ITALY WON THEIR first Six Nations home match in 11 years on Saturday, beating Scotland 31-29 and handing Ireland the chance to win the championship with a match to spare.
Ireland will claim a second straight title if they defeat England later on Saturday thanks to the Italians winning a breathless match in which Juan Ignacio Brex, debutant Louis Lynagh and Stephen Varney all scored tries.
Further kicked points from Paolo Garbisi and Martin Page-Relo ensured a historic win for Gonzalo Quesada’s team who moved off the bottom of the table and up to fourth on seven points.
Italy hadn’t won at home since beating Ireland in 2013 but came out on top in a match that will live long in the memory of the country’s long-suffering rugby fans, who roared with delight after a nail-biting finish.
Saturday’s win could be crucial for the battle to avoid a ninth straight wooden spoon as Wales, who are now in last place, face France in Cardiff on Sunday.
Italy also travel to Wales, where they last won a Six Nations match two years ago, in their final match next weekend.
Gregor Townsend’s Scotland meanwhile now have a fight on their hands to finish second in the Six Nations for the first time.
Scotland have not finished higher than third since winning the last Five Nations in 1999 and their hopes of ending this year’s edition in the top two have been damaged as both England and France can overtake them this weekend.
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Very impressed by him over the two games against Salzburg. The price is ridiculously low too…
Great thing about Liverpool’s champions league group is that we’ve played two teams (Genk and Salzburg) with good young coaches who play very similar styles of football to us. Minamino and Genk’s Berge were the two opposition players who impressed most for me, and the Calibre of journalist (Reddy, Pearce etc) talking about this move does suggest it’s well in place.
Michael Edwards does it again, most likely…
This would be a very screwed signing from Liverpool if it comes through. Very tidy player and for that price in todays market. Almost no risk…
@Ottomaaan: Screwed indeed
Young,quick,scores goals…a nuisance when he doesn’t have the ball.
Go get him.
No Sancho, so
@Alexi: why, because of the massive 7m it’s going to cost to buy Minamino?
Don’t think the two moves have anything to do with each other.
@Alexi: Cant see klopp signing sancho
@Peter Govan: he definitely doesn’t sound lately like he has the right type of character for klopp or Liverpool
@Alexi: If LFC want Sancho they will get him. With an abundance of WC players it’s very hard to fit someone else in. Perhaps leaving some space for mBappe (summer more likely).
@Alexi: Do liverpool need him? Should be looking at proven players, you could buy 3/4 good squad players for the £100 million sancho would cost.
Centre back and left back needs backup.
@Paddy Kavanagh: I think they absolutely need him. Liverpool’s front 3 have been dogged now for 3seasons and there form or fitness will go if they can’t be rotated. Also if u want to continue staying at the top sometimes u need to buy big, I do agree they need lb and CB cover too though.
@6CL: Mbappe is going nowhere near Anfield unless PSG are going out of business or he’s taking a absolutely massive paycut, and I say that as an LFC Fan. Yeah he’s talented, his age profile is right, but his personality suits a move to Madrid where he can live a Galactico lifestyle and actually win important trophies.
@ℝ:
@6CL: let’s see
@6CL: don’t mean that LFC won’t win important trophies, we will. Just that compared to being Ligue 1 champions year after year virtually uncontested, La Liga and Copa Del Rey are more important…
A number of fringe Liverpool players must be watching this with interest. Is he a cheap deal or in to replace them. Harry Wilson, Shaqiri, and Lallana could all move behind him in the pecking order if he makes an impact.
@Dan: I still think there’s a place for Shaqiri at anfield (might be biased because for some reason I just adore him?!). Think Lallana will be gone in the summer, as will Harry Wilson. Wilson is a decent player but a club like Bournemouth is his level.
@Dan: Lallana will move on….Milner might too. Liverpool are going to be doing a bit of a minor overhaul this summer anyway, just getting this guy in early
@James Doyle: If Leeds come up Milner will leave.
@Peter Dunne: especially with milners current deal up at the end of the year. Be sorry to see him go, he’s been a great servant since coming in
James Pearce reckons hes ours on Jan 1st.
Beat UTD Milan & Moenchengladbach to his signature.Just over 7m.
Good business.
Edward’s strikes again.
He was superb in both games and wouldn’t cost a penny as the club would sell a million shirts in Japan once he signed.