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

quinsforever wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Bergamasco rucking his own player?!   

WRUburton's newly centrally contracted ankle i think

Why was he wearing an Italian players socks???

wales606 wrote:Faletau and Roberts the only Welsh players to impress

thought Roberts was awesome in the first half. did he get subbed already or is he just i little bit quieter this half?

I fancy Ireland next week

Nachos Jones wrote:Poor kick from Priestland.

MotM to the Italian 13, ok deservedly but I would have given it to Hibbard who was a monster with tackling today.

Faletau for me.

I rate the whole Welsh backline except Priestland and Phillips, having said that Priestland looked good with ball in hand today

Roberts has done a fair amount this half too

Today definitely dents our chances of retaining our title, we really need to up the tempo and cut out the errors next week in Dublin.

Just become a mistake fest now. For all its looking like a disappointing score Wales have been far better

Another forward pass missed!

For wales that is!

yappysnap wrote:

quinsforever wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Bergamasco rucking his own player?!   

WRUburton's newly centrally contracted ankle i think

Why was he wearing an Italian players socks???

watch it again. warburton is trying to spoil with his foot. he looks to the ref after his ankle gets rucked.

pressure is definitely on WRUburton to justify his spot ahead of Tipuruc after only Sam got the central contract. probably means he's going to be putting his body very much on the line.

So points from the game.

Wales looked powerful and when the 9/10 combined showed some good phases of play. In defense they were just as brutal as you'd expect. Lineout was a little scrappy and the whole team seemed lethargic at points.

Italy looked hungry for ball and keen to try to run the ball often. Really aggressive in attack and really good defense, but still issues about creating gaps and using space. As an England fan slightly worried about travelling to Rome now.

Wales will be disappointed with the scoreline, points difference will certainly come into it if there is no grandslam winner

We'll played Italy

Just a terrible game from Gats lovechild, his aimless kicking sums up the afternoon. Ireland's back 3 will relish the opportunity. DROP NOW.

Disappointing for Wales, I think that they underestimated Italy somewhat. Still, its the first game of the 6N so you would expect a rusty performance from both teams but Wales get the all important win.

Scrumpy wrote:We'll played Italy

Well.

The Saint wrote:Just a terrible game from Gats lovechild, his aimless kicking sums up the afternoon. Ireland's back 3 will relish the opportunity. DROP NOW.

Bring back Biggar. Bring back Peel. Bring back anybody

Well done Wales - need to up that game or Ireland for the win next week.
Great play from Italy. Unlucky - if they'd been at home a win for Italy I think - warning there for England!

Rhys did alright

Why is Adam jones and Paul James waving to warren?

If Italy had a fair ref and decent kicker this could've been their match.

Wales looked average but it was their first match so fair enough. I'm sure better opposition will bring the best out of them.

Always going to be a rusty game first up. Wales tactics perhaps not quite right but the forwards and key backs stepped up when needed. Especially at the ruck and tackle.

Scrumpy wrote:Rhys did alright

Why is Adam jones and Paul James waving to warren?

Rumour has it their waving to you. Wales won, cry some more please .

I think just about job done wales.

You would not have thought that Italy are missing all those backs. They have some good players coming through

I'm personally disappointed with that. Wales under performing has hit my wallet. +8 points difference at home to Italy may come back to haunt them if, as expected, nobody takes the GS.

enjoyed the match. great tackling and a few really soft tries, and lots of intensity. classic 6N fare.

do think the ref needed to use the TMO more even-handedly.

but i suppose thats all in the nature of home field advantage, ie huge roars when crowd sees a red advantage, nothing when a blue one.

is why dublin and HQ are going to be challenging for wales this year.

The Saint wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:We'll played Italy

Well.

Predictive text on iPad, it's a knight mare  

I really thought Wales would try to be more dominant and execute their plays better but you have to give some credit to the Italians... who seemed up for it.

Is it safe to say that Wales were probably a touch unprepared in a mental sense and things didn't come off as well as they could have in general play?

They probably felt as though they would go in as favourites at home, naturally... and would most likely have the measure of whatever Italy could throw at them. Perhaps they slightly underestimated Italy or were simply a bit slow off the mark but they certainly need to sharpen themselves up for next weekend.

Don't forget to congratulate the winner of the game lads.



And no, I don't mean Wales. Like anyone would ever commend Wales. Well done ref, good win for the ref!

The Saint wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:Rhys did alright

Why is Adam jones and Paul James waving to warren?

Rumour has it their waving to you. Wales won, cry some more please .

The champions at home, beat Italy.

Shock horror!

Scrumpy wrote:

The Saint wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:We'll played Italy

Well.

