individuals who play as if they have never met. While England are, thankfully, slightly ahead of that stage, interrupting the chemistry between Brex, Morisi and their sharp outside backs will form a hefty part of their challenge on Sunday.