Scotland v. Italy (Murrayfield)
Nick Mallet has made 6 changes to his side following the victory over France.... Thats right, I said 6 changes! Treviso's Albero Sgarbi replaces Gonzalo Garcia at centre while club team-mate Kris Burton takes Luciano Orquera's place at scrum half. Italian Flanker Paul Derbyshire will earn his first Six Nations start also. Leicester prop/cookie monster Martin Castrogiovanni is the only player in the front row to retain his spot with respect to the France game, with Leonardo Ghiraldini and Salvatore Perguini returning to the team. Lock Quintin Geldenhuys also gets the nod after being relegated to the replacements bench against Le Bleus. I could have made up half those names and you would be none the wiser. Anyway, that is not the point! The point is, WHY SIX CHANGES? Why indeed Sir Mallet? You beat the French and you drop 6 players? My only thinking on it is, that he is using this game as a warm up for the world cup.. It the last competitive game Italy will play before then and on that basis then Yes, there is method in his madness.
On the flip side, Scotland have made only one change to their line up after their "encouraging" loss to top of the table England. Geoff Cross has been named to start at tighthead prop with Kelly Brown retained at number 8 despite suffering concussion from the weekends game.
This was always going to be a tough one to call in my opinion and at the back of my mind I was ever so slightly leaning towards the Italians. However, what I did not bank on was Italy beating France the previous week, which makes me wonder if lightning really can strike twice? Not to be putting Scotland on the same par with France or anything. France have just been sort of crap this year while Scotland have been consistently shit for quite some time now (with the exception of November, calm down, put away your bagpipes!)
As much as I would like to see Italy win this one and carry on from their flash in the pan victory, I feel its going to be a big ask for them. To sum up their championship, they have played 3 games at home, won 1 and kept the other 2 very close. Then the game they played away to England was just a disaster from start to finish. Based on that, I'm gona say that they are not going to manage to beat Scotland in Murrayfield on Saturday. Scotland have yet to win a game and would shamefully pick up the wooden spoon should they lose. They actually have a better points difference than Italy, so a win will be more than enough to avoid last place. Please god the Italians will actually beat them, but I find it very hard to write off Scotland in this scenario.
It should be a fantastic game though. Let the battle for the wooden spoon commence.
RT Prediction: Cough* Scotland (There I said it)
Look out for: Robinson doing his nut when Scotland fail to score from a 6 man over lap
P.S you'll notice the new facebook "like" button.....Need I go on?
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