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

Risca Rev wrote:Or the ref is finally wise to them trying to spoil only. Well done ref.

your having a laugh right? where did the italian player take out the supporting lifter?

I can see already that if Wales win there will be a lot of angst about the reffing. They have had the benefit of the doubt, but I would rather give credit to the more ruthless team.

TightHEAD wrote:Ref has lost the plot

I think he's having a good game. It's called integrity and balls to keep penalising an infringing team - unlike a weak ref like Barnes who will be tempted to "even it up"

No try, this time,

Notch wrote:I can see already that if Wales win there will be a lot of angst about the reffing. I would rather give credit to the more ruthless team!

Dont get me wrong, Wales certainly deserve credit but the ref has made some dodgy decisions against Italy.

We are watching rugby history. This is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most one sided refereeing performance of all time.

hard to give that

TheRugbyMaster wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Ref has lost the plot

I think he's having a good game. It's called integrity and balls to keep penalising an infringing team - unlike a weak ref like Barnes who will be tempted to "even it up"

So how was his call for italy taking out a lifter called integrity or Roberts ripping the ball out whilst off his feet?

Well done Webb, you've just peed off a lot of English posters.

Gawd, great from Webb but seriously poor defending from Italy.

The Saint wrote:Well done Webb, you've just peed off a lot of English posters.

the only that appears to be peed off is you as always lol

nathan wrote:

TheRugbyMaster wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Ref has lost the plot

I think he's having a good game. It's called integrity and balls to keep penalising an infringing team - unlike a weak ref like Barnes who will be tempted to "even it up"

So how was his call for italy taking out a lifter called integrity or Roberts ripping the ball out whilst off his feet?

Correct calls. Italy clearly repeatedly sacking the lifters and infringing at the breakdown.

no-one can complain about the ref. italy have been utterly woeful. SH refs dont let teams infringe at will.

nathan wrote:

Notch wrote:I can see already that if Wales win there will be a lot of angst about the reffing. I would rather give credit to the more ruthless team!

Dont get me wrong, Wales certainly deserve credit but the ref has made some dodgy decisions against Italy.

.....and WALES

I can't see Wales taking the foot off the pedal anytime soon, Ireland/England are going to have a very hard task later.

nathan wrote:

The Saint wrote:Well done Webb, you've just peed off a lot of English posters.

the only that appears to be peed off is you as always lol

I was in the first half, now I'm happy. You seem really nervous .

lovely try by Wales, some great hands

Italy have collapsed completely

What a try by the most fantastic captain in world rugby.

Great pressure from Wales. Playing with total confidence.
It is a total rout!

Some people will only look for negatives. Never mind that Wales are being so ruthless. I know England like butchering tries and Ireland aren't scoring them at the mo, but give a team credit.

Ho ho ho! What a performance from six nations champions Wales!

The Saint wrote:

nathan wrote:

The Saint wrote:Well done Webb, you've just peed off a lot of English posters.

the only that appears to be peed off is you as always lol

I was in the first half, now I'm happy. You seem really nervous .

Not at all, what will be, will be.

I wonder if they have a Helicopter at the ready to take the second trophy from Scotland to Italy...

Wales are running wild right now. This is about the best game Wales have played ion their life.

What a glorious try by Warburton. Superb.

The rest of the afternoon is going to be very interesting indeed. I highly doubt the French or the Scottish will be as accommodating as Italy have been!

Surely Gatland is going to have to make a few changes to his starting team for the RWC? Scott Williams being one with immediate effect.

Risca Rev wrote:Some people will only look for negatives. Never mind that Wales are being so ruthless. I know England like butchering tries and Ireland aren't scoring them at the mo, but give a team credit.

People are giving them credit?

Glad I took Warburton out of my team like

this is unbelievable. what a score-fest!

and what an utter italian implosion.

one more try and the 6Ns is theirs i reckon.

nathan wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:Some people will only look for negatives. Never mind that Wales are being so ruthless. I know England like butchering tries and Ireland aren't scoring them at the mo, but give a team credit.

People are giving them credit?  

It's hard to notice amongst all the ref bashing

Italy are an embarrassment to the championship.

1/2p has to be dropped in the future!

Risca Rev wrote:Some people will only look for negatives. Never mind that Wales are being so ruthless. I know England like butchering tries and Ireland aren't scoring them at the mo, but give a team credit.

You're as ruthless as Wales right now with that comment

Risca Rev wrote:Some people will only look for negatives. Never mind that Wales are being so ruthless. I know England like butchering tries and Ireland aren't scoring them at the mo, but give a team credit.

They did just score the try of the tournament after all.

Italy, of course, are now just kicking the ball loosely to their back three.

Will Gatland have the balls to keep Williams at fullback though?

Risca Rev wrote:

nathan wrote:

Risca Rev wrote:Some people will only look for negatives. Never mind that Wales are being so ruthless. I know England like butchering tries and Ireland aren't scoring them at the mo, but give a team credit.

People are giving them credit?  

It's hard to notice amongst all the ref bashing

He has given Wales a few dodgy decision though. Like how wales have conceded a pen a scrum time yet there on a warning and so should of had someone in the bin

Come on Italy show some Frak pride and get a score back

wow the ref gives an italian penalty

To be fair some calls have been a bit odd - like a penalty for taking a man out without the ball when a dummy runner in front of the ball carrier runs into a defender - normally the penalty goes the other way?

Kick the points Italy!

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Will Gatland have the balls to keep Williams at fullback though?

No chance. Knowing him, he'll try shoehorning Cuthbert back in too

Italian 8 was held by Faletau and then got back up. Should have been a Welsh penalty.

BTW I would like to apologise if my criticism of the referee has taken away from this welsh performance. They are on fire, and deserve the win the competition at this rate. Two monumental performances the past two weekends.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:BTW I would like to apologise if my criticism of the referee has taken away from this welsh performance. They are on fire, and deserve the win the competition at this rate. Two monumental performances the past two weekends.

i thought ireland lost due the Barnes?

Incredible stuff from the six nations champions!

Coast to coast. Dreamo

Rory_Gallagher wrote:BTW I would like to apologise if my criticism of the referee has taken away from this welsh performance. They are on fire, and deserve the win the competition at this rate. Two monumental performances the past two weekends.

I agree...brilliant play by Wales.

Hahaha.

Italy have capitulated ... 6 nations over allready. Great super Saturday..... Not

What can I say, never did I believe that Wales would put this kind of score past Italy. Superb, absolutely superb and if they go on to win the 6N (which I think they will do now) it will be absolutely deserved after last weeks performance and this weeks lesson in clinical rugby

amazing.