Italy v Georgia Reaction | Autumn Nations Series Rugby | 2024

[@brianharvey9765]

The trajectory of Georgia, Portugal and maybe Spain is quite exciting and is good for rugby.

[@marcteenhc9793]

Georgia has always been out there. The real newcomer is Portugal and perhaps also Spain.

[@KissellMissile]

There needs to be a single tournament for all Tier 2 nations to play every year, even if it has be hosted in a single (rotating) nation. They need more games.

[@marcteenhc9793]

@@KissellMissile No, they should not be treated as parias and be kicked out into a different universe. We need to expand and then also incorporate relegation in both the 6Nations and in the Rugby Championship.

[@2011ESD]

Don't forget the likes of Uruguay and Chile

[@JimFletcher-h5c]

​@@marcteenhc9793Don't forget that Spain actually qualified for the last two World Cups

[@kristian762]

That was an entertaining game to watch, and I think a lot of credit needs to go to Ben O'Keefe for that. He manages a game so well, and I think he's right up there with the best. Compare that to the performance we had from Andrew Brace, who's getting a lot of criticism. Brace didn't really do anything wrong in terms of making bad calls or missing obvious infringements. But he didn't allow the game to flow in the same way that O'Keefe does, who seems like he's always in control of the game, let's it flow, tends to make good quick decisions and backs himself, anything he's unsure of he asks the tmo to check in the background. I wonder how much Whitehouse would involve himself unnecessarily in a game with O'Keefe blowing the whistle, because he does seem to like to get involved a bit more than other TMOs, and the TMO interference often affects how we view a refs performance.

[@solinvictus1234]

The most ugly match by Italy so far, what is a good sign is that they win it. When the Italians was playing bad they would have lose the game 100%. If now they are capable to win also playing so bad, it's an encouraging sign. A win is a win.

[@Samizouza]

The rivalry continues, so close Lelos

[@TrinityTommy]

We still have a lot to do (mentality, attack, bench depth, lineout etc). I don't think it was a good idea to organise the rematch against the Allblacks in this period...

[@randomlyfactual1943]

Hey man, I'll be cheering Italy on from South Africa. Usually we cheer for Southern sides over the Northerners, but I have been aching for Italy to out it all together for a long time! Go Italia

[@wouterswanepoel5753]

@@randomlyfactual1943 I'm a Saffer too mate and as much as I also always want Italy to improve, I feel exactly the same about Georgia. And Portugal. And Spain. And Antarctica. (Just joking 😂). It's great to see the Tier 2 teams making so much progress.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

​@@randomlyfactual1943 Thanks!

[@Zveebo]

The Italian tactics in the first half were extraordinarily bad. Kicking the ball repeatedly to Niniashvili was never going to end well, but they just kept on doing it, time after time. Come on guys - a bit of on-field smarts is needed here!

[@gio0793]

That was intentional. They tried to break niniashvili. Every time they played dirty against him. They wanted to take him out

[@solinvictus1234]

​@@gio0793Just BS

[@NoName-hg6cc]

​@gio0793 You support one of the dirtiest teams in soccer 😂😂😂 And no, that wasn't the reason

[@omacburma]

Great first half from Georgia, but nothing in the second half costs them in the end. I hope they rebound against Tonga next week (I'll be there in person watching!)

[@Camcolito]

I'm so pissed off that Georgia aren't in the 6 Nations. Should be 7 Nations.

[@KissellMissile]

I don't think they really fit there. Need to start building a new comp with its own history.

[@cameronaugustine9863]

Agreed. I just feel like we need something like the European league. 6 nation is to limited and doesn't make much sense.

[@lovejoy131]

Georgia are a weird one as they are a proper rugby country but they are such a small market which wouldn’t really benefit the Six Nations teams. I think a bi-annual euros style tournament is the best option going forward. So many European teams would benefit from having guaranteed T1 contests and would potentially increase interest and participation for these teams as well.

[@amandaflatherty7289]

The 6 nations is also a franchise if I'm not mistaken 🤔

[@mungoboomdecker9711]

Wrong side of Europe and off the field the country is close to civil war.

[@patrickcoote8441]

There is a competition below the Six Nations and I don’t agree with expanding it or adding relegation. They should invest more in the league below, have England A, France A etc. participation to expand audiences. We should protect what we have in the Six Nations but support the growth where possible. RSA were looking for another competition:)

[@charlottescott7150]

Thanks Mark.

