jaz  

   Match thread #ITAvENG #M6N #6Nations #Rugby

Mute or follow these hashtags and this thread and me as needed for three hours or so. Six if #Italy win 😜

Nine changes to the #England team, might be their downfall?

Let's watch some rugby!

Mar 7 at 4:17pmWeb
Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Now up to TEN changes for #England #Rugby !Tom Curry injured during the warmup, Underhill takes his place.
Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Ref Luc Ramos - his first #6Nations match in charge
Show threadjaz  Mar 7
I'd have taken the three points on offer. And Italy snaffle it up, three points wasted.
Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Good mauling from Italy. Good yards.
Show threadjaz  Mar 7
#OnThisDayInHistory 2024 #ITAvENG
Show threadjaz  Mar 7

Genge. Oh Genge. "I want a gap, I do. I don't think they do sir. I think they want to pre-engage".

😜

Is that blood or paint?

Show threadjaz  Mar 7

Italy committing hard at the breakdown, I think we'll see quite a few turnovers. Italy so far nimble, agile, creating opportunities if kicking a little too deep.

20 minutes in, no scores, great competition so far.

Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Take the three! Yes, Italy call for posts, should be three on the board.
Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Try England, no conversion. Clever use of the ball to create overlap.
Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Gonzalo getting very excited in the coach box,
Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Ref getting into England physio team about a blood injury. Medic assures him it's not a blood injury, while wiping up all the blood and covering it with a very large bandage.
Show threadjaz  Mar 7

There. It. Is.

Bloody lovely.

If we can keep this scoreline for five minutes, excellent half time energy.

#ForzaAzzurri

Show threadjaz  Mar 7
I'm just thinking out loud, but at a guess have more of the Italian team played under this ref before? His calls are as idiosyncratic as any ref, but England don't seem to be able to read him yet.
Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Blue scrum to close this half out. Italy very ready to play but ball spilled. England eager to fix the scoreline before the half.
Show threadjaz  Mar 7

And they do. Pinpoint kick to Roebuck from Smith, caught, sidestepped, over and down. Converted leaves us 10-12 at the half, could have been 10-5 but here we are, still a very respectable score and nothing to be taken for granted yet.

#ITAvENG #6Nations #Rugby

Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Pretty impressed with the refereeing today.
Show threadjaz  Mar 7

Oh Giaco, why? 30 minutes to go, 10 now with a man down and five points behind, plus a penalty shot at goal.

And now it's 10-18 and ten minutes for England to play with a one man advantage. Real shame.

Show threadjaz  Mar 7
Swings and roundabouts. Underhill off for ten for head contact. Possible (but for me unlikely) that bunker upgrades that and leaves Italy a man up for the last ten minutes.
Show threadgreub 🐑Mar 7
@jaz First time he refs an international game (he did U-20s and obviously Top14)
Show threadgreub 🐑Mar 7
@jaz Sorry, I was wrong, he refed Rugby Europe Championship in 2019 (Romania-Portugal). Still his first 6Nations game.
Show threadJayne 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈Mar 7

@jaz

It's definitely not blood, sir, it's just a drop of claret left over from lunch 🍷🍷🍷

Show threadjaz  Mar 7
@TCMuffin 😂
Show threadJayne 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈Mar 7

@jaz

I was following rugby union in the 1960s and 70s 🤷

Show threadshift/resetMar 7
@jaz I think that my mind will forever think of 2017 and "ruckgate" when I think of this fixture. I don't think I ever laughed as hard at a half of rugby
Show threadjaz  Mar 7

@shift_reset

"I am not your coach".

Best ref line ever.