Wales vs Italy, 2:30pm RTE/BBC

thomond2006

http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/sixnation/news/2310140.htm

Wales: 15 Lee Byrne; 14 Tom Prydie, 13 James Hook, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams; 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Mike Phillips; 8 Ryan Jones (captain), 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Jonathan Thomas; 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Bradley Davies; 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Paul James, 18 Ian Gough, 19 Gareth Delve, 20 Dwayne Peel, 21 Andrew Bishop, 22 Tom Shanklin.

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Mirco Bergamasco, 10 Craig Gower, 9 Pablo Canavosio, 8 Alessandro Zanni, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Quintin Geldenhuys, 4 Marco Bortolami, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (captain), 1 Salvatore Perugini.

Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Valerio Bernabo, 19 Manoa Vosawai, 20 Tito Tebaldi, 21 Riccardo Bocchino, 22 Matteo Pratichetti.

Date: Saturday, March 20
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT)
Expected weather conditions: Heavy rain expected during the day, but the roof may well be closed, and it won't have much affect - although the underfoot will be soft anyway and the pitch always gets churned up. High 13°C; low 6°C.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Marinus Jonker (South Africa), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)

Prediction: Italy will be a difficult opponent to break down but I think Wales could cut loose in the last 20 minutes and win by 15-20 points.

Noffles

Italy look hungry for points here. Adam Jones off blood sub, golf ball sized lump on his forehead....

TitoPuente

Italy starting well. Hope they keep up with this style of rugby going forward. Would be nice to see them playing a positive brand of rugby and add more to the competition. FORZA ITALIA.

irishbucsfan

Good to see the ref applying the rules properly there.

Noffles

Handy 3 points for us...

thomond2006

Great defence and turnover by Italy in their 22, they've done their homework on Wales' attack.

thomond2006

Stephen Jones slots another penalty.

Wales 6 Italy 0, 22 minutes gone.

Noffles

Sadly you don't really need to do too much homework on our attack....

thomond2006

Ooh, Williams butchered that, clear forward pass.

And Wales get penalised in the next scrum.

Noffles

Bollox....!!

Back we go...

thomond2006

12 - 0 HT

Anyone watching this?

Wales have not scored a try in the first halves in the championship.

athtrasna

That first half flew!!

Dick Turnip

12-0 Half Time

David Gower would be better at fly half for Italy today! He's had some awful kicks from hand.

Noffles

So we should score about 6 tries in the 2nd half then........

2040

I think Jonathan Davies is a good commentator. I think Wales will run away with this.

irishbucsfan

This Italian defense is really clinging on. Fair play to them, very impressive

Frank Spencer

Try Hook

Converted by Jones

Wales 19-0 Italy

Noffles

Are the floodgates to be breached........?

athtrasna

Hook is having a brilliant game!

2040

athtrasna wrote: »

Hook is having a brilliant game!

He is, but he should have put Prydie in for a try.

irishbucsfan

Stupid from Bergamasco, he was playing well.

Hook is looking great.

Noffles

We're getting comfortable, running from the 22 now.... Hook and Jones S are having a blinder!

Aidric

Jonathan Davies throwing his toys out of the pram at every decision, tiresome.

irishbucsfan

Davies is getting annoyingly biased now. Wish I was Welsh so I ignore it.

Noffles

Good to see Shanklin getting a run out..

Haha Bergamasco and Phillips don't like it each other... Good to see Phillips showing a little control though!

twinytwo

Noffles wrote: »

Good to see Shanklin getting a run out..

Haha Bergamasco and Phillips don't like it each other... Good to see Phillips showing a little control though!

Phillips would have gotten his ass handed to him if that had kicked off:pac:

razorblunt

Shane who?

irishbucsfan

Millenium Stadium is like an ice rink

Noffles

twinytwo wrote: »

Phillips would have gotten his ass handed to him if that had kicked off:pac:

I'd imagine the ref would of had something to say about that...

Noffles

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Millenium Stadium is like an ice rink

See that, bit annoying.

thomond2006

Good try from Luke McLean.

chupacabra

This rte commentator is like a young Fred Colgan! Keeps calling players wrong names and is constantly calling italy wales.

Noffles

When all said and done, we've finished on a win, I'll have that...

Interesting summer, SA and then to NZ for 2 tests.....

thomond2006

chupacabra wrote: »

This rte commentator is like a young Fred Colgan! Keeps calling players wrong names and is constantly calling italy wales.

Was it Hugh Cahill? He's a poor commentator IMO.

Webbs

Good for Welsh confidence to get a bit of form at the end. Returning playerrs made a big difference, Phillips really got things sparking (in more ways than one), meant Jones had time to control things allowing the welsh centres to click. Thought Warburton had a great full 6N debut was everywhere and easily outplayed Birgamasco he looks a good prospect.
Having a full front row was a real bonus Rees carried well and Jenkins as usual was everywhere, and of course a mention for S Williams who despite his slagging from many on boards showed again why he is a unique winger and class act not just with his wonderful finish for his try but he pops up everywhere and picks the players running good lines

irishbucsfan

Noffles wrote: »

When all said and done, we've finished on a win, I'll have that...

Interesting summer, SA and then to NZ for 2 tests.....

I don't really expect Wales to win any of those games, so good luck to them. They have a long way to go at the moment.

accensi0n

thomond2006 wrote: »

Was it Hugh Cahill? He's a poor commentator IMO.

Whoever he is, he's the worst commentator I've ever listened to. Sheehan had to correct a bunch of bullsh*t he said.

Noffles

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I don't really expect Wales to win any of those games, so good luck to them. They have a long way to go at the moment.

Thus I followed the comment with the "..." nor do I.

But we'll go and play and learn hopefully!

Webbs

I think Wales have shown that they have a decent first team that can compete at the top table, but when there are key injuries as there have been this championship then the replacements are not there in quality - but most of the players are young and hopefully will develop.
Why couldnt Wales use the simple lineout we saw today through the rest of the championship they lost so many good positions over the course of the championship