[@CRUSHENGLISH]

Saw the game. Italy are....I'll hold my tongue. In fairness Georgia did well considering they saw little of the ball. How the Azzuri didn't get more points from a knacked Georgian pack in the 2nd half beats me.

[@lsdesignweb]

I'll say it they ARE RIDICULOUS .... celebrating a win over a Tier 2 by just 3 points

[@NoName-hg6cc]

​​@@lsdesignwebBetter than losing And your team is?

[@gio0793]

No Gorgadze no party

[@cameronaugustine9863]

Georgia was robbed bro.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

😂😂😂 Lol no

[@carlettob72]

Yeah in a parallel universe

[@michelefavaretto627]

If Georgia just couldn't reach and go over their opposite 22 line once in the second half...it's not Italy's fault, mate.

[@cameronaugustine9863]

@@NoName-hg6cc Bro you everywhere? 😂

[@NoName-hg6cc]

@@cameronaugustine9863 What about you?🤣

[@marcteenhc9793]

Is Italy sinking to a new low, or has Georgia really improved that much?

[@KissellMissile]

Italy has been close to Georgia for a long time.

[@lovejoy131]

Italy peppered Georgia for most of the game. I think they had near 90% territory in the second half and 79% overall. Their attacking system does not seem to gelling like it did in the 2024 and 2023 Six Nations though. Expect them to get destroyed by New Zealand but they were clearly a step above Georgia today despite the score.

[@michelefavaretto627]

I think that Georgia actually got worse...they played much better two years ago against Italy.

[@solinvictus1234]

They just mistaken the tactic in the first half, that's all. No material for "a new sinking".

[@gio0793]

​@@michelefavaretto627maybe because we didn't had our captain and 2 vice captains in the match yesterday? We missed 3 stars. Plus multiple key players up front in the 1st row

[@anro1075]

No capuozzo and we are one of the most predictable teams ever. Alessandro Garbisi was literaly garbage.

[@NoName-hg6cc]

Garbage? Dude...

[@jpb7887]

Very harsh referee to Georgia

[@NoName-hg6cc]

Against Italy Didn't see any of the Georgian offside

[@michelefavaretto627]

Why harsh? If you slap the ball in front of your try line to stop the italian action is penalty try and yellow card for the player...georgians conceded an immense amount of penalties and they were constantly offside. The referee actually didn't punish them enough.

[@giorgigogsadze3343]

All 50/50 situations were judged in favor of Italy.. I could not remind a single case when a referee is neutral when it comes to game between t1 and t2 teams.

[@franomano7543]

What are you yapping about? Do you forget the lelos got 2 warnings for repeated offside and they never got a yellow card for it despite them doing all game long? The ref itself said the Yellow was a different think. The ref was bad both ways, no one like o'keefe end of the story

[@NoName-hg6cc]

😂😂😂 Georgians were constantly offside

[@carlettob72]

Georgians tried to stop the Italian quick play by every move...even offside.. is that regular? Nah

[@michelefavaretto627]

You guys don't live in the reality. The referee should have carded the georgians much more all over the game, but he didn't, he actually helped you. Your discipline just sucked, so don't blame the referee for your mistakes, be humble and admit you were not good enough to win this match.

[@Zveebo]

This is objectively hilarious. The Georgians were constantly offside and also engaged in deliberate time wasting at various points. They were *extremely* lucky to have a ref who repeated warned them rather than actually handing out a yellow (or more than one), which was easily deserved.

[@lsdesignweb]

ITALY IS SOOOOOOOO ridiculous, celebrating a win against a Tier 2 team for 3 points???

[@NoName-hg6cc]

Better than losing.

[@cheesecake6696]

Georgia are technically their biggest rival. If you can't celebrate that what can you celebrate?

[@solinvictus1234]

Get out little troll. You can't trolling not even your mother.

[@lsdesignweb]

@@cheesecake6696 Italy is a Tier 1 that have been in the 6N for 20 something years , and I'm no Italian but I bet mys ass italian fans dont see gerogia as their main rival

[@JimFletcher-h5c]

​@@lsdesignwebThey may not but you would have to say the two teams are quite close in terms of level