by Tadhg Peavoy
Italy blasted Russia with ease in Nelson, recording a nine-try victory to claim a bonus-point Rugby World Cup Pool C victory.
An opening salvo of power from Italy was too much for Russia and they couldn’t live with the Azzurri’s dominance all over the field of play.
When a team is as outclassed as Russia were, it is hard to assess just how good the victors were. But there were four points of Italy’s play that will be of note to Italy's Pool C rivals Ireland: their scrum; Sergio Parisse; offloading at will; and kicking to the corners.
The Azzurri scrum was devastating against Russia. Their second try came from a defensive Russian scrum in their own 22-metre area, which the Italians won against the head. Throughout the encounter Italy used an eight-man push tactic and blew away the Bears.
Ireland props Cian Healy and Mike Ross will face a far tougher challenge at the Italian set-pieces than they did against the Wallabies. It will not be as frutiful a source of penalties by any stretch of the imagination. A first-half penalty try reinforced how difficult the Italy pack will make things for Ireland.
Parisse - Ireland must watch the Italy number eight
Number eight Parisse had a wonderful game and was at his very best. He scored the Italian’s first try with ease as he lined up a Russian Bear and made him whimper, following a poor attempted tackle. Parisse's pop passing was also top level and led to Italy’s second try.
Parisse stood outside out-half Riccardo Bocchino for much of the match and from there he set up Italy’s fourth try with a carry and offload. Sean O’Brien – or whoever starts an openside flanker for Ireland against Italy - will need to be aware of this tactic throughout.
The Italian number eight’s passing, and frequency in hanging back as a fourth member of the Italian back three, hurt Russia all over the pitch. The Ireland back row will need to watch him like hawks and ensure he doesn’t get into a position to cause a tackle mismatch with a front row or second row in the Ireland 22-metre area.
Poor backline play, devoid of creativity, is the sub-standard tag that haunts Italy – there was not a hint of that against Russia and the backline offloading was, at times, dazzling. Italy committed minimal numbers to the breakdown and filled the backline with forward runners.
Italy showed flair against the Bears
The Azzurri’s passing, offloading and ability to take the ball at pace was impressive and displayed a French flair often missing from Nick Mallett’s tactics. Whether Italy will be so brazenly attack-minded against Ireland remains to be seen.
Italy manufactured two tries from kicks to the corner against Russia. The ploy is to play four or five phases, commiting the opposition to multi-phase defence, then surprise with a low grubber for a back to chase on to.
Bocchino and Tommaso Benvenuti did the kicking today and Benvenuti touched down both times. Luciano Orquera tried something similar against the Wallabies, so the tactic is clearly something Italy have been working on heading into the tournament.
One pre-planned move Ireland must watch is from scrums near a flank. Italy pull their fullback and openside winger to the far touchline and leave a gaping midfield hole, with the centres and halfbacks packed tightly behind the scrum. Each time this move was called the scrum collapsed, so we don’t know what the point of attack is, but Ireland must prepare for the unexpected from it.
Another encouraging point for Ireland to note is that the Azzurri notably tired in the last 15 minutes and found it hard to track down space out wide.
This also happened to the Azzurri against the Aussies. Fresh legs in the last 15 minutes should be brought on against Italy, especially on the wings where they looked frail toward the end.
As for the Russians, Italy made them look weak across the pitch and devoid of a decent scrum or defensive system. But they were brave throughout and scored three excellent tries of their own.
If ever there was an lesson to be given on why tackles simply cannot be missed at this level of rugby, Russia were given it today. The northern Eurasian team should be carved open by a confident Ireland.
