Itastralians is good but Auzurri is better! #auzurri

Very good game, surprised at how many people left at half-time: what's the point of watching half a game?

Impressed by the way the Italians managed to step up a gear when they felt the pressure, but also at how fearless the Welsh drives were.

Really impressed by the Italians, like previouly mentioned its good to see the game spread. Ok, they were Italian Australians but for me its a start and it pains me to say it but well done Italy, a potential dark horse.

Italians have Kade Snowden available for the next game as he has now served his 7 match suspension.
Kade will add a lot to an already strong forward pack.

Great Britain...36, Australia...60

It takes a real genius to point out that most of the Italian squad play in Australia.

Typo fixed.

It's just a shame that both Gower and Campese are injured and can't play in this world cup.
Italy would be a serious hurdle for the top 3 sides if they had world class halves as well.

It's great to see Joshie Mantellato get MOTM too. No one has done more to get Italy into this position. He paid his own way to play for them in their first season of International competition, his excellent kicking is the reason they got the spot over Lebanon on for and against, and he kicked the field goal to beat England.

Italy will start to roll over the more fancied sides once Kade Snowden joins the team. Italy is competing with Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji for fourth place.

They're more Italian than Chase is English.

It's a farce.

I don't know how minichello kept a straight face, during his interview, as he delivered his verdict in that broad australian accent.

It seems like only yesterday he donned the green and gold. I wonder who he will decide to be at the next tournament.

Maybe his italian great grandma had a welsh breed of dog.

I think Fiji will be the surprize.
They have had the best possible build up with Rick Stone and the Newcastle trainers having spent about 2 years keeping tabs on over 100 players and running camps and trial games in Fiji and Australia to get the best possible squad together.
They would have been a better side if Hayne and Sutton had been available for the halves, because the halves are their weakness now, but they have NRL standard forwards and backs and are trained and drilled much better than any of the other minnow sides - maybe only England has done more pre tournament preparation. But the real edge Fiji have is that they have a lot of spirit and self belief. They will blow Ireland off the park I think, and England will have to show up ready to play or they could be in trouble too.

I agree. I hate seeing Chase in an England shirt.

Quote ="FlexWheeler"It's a farce. I don't know how minichello kept a straight face, during his interview, as he delivered his verdict in that broad australian accent. It seems like only yesterday he donned the green and gold. I wonder who he will decide to be at the next tournament. Maybe his italian great grandma had a welsh breed of dog.'" I take it that you are unfamiliar with the eligibility rules and the nature of international sport. Perhaps you should familiarize yourself. www.goatsport.com/2013/01/the-cu ... igibility/

Quote ="FlexWheeler"It's a farce. I don't know how minichello kept a straight face, during his interview, as he delivered his verdict in that broad australian accent. It seems like only yesterday he donned the green and gold. I wonder who he will decide to be at the next tournament. Maybe his italian great grandma had a welsh breed of dog.'" I take it that you are unfamiliar with the eligibility rules and the nature of international sport. Perhaps you should familiarize yourself. www.goatsport.com/2013/01/the-cu ... igibility/

If they qualify, accept it. I do often think people who 'hate' seeing people born abroad in an England shirt are probably bnp supporters

My understanding is that they are all Italian passport holders....

And knowing many second and third generation immigrants most are fluent in the home language of their family, and are very proud of their heritage.

Who honestly gives a s*** about whether the Italians are more Aussie than I-ti. They were a pretty well drilled outfit yesterday, beat England the other week and I reckon they could go pretty far and fair play to them. They were a great team to watch.

Anthony Minichello is certainly proud of his italian roots, as was jarrad hayne his fijian roots.

I often think people who support people playing for a country because of possible ethnic/cultural links are BNP types



(Because if anything, a lot of BNP types would be happy to see the Minichellos playing for Italy, Cudjoe playing for Grenadia, Billy Slater playing for some European nation on grounds of some ethnic/ancestrial link - It suits the BNP "born in a barn" outlook to a tee)

Should minichello be allowed to play italy after already representing australia?

Absolutely, massive experience and a big name all helps push our game even more, I would rather see him playing than sat watching the TV.

I get why we do it. I would rather that you could not chop and change between tournements but we are were we are.

Not sure how much RL is played in Italy.

Then you are as big an idiot as you seem to be.

What a tool.

What a ridiculous thing to say sadfish!