Super Saturday, Game 1: Italy v Wales

First topic message reminder :

 
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)

***********************

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

scrum will make a large winning margin difficult for wales, still think wales win win comfortably

ridiculous game plan, you have to win the thing first not try and force it in the first 15 minutes. Wales will be lucky to win this.

Hardly recognizable from last week not to detract from a superb Italian 40 minutes. Same old roller coaster.

Wales need to pull their socks up if they are going to win by enough points to win the tournament. Italy though are really up for this game and are not making it easy for Wales.

Lets hope that the second half is as good as the first half.

Italy unlucky with a couple of calls - one clear penalty for playing the ball on the ground not given and an offside called when the runner was behind the kicker.

I think Wales have been lacking a bit of composure - if they calm down I expect they will get the win but Italy don't look like they will make it easy for them.

It usually takes 60 mins to grind Italy down in Rome so stay patient Welsh fans.

That was a bad bang on Halfpenny, never nice to see.

Why in every match thread do opposition 'rugby fans' always feel the need to not highlight decisions that go against Wales yet raise questionable calls that might go in their favour? Happens on every thread, surely we aren't as lucky as it's made out.

Yeah, Italy will come out strong in this period. I do still think Wales will win, but only if they settle down and our halfbacks get a bit more control.

Fed up of hearing about Adam Jones. It's our loosehead getting a hardtime on the whole and Adam Jones is likely to not even get a contract with Cardiff Blues. Plus I am never going to be convinced he is fit enough anymore.

The Saint wrote:Why in every match thread do opposition 'rugby fans' always feel the need to not highlight decisions that go against Wales yet raise questionable calls that might go in their favour? Happens on every thread, surely we aren't as lucky as it's made out.

YES. you are.

Notch wrote:

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.

Hopefully someone will have a word in the Refs year at half time, binding on the arm is not allowed and he should be penalising Castro, lets have a fair contest. If the ref isn't going to play by the laws perhaps Wales and ignore the scrumaging Laws as well?

Its the injuries are what is costing Wales. 1/2p off for the rest of the game will weaken them even more. I still very much expect them to win but not by the big enough margin that was needed to put England and Ireland under pressure. A full strength Welsh team could do it I believe.

afternoon all. just got home from airport and now settled in for the day.

good luck welshies.

as my second favourite team i would love you to be in with a shout on points difference come the next two matches.

With regards to the binding thing also, it doesn't seem Sam is speaking to the ref about it.

The Saint wrote:Why in every match thread do opposition 'rugby fans' always feel the need to not highlight decisions that go against Wales yet raise questionable calls that might go in their favour? Happens on every thread, surely we aren't as lucky as it's made out.

To be honest, they do seem to get a lot of questionable calls going their way. They still deserve to win the games that they do win obviously, such as last weekend against Ireland. But they are a very jammy team.

It could just be me, though.

Seagultaf wrote:

Notch wrote:

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.

Hopefully someone will have a word in the Refs year at half time, binding on the arm is not allowed and he should be penalising Castro, lets have a fair contest. If the ref isn't going to play by the laws perhaps Wales and ignore the scrumaging Laws as well?

They already have, that scrum the welsh player was binding on the arm

Would you believe it, another knock-on FFS.

There we are. What's good for the goose

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

The Saint wrote:Why in every match thread do opposition 'rugby fans' always feel the need to not highlight decisions that go against Wales yet raise questionable calls that might go in their favour? Happens on every thread, surely we aren't as lucky as it's made out.

To be honest, they do seem to get a lot of questionable calls going their way. They still deserve to win the games that they do win obviously, such as last weekend against Ireland. But they are a very jammy team.

It could just be me, though.

It probably is you, as I remember your bitter comments after the Scotland game . Shame you can't have Glen Jackson later on, because if last week is anything to go by, Irish luck has run out. How many grand slams?

how they hell is that a turnover?

Pete330v2 wrote:It usually takes 60 mins to grind Italy down in Rome so stay patient Welsh fans.

That was a bad bang on Halfpenny, never nice to see.

He's as brave as they come and makes some ridiculous last ditch tackles but that's a few times now I've seen him make the mistake of getting his head on the wrong side and he'll get seriously hurt some day if he doesn't learn to adjust is technique.Tackling like that is the reason for my username and why I don't play anymore.

Okay, Saint. Enjoy the game.

Very, very early call on the maul there! Great example of what I was saying.

Are Italy ever going to get penalised for trying to strangle our players? Imagine if Wales players did that, there'd be murder on here.

Very clever by Webb and Williams

unlucky italy there, that turnover was far better than roberts "attempted one".

Nachos Jones_1 wrote:Very clever by Webb and Williams

You sure it was legal though...

Nachos Jones_1 wrote:Very clever by Webb and Williams

Williams is really talented player, and I think he is much better at fullback.

Looks like we will fall short of winning the 6N which is a shame as we have been the best side this championship

starting to click for wales now

Cheers Italy.

Like I said, much better at fullback!

Get in there North

Liam Williams is da maaaaan

Has Williams injured himself while scoring his try and waving his finger?

Liam Frak Williams

to quote jiffy..."it's on!"

Terrible from Italy but great play from Williams again.

The Saint wrote:

Nachos Jones_1 wrote:Very clever by Webb and Williams

You sure it was legal though...

Looked alright to me, did I miss something?

Being the Italian coach Must be one of the most frustrating jobs in the world!

tigertattie wrote:Has Williams injured himself while scoring his try and waving his finger?

Thought a Scot would pick up on that

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Like I said, much better at fullback!

Most people think so, but there's great reluctance to shift Halfpenny to the wing.

Nachos Jones_1 wrote:

The Saint wrote:

Nachos Jones_1 wrote:Very clever by Webb and Williams

You sure it was legal though...

Looked alright to me, did I miss something?

he's joking, saint thinks everyone is against is Wales

When the welsh commentator mentions that wales are getting the 50/50s there must be something in it!

Nachos Jones_1 wrote:

The Saint wrote:

Nachos Jones_1 wrote:Very clever by Webb and Williams

You sure it was legal though...

Looked alright to me, did I miss something?

Yeah Wales scored, and seeing as we are the jammiest bunch of cheating jammy dodgers then surely we cheated. Unless I'm missing something?

No way did the Italians scrummage illegally. I won't hear of it.

"many 50/50 calls going for Wales"

I'm not the only one.

Is Pollock related to Barnes?

I think he should have warned Italy first, unless I missed that he did?

The Saint wrote:

Nachos Jones_1 wrote:

The Saint wrote:

Nachos Jones_1 wrote:Very clever by Webb and Williams

You sure it was legal though...

Looked alright to me, did I miss something?

Yeah Wales scored, and seeing as we are the jammiest bunch of cheating jammy dodgers then surely we cheated. Unless I'm missing something?

Aahh sure Saint, when have you seen me say anything like that?

The Saint wrote:I think he should have warned Italy first, unless I missed that he did?

He did first half yes.

no he didnt warn them.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:"many 50/50 calls going for Wales"

I'm not the only one.

Usually does with the favourites though. Weren't Wales favourites last weekend?

Who flicked the switch? Biggar has come alive!