@Victor-Meldrew said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@MN5

Italy are developing some pretty classy players these days and are no longer easy-beats. Lamoro and Garbisi are also up there.

Think Saturday's game will be a fun watch and maybe a bit closer than expected

Think it depends on the weather. Wouldn't be surprised if it ends up a bit like the last time Italy came to NZ.

The Rugby Direct guys mentioned a stat that it’s the first time Jacobson has started back to back test weeks.

@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Here’s a stat, Roigard, Love, J Barrett and Proctor have a 91% winning record when starting together. Hope that carries on well into the future.

Your loyalty knows no bounds

@zedsdeadbaby said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

The Rugby Direct guys mentioned a stat that it’s the first time Jacobson has started back to back test weeks.

That is true.

He has started 11 tests and has only started in consecutive tests back in 2021, but there was a 3 week gap between those tests.

@BerniesCorner said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Canes4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Here’s a stat, Roigard, Love, J Barrett and Proctor have a 91% winning record when starting together. Hope that carries on well into the future.

Your loyalty knows no bounds

Sky Sport shared it on the test preview show, thought it would be rude not to share.

@mariner4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

oh good so BB v Ireland? When has that ever gone wrong?

And he’ll play the house down and start the first Boks test.

@ACT-Crusader I used to think you were a good guy

@Bones dry powder kegs and a massive bag of cotton wool were seen outside Beaudie’s place

@ACT-Crusader that is his hair

@MN5 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Daffy-Jaffy said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Italy team to play New Zealand
Starting XV

1. Danilo Fischetti
2. Tommaso Di Bartolomeo
3. Marco Riccioni
4. Niccolò Cannone
5. Andrea Zambonin
6. Ross Vintcint
7. Michele Lamaro (C)
8. Lorenzo Cannone
9. Stephen Varney
10. Paolo Garbisi
11. Louis Lynach
    12. Tommaso Menoncello
12. Juan Ignacio Brex
13. Malik Faissal
14. Tommaso Allan
    Reserves
15. Gianmarco Lucchesi
16. Mirco Spagnolo
17. Muhamed Hasa
18. Giulio Marini *
19. Federico Ruzza
20. Riccardo Favretto
21. Alessandro Garbisi
22. Leonardo Marin

• Denotes uncapped

Class player, potential to be the best in the world.

Hmmm, I love cold glass of Menoncello as a digestif.

@ACT-Crusader said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@mariner4life said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

oh good so BB v Ireland? When has that ever gone wrong?

And he’ll play the house down and start the first Boks test.

4 tries and hold the ABs record

If he's in the side and we lose he'll extend a different record.

I’m more interested in what the pass mark is this week than the final margin.

I’d be looking at the quality of the performance: keeping Italy to maybe 15 points or fewer while winning comfortably, dominating the set piece and breakdown, being clinical with scoring opportunities, avoiding individual greed once the result is beyond doubt, cutting down the errors from last week, controlling territory and possession and controlling the game for the full 80 minutes.

It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week

similar thoughts, proctor has the chanse to step up, shore up that midfield defence and link with the rest of the backline, relist goals i think

@Kiwiwomble said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

chanse

That's got to be a league player's name.

They might get 40 minutes each against Ireland. Half a game each against the same opposition (each half can be different with subs on and player fatigue) might go some way to finalising a decision about who gets first crack in South Africa.

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week

Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.

@reprobate I'm indifferent to whether they choose Tupaea or Proctor at 13. They have different strengths but I think they are of equal quality at 13. I would prefer Tupaea at 12 but am happy with Jordi who has the all court game and the combination with Love, Roigard and potentially Proctor.

Got to admit I'm pretty excited about Segners debut. Hope he comes off the bench and has a blinder.

I really admire his belief, persistence and mental fortitude.

The whole idea of this being a possibility when he was young is kind of crazy

Is Bower still doing haircuts?

@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week

Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.

true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.

QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.

@scribe said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Hmmm, I love cold glass of Menoncello as a digestif.

No no no Menoncello is a collaboratively played large string instrument. in the key of C...

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week

Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.

true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.

QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.

To be fair the Italian midfield is world class with Menoncello putting up a good argument for best 12 in the world.

I'm sure Rennie will be measuring all the relevant stats rather than our ill informed commentary. (To his detriment clearly)

@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week

Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.

true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.

QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.

To be fair the Italian midfield is world class with Menoncello putting up a good argument for best 12 in the world.

I'm sure Rennie will be measuring all the relevant stats rather than our ill informed commentary. (To his detriment clearly)

I'd still go De Allende but this guy is making a case. Also Ikitau from Australia, Tuipulotu from Tonga Australia Scotland and Mccloskey from Ireland. Jordie is very much in the pack. It's a very strong position internationally.

@MN5 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week

Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.

true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.

QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.

To be fair the Italian midfield is world class with Menoncello putting up a good argument for best 12 in the world.

