Italy v Namibia

[Lizard]

It's funny. For years the NH rugby punditry has criticised Super Rugby for being unserious, basketball rugby. Yet after only a few seasons of the Drua playing in that comp. we have a largley home-grown Fijian team seriously touted as potential RWC Pool winners. Meanwhile,over 2 decades of 6 Nations rugby has produced an Italian team still mainly focussed on avoiding the need to qualify for the next tournament.

Italy have never made a RWC QF (unlike Japan, Canada, Fiji, Samoa, and Argentina in their tier 2 days). The nearest thing to a RWC upset they have achieved was narrowly beating Argentina in 1995. Nothing looks likely to change this time. Italy should easily account for Namibia as in 2019 (and later, less easily, Uruguay) but no-one in their right mind believes they are capable of an upset. Which is a shame given all the opportunities they have had, and in a World Cup on their own doorstep.

[Puja]

It's funny. For years the NH rugby punditry has criticised Super Rugby for being unserious, basketball rugby. Yet after only a few seasons of the Drua playing in that comp. we have a largley home-grown Fijian team seriously touted as potential RWC Pool winners. Meanwhile,over 2 decades of 6 Nations rugby has produced an Italian team still mainly focussed on avoiding the need to qualify for the next tournament.

Italy have never made a RWC QF (unlike Japan, Canada, Fiji, Samoa, and Argentina in their tier 2 days). The nearest thing to a RWC upset they have achieved was narrowly beating Argentina in 1995. Nothing looks likely to change this time. Italy should easily account for Namibia as in 2019 (and later, less easily, Uruguay) but no-one in their right mind believes they are capable of an upset. Which is a shame given all the opportunities they have had, and in a World Cup on their own doorstep.

The difference, of course, being that rugby is the national sport of Fiji and they always had talent to spare which just needed a chance to get organised in a professional environment, whereas rugby doesn't even make the top 10 sports by participation in Italy.

You are being a bit unfair to the latest iteration of the Italian side, who are desperately unlucky to've been drawn in the wrong side of the RWC. Over the past 10 years or so, they gave up trying to import and naturalise crap South Africans and moved onto some fairly solid youth development, with the results just starting to come to fruition. They're good enough that, were they in the rubbish side of the draw, they'd stand as good a chance as Fiji at a quarter final.

Puja

[Lizard]

The difference, of course, being that rugby is the national sport of Fiji and they always had talent to spare which just needed a chance to get organised in a professional environment, whereas rugby doesn't even make the top 10 sports by participation in Italy.

You are being a bit unfair to the latest iteration of the Italian side, who are desperately unlucky to've been drawn in the wrong side of the RWC. Over the past 10 years or so, they gave up trying to import and naturalise crap South Africans and moved onto some fairly solid youth development, with the results just starting to come to fruition. They're good enough that, were they in the rubbish side of the draw, they'd stand as good a chance as Fiji at a quarter final.

Puja

And Fiji has about 1.7% of the population of Italy, the same as that of Naples. It would be good if Italy could become more competitive, whether by the Scottish import method or Fijian home-grown method, but it shouldn't be taking them this long.

[Puja]

The difference, of course, being that rugby is the national sport of Fiji and they always had talent to spare which just needed a chance to get organised in a professional environment, whereas rugby doesn't even make the top 10 sports by participation in Italy.

You are being a bit unfair to the latest iteration of the Italian side, who are desperately unlucky to've been drawn in the wrong side of the RWC. Over the past 10 years or so, they gave up trying to import and naturalise crap South Africans and moved onto some fairly solid youth development, with the results just starting to come to fruition. They're good enough that, were they in the rubbish side of the draw, they'd stand as good a chance as Fiji at a quarter final.

Puja

And Fiji has about 1.7% of the population of Italy, the same as that of Naples. It would be good if Italy could become more competitive, whether by the Scottish import method or Fijian home-grown method, but it shouldn't be taking them this long.

Rugby is notably less about numbers of players and more about culture and early exposure. That's why the tiny population of Fiji where people are born carrying a rugby ball can make a top 8 side while the large player numbers of Russia, China, and the USA can't even qualify for the RWC.

It's taken Italy this long because they've massively changed tack only 10 years ago to go for developing their young players. They are now competitive - they were 4 points off beating France in the 6N this year, which is not something many sides have been able to claim this year. They have turned into a really handy team who are unlucky to've been drawn in Pool A rather than C.

Puja

[Lizard]

Well Italy look fucking brilliant so far. Because Namibia are stinking the place up as usual. South Africa and World Rugby need to do a bit more to develop these Tier 2 nations on the doorstep of a Tier 1 nation. Namibia, Zim, Uganda and Kenya all have real potential.

[Lizard]

OK, Italy look shit too now..

[Son of Mathonwy]

The ref was much happier to get the yellow out for Namibia. Namibia bringing down a maul - yellow. Isolated Italian not releasing just in front of try line - penalty only (should have been a penalty try IMO). Obviously wouldn't have changed the result but let's play fair.