Wales v Italy

First topic message reminder :

Should be announced soon, just making a preliminary thread. I think the squad picks itself, doubt Warbs will start.

Wales Online predict -

Probable Wales team: L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, J Roberts, S Williams, G North; R Priestland, M Phillips; P James, R Hibbard, A Jones; AW Jones, L Charteris; D Lydiate, J Tipuric, T Faletau



Actual Wales team

Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), George North (Northampton Saints); Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro); Paul James (Bath), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Toby Faletau (NG Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Andrew Coombs (NG Dragons), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

I'm still struggling to find the Italian team lineup...

Right, found this

Michele Rizzo  
Leonardo Ghiraldini  
Martin Castrogiovanni
Quintin Geldenhuys
Marco Bortolami
Alessandro Zanni  
Mauro Bergamasco
Sergio Parisse  
Edoardo Gori  
Tommy Allan
Leonardo Sarto
Alberto Sgarbi  
Michele Campagnaro
Angelo Esposito
Luke McLean
Davide Giazzon  
Alberto De Marchi    
Lorenzo Cittadini  
Joshua Furno      
Francesco Minto    
Tobias Botes  
Luciano Orquera    
Tomasso Iannone

Sadly I agree with GE. Wales have done little to deserve two tries, Italy should be peed with gifting both of them.

That's came at the right moment for Wales who have looked less than convincing over the last 15 mins.

Great pass and support play by Scott Williams who perhaps has been the stand out player

Nachos Jones wrote:That looked forward to me...

me too.

that not being checked, and the italian one earlier that was given and shouldnt have been (play should have continued then been checked), are examples of the advantage of a big, boisterous home crowd.

Some great defence by Italy. Wales was looking a bit nervous at one time. Wales deserving their lead at the moment.

yappysnap wrote:Sadly I agree with GE. Wales have done little to deserve two tries, Italy should be peed with gifting both of them.

Clear forward pass for the second one so gifted by referee not Italy.

Two tries gifted by the ref. before the first one there was a collapsed maul that didn't become immediately available but yet the ref gave Wales an age to let them clear the bodies off the ball.

majesticimperialman wrote:Some great defence by Italy. Wales was looking a bit nervous at one time. Wales deserving their lead at the moment.

I would say that Wales are only slightly deserving of their lead to be honest. The second try could have been ruled out for a forward pass (it should have at least been checked), the first try was a debutant making a horrible mistake (not of Wales making) and when Italy were in a good position, they had a bad call made against them for a knock on.

Scoreline is flattering Wales I would say.

OMG a backrower tackling!!!!!

Roberts best game for Wales for years.

Phillips having a nightmare

Preistland mixed bag - he passing has been poor - which is what he was picked for!

Too many turnovers and penalties in that first half.

yappysnap wrote:OMG a backrower tackling!!!!!

Its why SOB was kept out of the Lions first team! Cause you know SOB can't tackle...

wales606 wrote:Roberts best game for Wales for years.

Phillips having a nightmare

Preistland mixed bag - he passing has been poor - which is what he was picked for!

Too many turnovers and penalties in that first half.

roberts does look awesome.

Nachos Jones wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:Some great defence by Italy. Wales was looking a bit nervous at one time. Wales deserving their lead at the moment.

I would say that Wales are only slightly deserving of their lead to be honest. The second try could have been ruled out for a forward pass (it should have at least been checked), the first try was a debutant making a horrible mistake (not of Wales making) and when Italy were in a good position, they had a bad call made against them for a knock on.

Scoreline is flattering Wales I would say.

The first try was a dodgy bounce and an inexperienced defensive position by the debutant winger.
That second try came off another poor lineout and there was two forward passes, Williams to Roberts and then Roberts to Williams.

Wales probably deserve the lead but only just

I know, it's a rare skill amongst backrow players. I certainly can't think of any others who can tackle

Wales showing signs of lions hangover possibly. Just seem a bit low energy and lacking in ideas. Halfpenny on song with his wide kick will send shudders through the other contenders.

All in all rub of the green going with Wales, as expected at home.

Italy looking like they haven't moved on since last year. Siły mistakes and lack of execution, but workman like pack keeping them almost in touch so far.

Doesn't take long for the Wales-haters to come out and tell us how the ref is favouring our team all the time .

Nick Mallet is complaining about the breakdown.

He says the ref is blowing Italy for the same thing Wales is getting away with.

