Fantasy Six Nations 2021 Preview – Italy

Fantasy Rugby Geekon

With Saturday 6th February 2021 fast approaching, it’s time to delve a bit deeper into this year’s potential fantasy Six Nations stars. So over the next two weeks FRG is providing a quick preview of all the teams from a fantasy perspective. Today we look at Italy…

Italy

In a nutshell

Italy Rugby endured a chastening 2020. Already shorn of their lengendary talisman, Sergio Parisse, they then went through the year without a single win. Their for and against record in 2020 in 8 games was 84 for and a huge 280 against. On top of this, they lost their superstar and Parisse’s heir apparent, Jake Polledri to a significant knee injury that will take him out for the entirety of the Six Nations.
 
Since joining the Six Nations in 2000, the best they have managed to do is to reach 4th place twice in 2007 and 2013, and they have been priced by the bookies at 500/1 this year. Ultimately, it is hard to see where a win will come for them this year, with the wooden spoon being more a likelihood than ever.

Current World Ranking

14th (As of the 7th December 2020)

Performance in the 2020 Six Nations

6th

Odds on winning Six Nations 2021

500/1 (Rank Outsiders)

Six Nations History (Since start of Six Nations in 2000)

4th place x 2 (2007 and 2013)

Most likely to make a fantasy impact

Paolo Garbisi (Fly Half – Benetton)

Key players to consider

Braam Steyn (Loose Forward – Benetton), Paolo Garbisi (Fly Half – Benetton), Matteo Minozzi (Outside Back – Wasps), Edoardo Padovani (Outside Back – Benetton), Jayden Hayward (Outside Back – Benetton)

Top Performers in 2020 Six Nations

  • Most Points: Paolo Garbisi (12 points)
  • Most Tries: Jake Polledri, Matteo Minozzi, Mattia Bellini, Federico Zani, P Garbisi and Edoardo Padovani (1 try each)
  • Most Assists: Jayden Hayward (2 assists)
  • Successful Kicks: Tommaso Allan and Paolo Garbisi (3 successful kicks each)
  • Most Metres Carried: Jayden Hayward (270m carried)
  • Most Defenders Beaten: Jake Polledri (21 defenders beaten)
  • Most Clean Breaks: Matteo Minozzi (8 clean breaks)
  • Most offloads: Matteo Minozzi (10 offloads)
  • Most Successful tackles: Jake Polledri (66 tackles made)

Full squad for Round 1

Likely Kickers

Successful kicks from Italy kickers since September 1st 2018… 

Kits

 

Italy’s kit can be purchased here at Lovell Rugby (*Full disclosure, this is an affiliate link, so FRG will earn a small commission if kits are purchased through this link)

Full list of Matches

  • Round 1 – Saturday February 6th, 2:15pm GMT – Italy v France – Stadio Olimpico
  • Round 2 – Saturday February 13th, 2:15pm GMT – England v Italy – Twickenham
  • Round 3 – Saturday February 27th, 2:15pm GMT – Italy v Ireland – Stadio Olimpico
  • Round 4 – Saturday March 13th, 2:15pm GMT – Italy v Wales – Stadio Olimpico
  • Round 5 – Saturday March 20th, 2:15pm GMT – Scotland v Italy – Murrayfield

If you back your Fantasy Rugby skills to lead you to Fantasy Six Nations glory and win you some stash while you are at it, then join our public fantasy league on The Rugby Magazine fantasy game, where a signed paperback copy of the Fantasy Rugby Handbook and a Fantasy Rugby Geek Trucker Hat, will be on offer for the winner of the league. Join it here!

Fantasy Rugby Games for the 2021 Six Nations

A summary of the top games that you can play fantasy rugby for the 2021 Six Nations…

Pre-tournament articles

In case you missed any of our other pre-Six Nations articles, make sure you check out the following to help guide your pre-tournament preparations…

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If you want some more sources to help you finalise your decisions, go to our resources page where you’ll find all the 2021 Six Nations fantasy games, all the stats sources, injury news, team news, fantasy relevant rugby betting odds and tons of other useful information.

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