Super Saturday, Game 1: Italy v Wales

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ITALY v WALES
Saturday 21 March 2015
KO: 13:30 (local)/12:30 (UK/Ireland)
Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Referee: Chris Pollock (NZR)
AR1: JP Doyle (RFU)
AR2: Luke Pearce (RFU)
TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)

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A. Teams

ITALY

Luke McClean (Sale Sharks); Leonardo Sarto (Zebre Rugby), Luca Morisi (Benetton Treviso), Andrea Masi (London Wasps), Giovambattista Venditti (Zebre Rugby); Kelly Haimona (Zebre Rugby), Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso); 1 Michele Rizzo (Leicester Tigers), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester Tigers, capt), Martin Castrogiovanni (RT Toulon), George Biagi (Zebre Rugby), Joshua Furno (Newcastle Falcons), Francesco Minto (Benetton Treviso), Mauro Bergamasco (Zebre Rugby), Samuela VUNISA (Zebre Rugby)

Replacements: Andrea Manici (Zebre Rugby), Alberto De Marchi (Sale Sharks), Dario Chistolini (Zebre Rugby), Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebre Rugby), Robert Barbieri (Leicester Tigers), Guglielmo Palazzini (Zebre Rugby), Luciano Orquera (Zebre Rugby), Enrico Bacchin (Benetton Treviso).

WALES

Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon); George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Liam Williams (Scarlets); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

B. Head to Head

15 Played 15

2 Wins 12

12 Losses 2

1 Draws 1

19 Tries 49

12 Conversions 40

31 Penalties 45

4 Drop Goals 1

224 Points 463

might aswell switch off till the last 20 minutes when Italy fall apart

glad ii didnt turn off! could be an interesting game

What a well worked try from Italy

Italy more dangerous than Ireland in attack.

Cracking score, all based on the maul, this will be interesting- that could be a massive score. Another 7 points that needs to be clawed back.

I have been very impressed by the Italian attack this year, but this also shows just how bad have Ireland been with ball in hand, especially last weekend.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I have been very impressed by the Italian attack this year, but this also shows just how bad have Ireland been with ball in hand, especially last weekend.

just think they need to work on there defense and conditioning.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I have been very impressed by the Italian attack this year, but this also shows just how bad have Ireland been with ball in hand, especially last weekend.

I think it's fair to say that the intensity hasn't been the same for Wales so far.

30 minutes gone already

We'll be lucky to win, never mind get all the points. It's just too sloppy and error-strewn from Wales, and from a fan perspective that's just unacceptable.

scrums a good platform for italy

All falling apart for Wales here. Oh dear oh dear.

so sick of players chatting to linesman on every single breakdown and scrum…

funny to see wales traditional strength and weaknesses have reversed this year with a very good lineout and weakish scrum

TheRugbyMaster wrote:All falling apart for Wales here. Oh dear oh dear.

Where's Wayne Barnes when you need him eh.

Good to see Italy fighting after last weeks disappointment, but I have to say I'm fed up already of players talking to the ref and waving their arms at every breakdown, just play the game!

hate seeing Lydiate using that tackling technique, i can it doing some damage to someones legs at some point

Wales are feeling the loss of Lee in the front row, being clearly beaten in the scrum.

how is that not a penalty to italy for the welsh player playing it on the floor?

nathan wrote:hate seeing Lydiate using that tackling technique, i can it doing some damage to someones legs at some point

He isn't the only player that does it though.

Roberts was never on his feet there

That's 1/2p gone.

Kids that's how not to tackle

Playing the ball on the floor, clear penalty at least in such a good attacking position, disgraceful that he got away with that.

Vunisa on Halfpenny, incredibly nasty. I doubt he will be back on. Very worrying.

ouch knee to the face.

that the second time this competition 1/2p has taken a knee to the head. unlcky and a big blow if hes off for the game

Surely Halfpenny's game over.

He's so brave in defence, but gets his head on the wrong side so often.

Hope he's ok.

nathan wrote:hate seeing Lydiate using that tackling technique, i can it doing some damage to someones legs at some point

I am not against it, think its a very effective tackle that generates turnovers.

Wales showing that famous mental frailty here unfortunately. Put the cart ahead of the horse and now their campaign is hanging by a thread.

not in a million years was he on his feet - let off for Wales there

The Saint wrote:

nathan wrote:hate seeing Lydiate using that tackling technique, i can it doing some damage to someones legs at some point

He isn't the only player that does it though.

i know, i think it needs taking out of the game. Having said that, there haven't been loads of injuries caused from it but for me, still think its dangerous.

Nothing against Lydiate

Another knock-on, it's just shyte and unprofessional play.

I don't think italy are missing Sergio.

Castro still has it

Rob Evans has a bit of a point about Castro's binding, but he is going to get a yellow soon.

Golden wrote:ouch knee to the face.

that the second time this competition 1/2p has taken a knee to the head. unlcky and a big blow if hes off for the game

Especially as Scott Williams would have a lot more impact coming on at centre in the second half.

You've got to feel for Rob Evans. Castro is up to all his usual ticks and he has a huge amount o weight behind him!

Ref is being extremely harsh on Rob Evans. Hasn't had a word with Castro yet despite early push, boring in and pulling the scrum down. Not that Evans is innocent, I just think it's an inconsistent call.

Risca Rev wrote:Rob Evans has a bit of a point about Castro's binding, but he is going to get a yellow soon.

Castro never binds properly, usually gets away with it. Knows what he can get away with too.

Harsh offside there

Notch wrote:

Golden wrote:ouch knee to the face.

that the second time this competition 1/2p has taken a knee to the head. unlcky and a big blow if hes off for the game

Especially as Scott Williams would have a lot more impact coming on at centre in the second half.

You've got to feel for Rob Evans. Castro is up to all his usual ticks and he has a huge amount o weight behind him!

the welsh pack is alot heavier than the italian one if thats what you mean?

Wales need some composure here, should have taken the points...

Notch wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:Rob Evans has a bit of a point about Castro's binding, but he is going to get a yellow soon.

Castro never binds properly, usually gets away with it. Knows what he can get away with too.

Yeah, that's what I mean really by a bit of a point. Not many refs and especially touchies look at the binding on the arm.

They are now

We need points. Our lineout and driving maul has been good throughout the tournament. We have one and Italy concede two penalties. After no advantage, we decide to shoot for 3 points instead of going for another lineout where we could and probably would have got 5-7. This game is just littered with errors and poor decision-making.

Take that at HT. We aren't going to win the Championship (and that was never going to happen realistically), but I am more than happy if we get four wins after losing our first one.

Very poor errors. We are guilty of forcing it a lot.

TightHEAD wrote:Harsh offside there

Harsh as in wrong ...

nathan wrote:

Notch wrote:

Golden wrote:ouch knee to the face.

that the second time this competition 1/2p has taken a knee to the head. unlcky and a big blow if hes off for the game

Especially as Scott Williams would have a lot more impact coming on at centre in the second half.

You've got to feel for Rob Evans. Castro is up to all his usual ticks and he has a huge amount o weight behind him!

the welsh pack is alot heavier than the italian one if thats what you mean?

I would say that one back five is putting a lot more in than the other on the Italian put-in.

So Wales probably need about +30 points or more in the second half. An exciting final quarter because they'll have to take some big risks.

fear not saint, im sure they will get the hairdryer treatment in the changing room

Fancy Wales to get a quick score in the second half and make this interesting