GloriousEmpire wrote:Wales showing signs of lions hangover possibly. Just seem a bit low energy and lacking in ideas. Halfpenny on song with his wide kick will send shudders through the other contenders.

All in all rub of the green going with Wales, as expected at home.

Italy looking like they haven't moved on since last year. Siły mistakes and lack of execution, but workman like pack keeping them almost in touch so far.

Deppressingly that could be said of England, Ireland, France and Scotland too... Might not be a 6N's for those who like lots of tries.

Italy don't look half bad. Wales haven't hit the heights but are 17-3 up - encouraging or ominous for the four teams watching on?  A handy win with room for improvement puts them in a good position for next week in my opinion

The Saint wrote:Doesn't take long for the Wales-haters to come out and tell us how the ref is favouring our team all the time .

Not a Welsh hater at all, just calling it how I see it. Not blaming the ref at all either. As a Welsh fan, do you honestly think that the scoreline doesn't flatter you somewhat?

Great try there for Italy

Woooo!

Italy 13 deserved that!

Totally deserved

Nachos Jones wrote:

The Saint wrote:Doesn't take long for the Wales-haters to come out and tell us how the ref is favouring our team all the time .

Not a Welsh hater at all, just calling it how I see it. Not blaming the ref at all either. As a Welsh fan, do you honestly think that the scoreline doesn't flatter you somewhat?

I didn't think we'd play particularly well, and it's looking like more of a training run, which is good prep for Ireland I guess. Took their two tries well and wasted some more opportunities so can't complain.

Frak you check that but no others?!!

he cannot be checking the forward pass if he didnt with the wales one. this is shocking.

I'd like to see Biggar and Webb on - unfortunately it will have to just be Webb, since Gats has decided Hook is the steadying influence we need...  

Checking the pass really?

Good try by the ref there. The ref is scoring a few tries today.

Good decision.

If that pass was forward, we should give up this rugby thing.

Well that was forward so should not be a try but then again Wales got lucky with their second try...

Sorry but to deny Italy there would just have been criminal. I'm shocked that professional commentators still do not understand basic forward pass laws.

Looked forward to me. Ah well, deserved by Italy.

First try conceded by Wales in the 6 nations since the first game last year.

Nicely done by Italy.

Just like to clarify i'm in no way a Wales hater. Just backing the under dog here.

Contraverstial.

The Saint wrote:Doesn't take long for the Wales-haters to come out and tell us how the ref is favouring our team all the time .

Terrible decision by the ref, that Italian try was as forward a pass as the Welsh try was

wales606 wrote:Looked forward to me. Ah well, deserved by Italy.

First try conceded by Wales in the 6 nations since the first game last year.

Now that is an impressive stat.

You could see by the cut of the grass that the pass was forward.

Great try from Italy can't believe it took that long to give it

wtf? want to see that obstruction again.

is the ref upset that the TMO awarded the try?

GloriousEmpire wrote:Sorry but to deny Italy there would just have been criminal. I'm shocked that professional commentators still do not understand basic forward pass laws.

A number of posters on here don't understand the forward pass laws either. After much debate over the forward pass in Wales' last encounter with Australia, it's a bit rich for you and all the other haters to come out and be so convinced Wales are throwing forward passes left right and centre.

There goes Halfpenny's player of the tournament award...

Wtf he missed!

The Saint wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:Sorry but to deny Italy there would just have been criminal. I'm shocked that professional commentators still do not understand basic forward pass laws.

A number of posters on here don't understand the forward pass laws either. After much debate over the forward pass in Wales' last encounter with Australia, it's a bit rich for you and all the other haters to come out and be so convinced Wales are throwing forward passes left right and centre.

would have been nice at least for it to be referred, the wales try that is. same standard has to be applied to both sides, and the TMO isnt influenced by the crowd.

Look boys, the ref just gifted us another turnover. Nick Mallet will be ripping his hair out.

Be calm Saint. There's no hate going on here. Just merely that the pass was no more suspect than those featuring in the welsh try.

God dang it Priestland is useless

When will people realise that using the lines on the pitch doesn't work when judging if a pass is forward or not!

Italy is really trying their hearts out here.

Scrumpy wrote:When will people realise that using the lines on the pitch doesn't work when judging if a pass is forward or not!

Which brings us to reiterate my previous point as to why everyone is convinced Wales are throwing forward passes left right and centre after only viewing it once in real time?

Italian coach must be fuming. Stupid mistake after stupid mistake. Besides that they are playing very well.