Bravo Martin

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:21 am

Hi to everyone

I'm an Italian former prop, and i watched Quins vs Tigers last game on Sky here in Italy last saturday.

I'm very happy after seeing Martin Castrogiovanni's perfomance during all the match. He's worth for Premiership League and for Tigers, a very strong team. My compliments for him and the whole team, of course, and my wishes.

Italy has made very good forwards, like Martin, Marco Bortolami, Fabio Ongaro, and so on. I'm proud to see them play in a so competitive league like Premiership. Maybe, when we'll have backs too....

no more wooden spoons? i hope

My best wishes for Tigers for this year

Angelo from Vicenza (near Treviso and Venice ^^)

Tyler · Post by **Tyler** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:25 am

Can't agree more, he's been the signing of the season so far, superb against Sale and Quins lets hope "Castro" keeps going.He must be good as we haven't missed Wiggy god bless him. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

The Countess of Welford · Tue Sep 26, 2006 10:40 am

And I love his tattoo :D

Iain · Post by **Iain** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 11:29 am

I've been impressed with Castro so far. Strong scrummager (utmost importance) and more than happy to put himself about in the loose. Whats not to like?

anything_but_ordinary · Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:33 pm

martin is an awesome player!!!

and is rather cute if i may say so!!!

Rizzo · Post by **Rizzo** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 2:52 pm

Welcome to the board, Angelo!

Castro is a definite benefit to us, a good signing and he has played very well from what I've seen. Italy has some great players, and I wish you luck for your team too.

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 4:30 pm

Rizzo wrote:Welcome to the board, Angelo!

Castro is a definite benefit to us, a good signing and he has played very well from what I've seen. Italy has some great players, and I wish you luck for your team too.

Many Thanks for the welcome, Rizzo. I agree with that. Italian way of playing Rugby is forwards -based. And that from the beginnings to today. Play the ball near the forwards, massive use of pick and go's, rucking and mauling at most. The backs are less used, and tactics kicks of the halfs are preferred (up and unders, or touch kicks).

This maybe dated, ugly to see for someone, but concrete gamestyle makes excellents forwards, like Castro. We export scrummers all over the Europe, but we must import backs.

And so...hi to everyone!

P.S. if i make mistakes writing, please tell me, so i learn ...:oops:

Hairy Egg · Post by **Hairy Egg** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 4:40 pm

Angelo wrote: if i make mistakes writing, please tell me, so i learn ...:oops:

Molto Bene Angelo!

Your English is better than some I've seen on this forum

For me Castro has been the signing of the season, he was very strong against Sale and seemed to work well with Moreno.

Anyone who runs onto the pitch with his socks round his ankles is good in my book!!

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 5:04 pm

pbanks792 wrote:Welcome, Angelo :D

Whereabouts in Italy are you?

I'm from Vicenza, near Venezia and Treviso
(so you can guess which Italian super 10 team is my favorite ... maybe Benetton ?

)

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 5:05 pm

Hairy Egg wrote:
Angelo wrote: if i make mistakes writing, please tell me, so i learn ...:oops:
Molto Bene Angelo!

Your English is better than some I've seen on this forum

Grazie mille! (Thanks a lot!)

bigstef · Post by **bigstef** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 8:37 pm

Ah, a fellow italian (though i must admit my italian is limited) yes martin has been wonderful, im very hopefull this year for our national squad, we have one of the best packs in the world, certainly up there in the top 10 me thinks, Castrogiavanni, Nieto, Ongaro, Bortolami, Parisse, Bergamasco , it could be a good year

Lufbratiger · Post by **Lufbratiger** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:25 pm

I agree with you entirely Angelo!

Italian rugby has improved immensly in the last few seasons congratulations
on that :D Always rated 'Castro' though he did seem a little raw, but loads of
potential good move to come to leicester for a spot of 'fine tuning'.

The Italian team is just a few players short of being a true rugby power
but at the current level of improvement you will not be waiting long
for some international silverware. Forwards are World class at the
moment as someone else has pointed out just need some more
quality in the backs to compliment this.

Club rugby is still a lot lower standard in your country
BUT i think you will emulate the French football team
and have all your stars playing in superior foreign leagues.
THis is happening already at clubs like Stade, Leicester and
Gloucester hopefully increasing the national
teams standards (even more) and creating more interest
in the game in Italy.

I welcome more world class teams in the international game as it makes
it more interesting :D Long may your improvement continue!

ronnied · Post by **ronnied** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:34 pm

Welcome our Italian friend

I agree the tattoo was a slight distraction for me on Saturday!

Ronnie

Chris Lunson · Post by **Chris Lunson** » Wed Sep 27, 2006 11:21 am

Castro is brilliant!!!

He's strong, fast and is great at srumaging. This boy could becme a real stalwart for Leicester.

I like his tattoo aswell!