[RUGBYLIST] il XV di Planet rugby

[Paolo Imperatori]

tutti i trequarti dell'Irlanda (e di questo, mi sembra che ce ne siamo
accorti tutti);
tra titolari e riserve praticamente tutti gli avanti dell'Italia,
incredibili le parole di elogio a Bortolami. Notevole. *


15 Girvan Dempsey* - The Irish full-back
has entered a renaissance period, rising above a tired-looking Geordan
Murphy in the pecking order. Not the silky runner Murphy is, but he
brings a little more bite and thrust to his excursions into the
three-quarter line, causing all sorts of problems and making all sorts
of opportunities for those around him. Even took a couple himself...



*14 Sean Lamont* - A quiet tournament to begin with, but that
try in Paris was confirmation that his huge stride is back to terrorise
defences everywhere, and he got through a lot of unsung work coming
into the line off his wing. Imagine what he could do if he had a
genuine playmaker at fly-half.



*13 Brian O'Driscoll* - Not a lot to say about BOD that hasn't
already been said. Absolutely no coincidence that Ireland lost the
crucial game with a try scored through his defensive channel when he
wasn't there. Is so revered in Irish rugby circles that pulled
hamstrings are now actually seen as stigmata... how Ireland must be
praying that his twitchy muscle will relax before September.



*12 Gordon D'Arcy* - Often overshadowed by the rugby deity
outside him, D'Arcy has bounced back from the injury that robbed him of
the momentum he showed in 2004, and he matched his illustrious partner
step for step in creative genius and strong running this year once
more.



*11 Denis Hickie* - Another Ireland back to bounce back from a
long-term injury, Hickie has carried on the superlative run of form he
came into at the end of last season and is heading for the Rugby World
Cup peerless throughout his land. Or any other land in the North.



*10 Ronan O'Gara* - Remember these words: 'Kiwis know their
rugby and know a lemon when they see one. O'Gara should have painted
himself yellow and jumped into a gin and tonic. His kicking was duff,
his tackling was duff and he didn't look like he could run a pack of
girl guides'? Perhaps the author may be asking for the tomato ketchup
right about now... Sadly, we were robbed of the chance to watch Ronan
shoot down his nemesis Jonny Wilkinson, but the way in which the
fly-half orchestrated the obliteration of England and Italy showed that
Munsterman has come a long way from the timid chap who suffered so in
2005.



*9 Harry Ellis* - This was a particularly close call, as
Alessandro Troncon of Italy merits a mention for the way in which he
marshalled, but Ellis offered a little more than just direction, taking
the initiative and creating stacks of chances for his team. Sadly for
him, few of his team-mates were on his wavelength.



*8 Sergio Parisse* - Another close call, with Denis Leamy
close behind, but Parisse's defensive displays when Italy were being
rocked, as well as strong running going forward ensure that he sneaks
ahead of the Irishman in the pack.



*7 David Wallace* - Evening up the close calls as Italy's
Mauro Bergamasco was a close second. But while the Italian hard man
blotted his copybook with a punch on Stephen Jones and a below-par
display against France, Wallace stood out all the way through, and kept
it largely clean, to become quite an unsung hero of his team. And he's
fast isn't he!?



*6 Serge Betsen* - Initially, Simon Easterby had this spot all
sewn up, but a couple of late votes swung it the Frenchman's way. Some
said he may have slowed up and lost his edge over the past season, but
not a bit of it. Every bit the fearless marauding nailsack he was when
he burst onto the scene by doing 'a job' on Jonny Wilkinson six years
ago.



*5 Paul O'Connell* - Even not at his best all the way through,
O'Connell was still ginger head and huge shoulders above the rest.
Where the line-outs faltered, O'Connell made up for it with his
work-rate in the loose, marauding around the field like a red-headed
yeti.



*4 Marco Bortolami* - Italy's captain rarely fails to make the
cut in these reviews, and this year's effort makes it no exception this
time. How much of Ireland's line-out ball did Italy pinch, never mind
the other teams'? Bortolami will occupy a role in Italian rugby history
similar to that of Agustín Pichot in Argentina and Waisale Serevi in
Fiji. But he still has a good few years left to lead the new generation
forward yet.



*3 Martin Castrogiovanni* - Another shoe-in. Italy are
building a reputation for having a forward pack every bit as fearsome
as the Pumas, and Castrogiovanni is the bull-bar at the front of the
juggernaut. Caused indescribable damage in the front row.



*2 Raphaël Ibañez* - France's captain formidable left all the
other hookers a collective distant second, even if he did have to be
told by Imañol Harinordoquy that his team still had a chance to win
after Scotland had scored with four minutes to go. As with O'Connell,
it is the loose work that sets him apart from the others more than his
competence in the tight, but France's line-out was the most secure of
all.



*1 Olivier Milloud* - The 'man most likely to have been hewn
from a cliff-face', Bourgoin prop Milloud was magnificent all
tournament; unflinching, unstoppable, *incroyable*.



*Benched:* 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Carlos Nieto, 18 Jérôme
Thion, 19 Mauro Bergamasco, 20 Alessandro Troncon, 21 David Skréla, 22
Chris Paterson.
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