Predictive text on iPad, it's a knight mare  

Yeh, I've herd that's a pane.

Phillips and Webb were both awful - slow, ponderous and poor decision making

Preistland was pretty awful, a couple of flashes but the rest of the time we was a headless chicken - his cross kick attempts were dreadful for a start.

Lydiate and Tipuric did nothing to improve their chances of starting next week - they are lucky Ryan is out injured for a start!

Halfpenny offer nothing in attack and it is becoming a big liability - he tried at one point and threw a horror intercept.

2 tries conceded in 1 game - compared to 3 in the entire tournament last year.

Roberts and Faletau the only poitives

Great game ref.   

Just need to pucker up on those breakdowns, eh?

I don't get the rusty part its not like italy have had as much time together as wales.

Also how many of those italian backs played in november

How do people feel about Wales winning with the ref in their back pocket? I've never seen a team that spent 80 minutes offside get away with so many forward passes. Wayne Barnes/NZ eat your heart out.

1/2p looked rusty, has he been playing for the blues?

Not surprised wales were mentally underprepared.

According the Warbs they wouldn't even celebrate if they beat SA or NZ because it's expected. Imagine how little the prospect of facing the Italians must motivate the mighty Wales XV.

Scrumpy wrote:1/2p looked rusty, has he been playing for the blues?

Yes, very poorly

Roberts was immense. Not sure if HP deserves so much vitriol. A bad pass, and not a good game today but the boy has class.

The Saint wrote:Don't forget to congratulate the winner of the game lads.



And no, I don't mean Wales. Like anyone would ever commend Wales. Well done ref, good win for the ref!

Well done Wales. Saint, lose the pity party. It's ugly.

The Saint wrote:How do people feel about Wales winning with the ref in their back pocket? I've never seen a team that spent 80 minutes offside get away with so many forward passes. Wayne Barnes/NZ eat your heart out.

Well said Saint.   

wales606 wrote:

Scrumpy wrote:1/2p looked rusty, has he been playing for the blues?

Yes, very poorly

I'm sure he'll step it up but he didn't look like the great he is made out to be in the media

Scrappy game; hard luck on the Italians in the end.

MMaaxx wrote:Not surprised wales were mentally underprepared.

According the Warbs they wouldn't even celebrate if they beat SA or NZ because it's expected. Imagine how little the prospect of facing the Italians must motivate the mighty Wales XV.

Seeing as you Saffa's, especially Mallet, are up in arms about Wales' apparent cheating at the breakdown I think you and your fellow South Africans should start another campaign to get this referee expelled from rugby. #brycelawrence

The Saint wrote:How do people feel about Wales winning with the ref in their back pocket? I've never seen a team that spent 80 minutes offside get away with so many forward passes. Wayne Barnes/NZ eat your heart out.

want some ketchup with those chips saint?

irrespective whether forward or not, you can't deny that the referee didnt apply the same TMO scrutiny to wales positives as italy's positives.

is he a bit inexperienced at this level? who was he anyway? can understand that MS in 6N might be a big step up for him.

The Saint wrote:Just a terrible game from Gats lovechild, his aimless kicking sums up the afternoon. Ireland's back 3 will relish the opportunity. DROP NOW.

Did you actually watch the match?

Priestland was one of the few attacking threats from the backs, made two really good breaks and at least varied the game play

The Saint wrote:

MMaaxx wrote:Not surprised wales were mentally underprepared.

According the Warbs they wouldn't even celebrate if they beat SA or NZ because it's expected. Imagine how little the prospect of facing the Italians must motivate the mighty Wales XV.

Seeing as you Saffa's, especially Mallet, are up in arms about Wales' apparent cheating at the breakdown I think you and your fellow South Africans should start another campaign to get this referee expelled from rugby. #brycelawrence

Saint you really need to get over yourself. Mallet didn't say cheating, he said the REFEREE was inconsistent.

Anyways lads, I'll be popping over the local for France vs England. It's been a pleasure, hope I haven't upset anyone (bar scrumpy as he's really upset over the Wales win).

flyhalffactory wrote:

The Saint wrote:Just a terrible game from Gats lovechild, his aimless kicking sums up the afternoon. Ireland's back 3 will relish the opportunity. DROP NOW.

Did you actually watch the match?

Priestland was one of the few attacking threats from the backs, made two really good breaks and at least varied the game play

I think you're both right - he was both an asset and a liability.

enjoyed the 3 player commentators, thought they were really fair.

couldnt really say the same for Jiffy today, which is a shame as normally i really like his commentary.

I also think this shows that last year was not a fluke. Italy will lose but will play for the 80mins and are much more disiplined then before.