I'm sure Rennie will be measuring all the relevant stats rather than our ill informed commentary. (To his detriment clearly)

I'd still go De Allende but this guy is making a case. Also Ikitau from Australia, Tuipulotu from Tonga Australia Scotland and Mccloskey from Ireland. Jordie is very much in the pack. It's a very strong position internationally.

Good options there. I think if Menoncello was playing for SA it wouldn't be a discussion.

@MN5 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week

Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.

true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.

QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.

To be fair the Italian midfield is world class with Menoncello putting up a good argument for best 12 in the world.

I'm sure Rennie will be measuring all the relevant stats rather than our ill informed commentary. (To his detriment clearly)

I'd still go De Allende but this guy is making a case. Also Ikitau from Australia, Tuipulotu from Tonga Australia Scotland and Mccloskey from Ireland. Jordie is very much in the pack. It's a very strong position internationally.

Boks have 3 - De Allende, Esterhuizen and Willemse (who played 12 in the 10-43 last year).

De Allende is the best 12 in the world right now and has been for several years.

@stodders Personally I think Esterhuizen is better than De Allende. More powerful 120kgs and has a better passing game. De Allende is very experienced and makes very few errors. I wouldn't be surprised if Esterhuizen is starting at 12 by WC next year unless they want him to specialize as a bench, impact, hybrid type player.

@MN5 said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Jnr said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@reprobate said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Kirwan said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

It’s a big game for Proctor, if he does a better job than QT at defense he might have the inside running for next week

Jeez that would be a bit rough. Italy who just got held to 10 points by Japan, vs a really very good French backline... that's a little uneven as a testing ground.

true, but lets reverse it. If Italy find gaps out wide he could rule himself out.

QT was great on attack, but a sieve on defence.

To be fair the Italian midfield is world class with Menoncello putting up a good argument for best 12 in the world.

I'm sure Rennie will be measuring all the relevant stats rather than our ill informed commentary. (To his detriment clearly)

I'd still go De Allende but this guy is making a case. Also Ikitau from Australia, Tuipulotu from Tonga Australia Scotland and Mccloskey from Ireland. Jordie is very much in the pack. It's a very strong position internationally.

Tuipulotu from what I understand has never been to Tonga , I actually know someone who played juniors with him at Frankston rugby club in Melbourne. His dad is Tongan and his mum is Italian/scot decent. But born and bred in Frankston Melbourne, he openly jokes about his bogan Frankston accent .
One that got away for the wallabies , but at the time when he got the Glasgow offer he didnt think higher opportunities would come his way , he had trouble getting a gametime with the rebels .

@kiwiinmelb Pellegrini -Tuipulotu-Ikitau would certainly raise some eyebrows.

@Rugbyman said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@stodders Personally I think Esterhuizen is better than De Allende. More powerful 120kgs and has a better passing game. De Allende is very experienced and makes very few errors. I wouldn't be surprised if Esterhuizen is starting at 12 by WC next year unless they want him to specialize as a bench, impact, hybrid type player.

They’re about the same despite the size difference.

SA having both of them AND Willemse is just unfair on other nations….

So, on the game, cold in Welly tonight?

@jnr Not if you're only as good as your last game he's not. Menoncello's a very good player, but turnovers killed their chances against Japan and he was the worst offender.
@mn5 your hard-on for Saffa midfielders is kinda weird bro

@Rugbyman said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@stodders Personally I think Esterhuizen is better than De Allende. More powerful 120kgs and has a better passing game. De Allende is very experienced and makes very few errors. I wouldn't be surprised if Esterhuizen is starting at 12 by WC next year unless they want him to specialize as a bench, impact, hybrid type player.

Yeah I agree on De Allende . He is one hell of a player and you want him in your back line but you don’t turn on your tv to watch him.

In other news, I’m in Rome and you wouldn’t know they are playing us tomorrow. Rugby still not really a thing here.

I'm still taking Ikitau if given the choice

@MajorStokes said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Rugbyman said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@stodders Personally I think Esterhuizen is better than De Allende. More powerful 120kgs and has a better passing game. De Allende is very experienced and makes very few errors. I wouldn't be surprised if Esterhuizen is starting at 12 by WC next year unless they want him to specialize as a bench, impact, hybrid type player.

Yeah I agree on De Allende . He is one hell of a player and you want him in your back line but you don’t turn on your tv to watch him.

In other news, I’m in Rome and you wouldn’t know they are playing us tomorrow. Rugby still not really a thing here.

Fuck i bet that's hot

Only the north of Italy play rugby. Whereas it is largely the south of France.

French ref Luc Ramos today could make things interesting

@KiwiMurph just a week out from trampling the best French team ever. WR hates the ABs.

Be interesting to see how this forward pack goes against the Italians. Apparently this is the forward pack that defeated England, and coming off an embarrassing loss to Japan, Italy may be more competitive.