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

Top class defence there by Wales, no rush and no stress just simply defend until Italy make the mistake.

Biltong wrote:Italy is really trying their hearts out here.

It just the basic skills at critical points they lack

The Saint wrote:

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?

because neither the ref, nor the BBC were willing to show the angles in slowmo, so we have to make our own minds up

I think people would just like to have seen the TMO used at least that's all Saint.

I'd be really enjoying this game if Jonathon Davies would stop talking, he really does talk rubbish.

The Italian try was fine, especially when you consider they may well have scored in the first half had the ref not given a knock on where replays showed it came off the arm of Paul James in the tackle. Swings and roundabouts.

Two missed reasonably simple kicks and this would've been a four point game.

Scrumpy wrote:

Biltong wrote:Italy is really trying their hearts out here.

It just the basic skills at critical points they lack

yeah, they seem to want to pass but it goes to the wrong hands. They aren't putting the players in space with possession

Insane step from Priestland there!

Straight out of the Carlos Spencer school

So close from Priestland, he is having a decent game today both in attack and defence.

quinsforever wrote:

The Saint wrote:

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?

because neither the ref, nor the BBC were willing to show the angles in slowmo, so we have to make our own minds up

Be nice if people could do so without letting their anti-wales bias tint their perspective. It seems to calmed down now anyway, but I guess it'll boil over again when we win .

Lovely steps from Priestland wrongfooted 2 completely

At every second breakdown half the players in the ruck for Wales are sealing off the ball, yet they aren't blown for it.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I'd be really enjoying this game if Jonathon Davies would stop talking, he really does talk rubbish.

The Italian try was fine, especially when you consider they may well have scored in the first half had the ref not given a knock on where replays showed it came off the arm of Paul James in the tackle. Swings and roundabouts.

Dear god this is hilarious.

Hibbard again, what a tackler he is

And as I say that they get penalised.   

Discipline is absolutely atrocious from Wales

Time to make some changes,

Warburton, Webb and Owens on please.

To be fair it's a rare day when sealing off is ever pinged by the ref

Seeing is people are willing to point out Wales' misdemeanours why has nobody pointed out Castro collapsing every single scrum and hardly getting penalised for it?

The welsh defence has been offside a few time yet it's only Italy being penalised, maybe it's their bright blue kit that is catching them out.

wtf. obstruction only counts if done by blue. this ref is shocking today. he only blows if the crowd makes a big noise.

Awful decision for the touch judge - nowhere near a penalty.

wales606 wrote: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...  

You mean that well known Perpignan flyhalf and playmaker?......

Oh no that's Tomaso Allan and he is already on for Italy   

Do you mean that well known Perpignan fullback who wants to play flyhalf but cannot command a club place?    

jiffy needs to keep his gob shut.

That's not a penalty, James stood his ground and did not move towards Allen.

Overall I am enjoying this game more than I expected, it is always better when both trams are competitive

Never a penalty. Come on lads why aren't you pointing this out? I thought we had the ref in our back pocket .

Italy to finish 3rd in Championship

quinsforever wrote:wtf. obstruction only counts if done by blue. this ref is shocking today. he only blows if the crowd makes a big noise.

Not for the 1st time the ref favours wales in Cardiff.

But these things happen

The Saint wrote:Seeing is people are willing to point out Wales' misdemeanours why has nobody pointed out Castro collapsing every single scrum and hardly getting penalised for it?

I am really confused by you, there has been no anti Welsh bias here, its been open and honest comments both for and against Wales. I can only assume you are looking for negative things to create an argument?

Maybe he is feeling guilty now.   

Phillips has this irritating knack of never supporting the ruck. It was 3 Italians against one welsh there and he tries to get hands on the ball rather than simply securing possession

Scrappy with moments of individual brilliance is my assessment of the second half so far.

Stop whinging about anti-wales bias Saint. People have been very honest on this thread I've thought, including the other Welsh fans.

I find Phillips frustrating to watch

The Saint wrote:Never a penalty. Come on lads why aren't you pointing this out? I thought we had the ref in our back pocket .

on repeat i agree it wasnt a penalty. but the ref didnt give it. was the touch judge!

Castro does it again.

Faletau really is a monster at the breakdowns.

It's a bit scrappy. Game opening up but nobody yet has the skill to execute on the counter.

WRUburtons on.

Wales are crying out for a number 10 here to take control of this game

Nachos Jones wrote:Faletau really is a monster at the breakdowns.

Probably best player today.

Nachos Jones wrote:

The Saint wrote:Seeing is people are willing to point out Wales' misdemeanours why has nobody pointed out Castro collapsing every single scrum and hardly getting penalised for it?

I am really confused by you, there has been no anti Welsh bias here, its been open and honest comments both for and against Wales. I can only assume you are looking for negative things to create an argument?

It's less biased now, but all of it at the beginning was anti-wales, we hear the same stuff every year about how we're always offside and how ref favours us all the time. I'm surprised why nobody pointed out Castro collapsing scrums, he's been doing it for year and it reflects the Azzuri's negative attitude to rugby.

until that accidental obstruction, philips has been unnoticeable today.   

wolfball wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:Faletau really is a monster at the breakdowns.

Probably best player today.

I would say Hibbard myself, he has tackled Italy off the field.

wolfball wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:Faletau really is a monster at the breakdowns.

Probably best player today.

Not according to Mallet and Biltong. He's a cheat apparently.

Get Philips off!!!

Speaking of negative rugby why are wales kicking at goal with this lead?

Nachos Jones wrote:

wolfball wrote:

Nachos Jones wrote:Faletau really is a monster at the breakdowns.

Probably best player today.

I would say Hibbard myself, he has tackled Italy off the field.

Fair enough, they're both on my fantasy team, so all good..

the scrum has been a real mess today.

that looked like italy were going forwards to me. who knows. i dont think parisse would be that upset otherwise.

A 9 point lead??? of course they kick at goal!!!