Italy v Scotland Euro Cup

[8Ball]

Its a shame the crowd didnt get to see a close contest, but the attendance is very very pleasing indeed.

 

[yakstorm]

They say the only way one can get better is by playing the best, and whilst Scotland isn't the best team in the World or even Europe, they are certainly one of the stronger teams in this European Cup tournament.

I think the Italians will take a lot out of this, and it will possibly lead to the league taking a more professional approach to internationals.

Overall though I think there are a lot of positives to be taken out of this, I mean who thought 5-10 years ago we'd ever see Italy v Scotland in Italy? We've come a long way...

 

[Billythekid]

They say the only way one can get better is by playing the best, and whilst Scotland isn't the best team in the World or even Europe, they are certainly one of the stronger teams in this European Cup tournament.

I think the Italians will take a lot out of this, and it will possibly lead to the league taking a more professional approach to internationals.

Overall though I think there are a lot of positives to be taken out of this, I mean who thought 5-10 years ago we'd ever see Italy v Scotland in Italy? We've come a long way...

I think it's also a good sign that teams can't just start up and be instantly competitive even with low tier teams like Scotland. It shows that the standard all round is really starting to rise.

 

[deluded pom?]

Dont tell me if Italy could have got 22 Sydney based players plus their five or six domestic players together they would have done this.

It is not Scotland Amatuer v Italy Amatuer or Scotland Presidents v Italy Presidents.
Its classed a a second tier European game and it has shown a massive gap exists.

Belgium,Germany,Italy,Czech etc can play amongst themselves, then when they have proved to be stronger in that class they can then take their chance and step up a level.

Scotland like Wales, Ireland and Lebanon are aiming to be included in a competative 4 or 5 Euro nations in the next 5 to 10 years which can only be good for the game on a whole.

If the RLEF thought that Italy (and dare I say Serbia) are ready to take this big step forward after only a very short time,they have been found out BIG STYLE today.

Italy,Serbia,Germany etc will take a lot longer.

Simple fact of life..if you cant do it at the higher level then take the defeats,re group and start again one level lower.
Italy will have learned a great deal from today,Scotland proberbly learned nothing.

Over the next few years if the RLEF have the balls to stick with a format that allows teams to be promoted and relegated in a pyramid european competition (very much like what FIRA run) then we will see progress.

Lets see how Serbia do on sunday in Ireland to see if this blow out was an indication of the difference between the European Bowl /Shiled and cup.

But hey its a massive learning curve.

Totally agree with all of this. Italy were never ready for the step up especially with the comp in Sydney taking part at a similar time. As Yanto said Italy will have learnt plenty from this game and Scotland will have learnt little if anything.

 

[deluded pom?]

Shame for Italy to get thumped and even bigger shame not too put some points on the board. But I feel this is another reason why we should not have so many "Heritage" players in teams especially outside the World Cup. I think if you had a Maximum of 5 or 6 Heritage Players and the rest domestic you would not see such huge scores posted-which really does nobody any good. It also gives a big incentive to Native born players to put more in to making Rugby League grow and develop locally. Playing for your Nation will be a goal many want and a good story for a local newspaper to run with etc. By having so many Heritage players I think we are making a mistake. The game might not be of that higher standard but there are far more benefits instead. I hope the Italians can rebuild and not be too downhearted

Disagree. As long as the heritage players put their hand up and stick with their chosen country then I don't have a problem. It's when they play at the WC and then declare for another country that it becomes ridiculous. As Yanto said, Scotland are chasing a place in the next NH 4N and this is a step toward that. Of course they'd want to field their strongest team no matter how many heritage players that consisted of. What do we do? Stop players playing for Scotland who actually WANT to play for them. Scotland fielded a team that was within RLIF rules whether we like that or not.

 

[winnyason]

This is why int league is a joke, unless they could get the aussies guys off there arses and give a hand rather than play for the italian aussies what a joke this will do more harm than good and these fans won't return.
Russia would have made a game of it.

 

[bender]

This is why int league is a joke, unless they could get the aussies guys off there arses and give a hand rather than play for the italian aussies what a joke this will do more harm than good and these fans won't return.
Russia would have made a game of it.

Some people totally confuse me on this issue.

Are you saying that you want heritage players playing for italy or you dont. The article says that Italy pretty much had 5 weeks notice of this tournament. One would expect that the Med cup was already orgnised or by this time. The schedule clash is hardly their fault.

Also, it is a bit unrealistic to expect virtually semi pro players to fly their own way to italy for a game, on just 5 weeks notice. Possible i guess but highly unlikely. If Italy stay in the comp next year, then it is quite likely (assuming they are wanted) that several of the Aussie based italians might fly out to help out. Who knows, maybe the mediterranean cup profits might help pay for this.

You cant get a perfect situation overnight. On the plus side, 2000 plus italians got their first taste of league. They saw plenty of tries and apparently seemed to enjoy the occassion. They also, most importantly, know that Scotland are definitely a very good rugby league team. Imagine how impressed these guys would be if they come back next year and the italian team adds say 6 Aussie based guys and we see a close contest. Might even make them very proud of their Italian side.

I really cant understand why a Scotland V Italy (all domestic based players) could possibly be seen as a joke.

 

[The Observer]

It would have been logical if the teams were organised on a regional basis, and kept separate tiers. Wales, Ireland and Scotland are all close in standard to each other, and could have competed in an elite tier European Cup, preferably on a home and away basis, but even with 3 fixtures. However, Italy and Serbia are distinctly lower in standard. They could have competed with Lebanon for a Mediterranean Cup, and not been thrashed by the far stronger Celts.

