By Kath: updated with italy team 14/2/04
February 14 2004

England set off for Italy on Thursday to defend their RBS Six Nations Championships Title. Sir Clive Woodward has named a world cup squad starting fifteen to take on Italy at the Stadio Falminio in Rome.

RBS Six Nations Championship 2004

England v Italy Preview - 15/2/04

England's International Rugby calendar will begin again on Sunday at the Stadio Flaminio, Roma, Italy.

The Rugby World Cup Champions of 2003 are about to start defending their RBS Six Nations Title, their Grand Slam, the Calcutta Cup and their Rugby World Cup Champions status.  Make no mistake every team on this planet will now want a piece of England and the first team to beat the Rugby World Cup Champions will boast of that scalp for days, weeks and months after!

Sir Clive Woodward said, "come the 1st January, 2004 we consign 2003 to the history books".  And he has but just like all good books most of us will go back and read the story again and re-watch the video of the final which is only natural.  

However, Sir Clive is once again correct with this view, England must not stand still, we must move on and develop.  In many ways Sir Clive has been forced to move England on, due to Martin Johnson's retirement, Jonny Wilkinson's injury and the other many injuries that the world cup squad have picked up in the last couple of months, coupled with the fact that some of the Leicester normal contingent might just have other worries on their minds.   

Yes Sir Clive has moved on and swiftly, we have seen the re-emergence of  Henry Paul and Sir Clive talking very favourably of him plus some outstanding new youngsters joining the squad and team.  Many fans have spluttered and tutted this last week at the selection of the team especially the No10 spot - but hey, this was always going to happen.   Paul Grayson says himself he has earned this chance at the No10 slot and his place kicking is 92% and that is very goods odds to my mind.  

In England we are really very lucky to have such an abundance of rugby talent at all positions and that is due by no small means to the Zurich Premiership Clubs and their Owners, who sometimes I feel don't get the credit that is due to them.

And of our new Vice Captain Will Greenwood - Sir Clive had this to say "He’s a tremendous leader behind the scenes and has always helped out Jonny Wilkinson in that role. So now with Jonny not being available, it’s important Will steps into the frame,  especially in our attacking play".

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And so this weekend we will all be transported either by plane (if you are lucky enough to be going), or by the good old Beeb to that sumptuous country of  Italy, to the Eternal City of Roma.  To the historic Roman monuments and the wine, the famous hills and the wine, the beautiful Venetian Glass and the wine, the wonderful gold, the beaches, the history, the food and the WINE!    Whoops! - apologies I seem to have slipped into the Vino mood here!    Ok let us move onto the Stadium?

The Stadio Flaminio which was built in 1959 for the 1960 Olympics and refurbished in 1998 to the tune of 4 million lire and is a worthy international arena. Capacity: 42,000 - It has a very intimidating atmosphere with the crowds being very near to the play, so England can expect a cauldron of noise and tension for their opening match.

 

"The starting 15 are all guys who have been involved with the World Cup and I expect them to move very swiftly into gear," said England coach Clive Woodward.

And of our new Vice Captain Will Greenwood - Sir Clive had this to say "He’s a tremendous leader behind the scenes and has always helped out Jonny Wilkinson in that role. So now with Jonny not being available, it’s important Will steps into the frame,  especially in our attacking play".

 

ITALY: A Masi (Viadana); N Mazzucato (Calvisano), C Stoica (Montpellier), M Dallan (Treviso), D Dallan (Treviso); R Wakarua (Brescia), P Griffen (Calvisano); A Lo Cicero (Lazio), F Ongaro (Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), S Dellape (Treviso), M Bortolami (Padova), A De Rossi (Calvisano, capt); A Persico (Leeds), S Parisse (Treviso).
Replacements: S Perugini (Calvisano), C Festuccia (SKG Gran Parma), C Checchinato (Benetton Treviso), Silvio Orlando (Benetton Treviso), S Picone (Benetton Treviso), R De Marigny (Overmach Parma), M Bergamasco (Stade Francais).

ENGLAND: I Balshaw (Bath); J Lewsey (Wasps), W Greenwood (Harlequins Vice Captain), J Robinson (Sale Sharks),        B Cohen (Northampton); P Grayson (Northampton), A Gomarsall (Gloucester); T Woodman (Gloucester), S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Gloucester), D Grewcock (Bath), B Kay (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), R Hill (Saracens),      L Dallaglio (Wasps, Captain).Replacements: M Regan (Leeds), J Leonard (Harlequins), S Shaw (Wasps), C Jones (Sale Sharks), M Dawson (Northampton), O Barkley (Bath), H Paul (Gloucester).

Just time to sound my usual cry...............

The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit; and, upon this charge.......
'CRY GOD FOR HARRY ENGLAND AND ST. GEORGE '
Henry V (1599) Act3, Scene1