Filed under: Rugby Union, Rugby World Cup, Internationals, Ireland Rugby
It appears that Ireland's final Pool C game, against Italy, will decide who will go through to the quarter finals. And on the evidence of the Azzurri's 53-17 win over Russia on Tuesday, what a match-up the October 2 clash is shaping up to be.And if anybody needed convincing about whether the International Rugby Board is successfully developing the game worldwide need have looked no further than the 12-try match in Nelson, where World Cup debutants Russia crossed the line three times against Italy.
Russia have had a lot of support in developing the game, with Kingsley Jones and England and New Zealand dual-code international Henry Paul on the coaching staff. And they have put a lot of hard work in just to make it to the World Cup, which they did by way of finishing top of the tier-two European Nations Cup competition.
The crowd in Nelson showed their appreciation of the Russian pluck and their willingness to play the game the right way, even when things were going against them.
Of course the fact Italy put nine tries past the Russians win clearly shows there are things to work on. But as the Italians were once one of the World Cup whipping boys, they will know that small steps such as scoring three tries against a Six Nations outfit are important.
And the Russians, to their credit, did not fall back on their large pack to try and stem Italy's glut of tries. Even when Russia were 30 points behind, they kept trying to run the ball out from difficult positions - and in once instance it ended with a try.
Italy, on the other hand, scored more than four tries in a match for the first time since many can remember and even if they committed the odd handling error, they showed that their pack is as organised and strong as any top-tier nation.
And on October 2, they will do all they can to book themselves a place in the quarter-finals. Assuming they beat the USA, the Ireland match is their make-or-break game.
Just three points separate the top three teams in Pool C, with Ireland on top and Italy level with Australia.
And coach Nick Mallett, who stands down after the World Cup, made it clear throughout the build-up to the tournament that getting Italy to the knockout stage is his goal. Ireland - and Australia, for that matter - have been warned.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/20/world-cup-round-up-italys-fate-rests-on-ireland-game-but-russi/
Hunter Mahan Iker Casillas Ivan Ljubicic Jamie Carragher Jason Day
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