ITALY COACH CONOR O’Shea was proud of the way his side, thrashed 63-10 by his native Ireland in their previous match, fronted up against reigning champions England at Twickenham yesterday.
England boss Eddie Jones had said he wanted England to “take Italy to the cleaners,” a point not lost on O’Shea in the wake of the 36 – 15 defeat.
“He wanted 70 (points) so he wanted to ‘take us to the cleaners’,” O’Shea said.
“Is that respect? I actually loved it when they kicked for goal as that was a bit of respect and I’m gutted that we finished the game off the way we did.”
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O’Shea said assistant coach Brendan Venter, the former South Africa international and the man who laid the foundations for the current success of English and European champions Saracens, for the tactical plan which so annoyed England.
Sergio Parisse, Italy’s captain, insisted the Azzurri had done nothing wrong in standing off rucks and trying to block the line of a pass from England scrum-half Danny Care to fly-half George Ford.
“We just followed the rules. Obviously it’s still a defeat for us so we can’t be happy for that, but I’m really proud of the boys and the team because we are not the same level as England, and we come to Twickenham, and we go into the changing rooms (at half-time) leading in the score,” said Parisse.
The veteran number eight added: “Today was a good plan. So it’s good for Conor and Brendan and all the staff.
“For us, as the players, it’s important that we stick to the plan, and give it 100%. We’ll maybe have another plan, more crazy things!”
Meanwhile an unrepentant O’Shea said: “This is an unbelievable rugby nation which is in trouble.
We will dig our way out of this hole by thinking differently.
“There’s so much to do, but we’ll do it and I think today you could almost say we’ve had enough and we’re going to fight.”
O'Shea delighted by England's eventual show of respect as Italy refuse to be taken to the cleaners
ITALY COACH CONOR O’Shea was proud of the way his side, thrashed 63-10 by his native Ireland in their previous match, fronted up against reigning champions England at Twickenham yesterday.
England boss Eddie Jones had said he wanted England to “take Italy to the cleaners,” a point not lost on O’Shea in the wake of the 36 – 15 defeat.
“He wanted 70 (points) so he wanted to ‘take us to the cleaners’,” O’Shea said.
“Is that respect? I actually loved it when they kicked for goal as that was a bit of respect and I’m gutted that we finished the game off the way we did.”
O’Shea said assistant coach Brendan Venter, the former South Africa international and the man who laid the foundations for the current success of English and European champions Saracens, for the tactical plan which so annoyed England.
Sergio Parisse, Italy’s captain, insisted the Azzurri had done nothing wrong in standing off rucks and trying to block the line of a pass from England scrum-half Danny Care to fly-half George Ford.
“We just followed the rules. Obviously it’s still a defeat for us so we can’t be happy for that, but I’m really proud of the boys and the team because we are not the same level as England, and we come to Twickenham, and we go into the changing rooms (at half-time) leading in the score,” said Parisse.
The veteran number eight added: “Today was a good plan. So it’s good for Conor and Brendan and all the staff.
“For us, as the players, it’s important that we stick to the plan, and give it 100%. We’ll maybe have another plan, more crazy things!”
Meanwhile an unrepentant O’Shea said: “This is an unbelievable rugby nation which is in trouble.
“There’s so much to do, but we’ll do it and I think today you could almost say we’ve had enough and we’re going to fight.”
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Azzurri Six Nations Conor O'Shea Eddie Jones Italy Twickenham