Ireland and Italy meet in the first crossover Pool game of the tournament, and we’re covering the game with the Who, What, Where, When and How of the big game.
The 2017 Rugby League World Cup is a big deal for us, being huge rugby league fans and love a minnow or two, and we’ll be covering all of the games throughout.
So visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
Now onto the Ireland v Italy game.
IRELAND v ITALY MATCH REVIEW
RESULT – Who Won?
IRELAND 36 (L. Kay (3), G. King (10), L. Kay (30), K. Amor (55), M. Morgan (60), L. McCarthy-Scarsbrook (79) tries L. Finn 5 Conv, 1 Pen goals)
ITALY 12 (J. Castellaro (38), N. Milone (47) tries J. Mantellato 2 Goals)
How Did They Win?
In the first upset of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, the Irish basically out enthused the Italians, predominantly in the first half where they skipped out to a 20-0 lead early and led 20-6 at half time.
On the back of the excellent Irish halfback Liam Finn, the Irish simply appeared more interested, and it only took three minutes for the upset to start after Liam Kay opened up the scoring with a simple backline movement. King scored in the 10th minute after diving on a deft grubber kick from hooker Michael McIlorum.
Winger Liam Kay added a second with 10 minutes to go, after a previous penalty goal and made it a scarcely believable 20-0. Local Northern Pride player Justin Castellaro scored Italy’s first points courtesy of an intercept.
Ireland were helped with a strong win at their backs in he first half, but the Italians had that at their advantage in the second half and were still outscored 16-6 in the second half.
There was an onslaught of Italian attack, and once again the Irish enthusiasm got them over the line during that period as they defended their line defiantly and kept their opposition to just the one try. As what often happens in rugby league, the Irish team got up the other end and almost scored on their first charge in their attacking half, with Irish Michael Morgan being adjudged held up. It didn’t matter as Amor crashed over a minute later. Five minutes later Irish Michael Morgan scored another try and the Irish has stopped the Italian momentum and led 32-12.
They had the last laugh too, with McCarthy-Scarsbrook just before full time to seal the deal and close the Italian job.
What did we learn?
Big name NRL players in amongst the minnows will not always work, as the Irish with their no name squad proved that a decent team working well together is more important.
Some of those big names James Tedesco and Nathan Brown were not especially wonderful, and certainly weren’t enough to stop the Irish and their upset win.
Ireland will be harder to beat than first imagined, and PNG should take note ahead of their match next weekend.
What was the Moment of the Match?
Was Terry Campese’s late withdrawal a key moment before the match started? It deprived the Italian side of his experience in the play making role outside of Jack Johns. That withdrawal was felt even more when the young halfback left the field early in the second half. It left Italy with neither of their first choice halves. Would it have made a difference? Maybe, maybe not as the Irish won on the back of out-enthusing Italy, but their best player was their halfback.
Any other bits and pieces?
- One moment that sums up the Italians day was early in the second half when the Irish spilled a regulation grubber kick, all the Italians had to do was pick the ball up and fall over the line, but they weren’t able to hold on either.
THE DOWLING-TAMATI #RLWC2017 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
We’ve decided that a tournament as big as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup needs a Player of the tournament, and who better than International relations specialists Kevin Tamati and Greg Dowling to name our award.
We award points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale every match, and the results for this game is below. For the running total from all of the games visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
5 POINTS – LIAM FINN – the Irish halfback ran and stole the show with a dominant performance.
4 POINTS – MICHAEL McILORUM – Ireland’s hooker provided a few try assists, on top of excellent service from dummy half throughout.
3 POINTS – LOUIS McCARTHY-SCARSBROOK – the second rower ran for 214 metres and was dangerous with the ball. Rewarded with a last minute try.
2 POINTS – LIAM KAY – Scored two tries and was menacing with the ball throughout.
1 POINT – MICHAEL MORGAN – the Irish version of Michael Morgan offered plenty against the Italians.
MATCH PREVIEW
Who: IRELAND v ITALY
Where and When: Sunday 29 Oct – Cairns
When is it on TV? LIVE 7Mate @ 1:30pm
What’s the Story?
The big story is the big name who will turn out for Italy in the World Cup. James Tedesco was NSW’s best in the 2017 State of origin series, and was voted Player’s Player of the 2017 NRL season, and confirmed his status as one of the game’s big names by being poached by the Roosters. But he is behind Billy Slater in the pecking order, and that’s it. Actually it’s a good thing he wasn’t picked for Australia for neutrals as it now means he can add oodles of interest into a minnow that would otherwise be an obscure result in the morning’s papers.
Can he lead the Italians with a few very good NRL players to a big 2017 Rugby League World Cup?
Ireland have less quality with no NRL stars, but a good coverage of players from the divisions of English Rugby League. Although who knows with minnows at the Rugby Lague World Cup.
Who Will Win and Why?
Has to be Italy with James Tedesco at the heart of everything. But the platform will be laid with Eels strongman Nathan Brown and the impressive Paul Vaughan not forgetting captain Mark Minichiello.
Italy by 8
Who to watch for?
James Tedesco was NSW’s best in the State of Origin series, and player’s player in the NRL in 2017. His omission from the Australian team is Italy’s gain, and all eyes will be on him.
There’s also the halves too. In Terry Campese you have a Where are they Now and in Jack Johns you have a halfback at the beginning of the career with finest of pedigree.
Colin Wilkie isn’t a bad story either, plucked from the Cairns based local competition to train with the Northern Pride Intrust Super Cup team in 2016, he has made it all the way to the World Cup from the Innisfail Leprechauns in under 2 years.
There’s more than one Michael Morgan at this World Cup with Ireland selecting their own Michael Morgan in the centres for the first match of the tournament.
TEAMS
Who’s in the Teams?
IRELAND
- Scott Grix 2. Shannon McDonnell 3. Ed Chamberlain 4. Michael Morgan 5. Liam Kay 6. Api Pewhairangi 7. Liam Finn (c) 8. Brad Singleton 9. Michael McIlorum 10. Kyle Amor 11. Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook 12. Oliver Roberts 13. George King 14. Tyrone McCarthy 15. James Hasson 16. Joe Philbin 17. Anthony Mullally 18. Joe Keyes 19. Will Hope 20. Jack Higginson 21. Matty Hadden
ITALY
- James Tedesco 2. Mason Cerruto 3. Justin Castellaro 4. Nathan Milone 5. Josh Mantellato 6. Terry Campese 7. Jack Johns 8. Paul Vaughan 9. Ryan Ghietti 10. Daniel Alvaro 11. Joel Riethmuller 12. Mark Minichiello (c) 13. Nathan Brown 14. Colin Wilkie 15. Brendan Santi 16. Shannon Wakeman 17. Jayden Walker 18. Christophe Calegri 19. Christopher Centrone 20. Joe Tramontana 21. Gavin Hiscox