In Union, the Celts are not subject to P&R in the Six Nations, the FIRA competitions are kept separate. The Celts should play each other in the top tier. The weakness of the current structure has been born out this weekend, unfortunately and unnecessarily.

 

[Kurt Angle]

You can't dismiss a lot fo hard work on the basis of one weekend.

Roopy said it right, it has shown the game is a different game to Union with a different skillset. You can expect to have a union skillset and hop over on a whim and be competitive.

Scotland, despite their low level are full of hardened, dedicated rugby league players.

If Italy want to embrace RL, they'll have to come to the realisation that dedicated RL training in required, and that will take time. They have the fields and training equipment via RU, but a RL mindset is required to progress further.

If they don't want to make this effort, then thanks for coming fellas, and I won't expect you around for much longer.

As far as Serbia goes, they are dedicated. NRL teams get 70 put on them at some stage. They have another game and I'd rather see some feedback loops in their style of play next year before we do anything.

I suggest they'll be 6th seed next year when France return.

 

[flamin]

I suggest they'll be 6th seed next year when France return.

If Russia are in it next year would Serbia miss out altogether?

I assume they'd have a play-off for 6th spot like the Pacific Cup this year. Or they may expand to 8 teams keeping Italy.

 

[RedVee]

A shame that the short notice didn't allow time for a warmup game / selection trial against the Med Cup Italians.
Good crowd though.

 

[Ari Gold]

Spoke to some FIRL officials this morning through email and i can tell you there are not happy at all with some overseas based Italian players. These players accepted their selection, however they didn't bother flying over.

The players in bold were named in the 20 man squad but didn't turn up on the day.

1 Edoardo Lerna Woodrush
2 Angelo Ricci Queensbury
3 Ludovico Torreggiani Nafit XIII
4 Marco Ferrazzano Unattached
5 Jason Dubas Fisher Leeds Akkies
6 Matthew Sands Lyon
7 Paul Stanica Nafit XIII
8 Daniele Pasqualini Mastini XIII
9 Filippo Veronese La Rocca XIII
10 John Grasso Amatory Catania
11 Pier Luigi Gentile Piemonte XIII
12 Nicola Facco Nafit XIII
13 Roccaro Marco Carpentras
14 Florian Anchisi Entraigues
15 Greg Brincat Randwick
16 Shane Pavan Unattached
17 Mark Dalle Cort Unattached
18 Franco Kmet West Tigers
19 Cameron Ciraldo Newcastle
20 Ben Falcone Balmain

When 6 of your 20 man squad (Arguably 6 of the strongest players) don't run out on the field, you know you're going to be in trouble.

Grasso and Veronese (the Italian halves on the day) had about 10 games of Rugby league experience between them. Thus the sh*t kicking game and overall structure of the Italian side.

 

[hutch]

gee i wish russia would get their act together! they should be in this compeition, they have played the game there for years, have a bigger pool of players, have competed in international tournaments before and have attracted over 30000 fans for an international. i thought georgia had some potential as well but that was over before it even began. the italians are just not ready yet, and need to work on getting a competition played in italy. if the australians arent ready to commit, forget them, they arent italian anyway.

 

[deluded pom?]

I really cant understand why a Scotland V Italy (all domestic based players) could possibly be seen as a joke.

How are they domestic players when Italy doesn't have a domestic league at this moment in time? They shouldn't have been allowed to compete in RLE sanctioned tournaments until they have something up and running in Italy. It's not like Italy are new to this sort of thing. They competed at the 2000 ENWC and in the ensuing nine years all they have domestically is one nines tournament.

 

[nadera78]

Spoke to some FIRL officials this morning through email and i can tell you there are not happy at all with some overseas based Italian players. These players accepted their selection, however they didn't bother flying over.




13 Roccaro Marco Carpentras
14 Florian Anchisi Entraigues

17 Mark Dalle Cort Unattached
18 Franco Kmet West Tigers
19 Cameron Ciraldo Newcastle
20 Ben Falcone Balmain

That's absolutely disgusting. I hope they never, ever consider picking those guys again. Talk about letting people down!

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

That's absolutely disgusting. I hope they never, ever consider picking those guys again. Talk about letting people down!

This is why the RLIF needs more power, if players say they will play, they must be held accountable. I wouldnt say no to banning them from all rep footy from now on.

Eric Grothe skipped training for Australia 2 years ago and hes been black listed from rep footy now, these guys should too.

 

[kuwaiti kev]

Grasso and Veronese (the Italian halves on the day) had about 10 games of Rugby league experience between them. Thus the sh*t kicking game and overall structure of the Italian side.

Veronese is more experienced than that, he's possibly almost played that many games for the national side, but does tend to play on the wing if there are any true halves available.

Still does not excuse the others not turning up, very confused by the Cameron Ciraldo inclusion knowing he was playing in the Med Cup in Sydney?????? Do these 2 teams not communicate?

 

[wain]

Does that then mean they had to play with 14 men? I know with the four nations, they have the 24-man squad they are locked into. Or were they allowed to change?

 

[kuwaiti kev]

Nah they obviously bought in extra players There are a few names in that team list that were not in the initial squad.

 

[wain]

kev - cheers, good to know. pretty annoying it came to that though.