2014 Six Nations: Wales vs Italy (Round 1)

[Big Ewis]

Wales vs Italy


Date: 1 February 2014, 14:30 (UTC+0)
Location: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)



​

After a fairly disappointing Autumn Tour last November, and a perfect opportunity to start anew for 2014 on a fresh note in their quest for a third straight Six Nations ***le, Wales host and face a so badly struggling Italy squad which in all realism cannot expect a whole lot out of this match. Wales is superior in all aspects of the game, and even Italy's strength, the scrum, might find itself in difficulty.
Italy also seemed much more comfortable within the confines of the Six Nations tournament last year (as opposed to test match series) and will look to keep fine results there. It should be mentioned their form of the past six months has been downright alarming, with horrendous results both outside and at home alike.


Personally, I don't see Italy challenging Wales much here. With the lineups I have in mind for both, I can see this one being a bit ugly for the tourists.

 

[LittleGuy]

Was thinking of getting these threads started tonight, but very pleased someone else has done so and done an excellent job, thank you Ewis.

 

[Big Ewis]

Was thinking of getting these threads started tonight, but very pleased someone else has done so and done an excellent job, thank you Ewis.

thanks for the encouragements man ! I get so.....so little love around here.....:cryy:
What do you reckon for Italy here ?...

 

[Draggs]

Concerns over a Jenkins and Warburton, as always.
James start, Bev bench? Lydiate Tipuric Faletau start, Shingler bench? Maybe Ball on th bench, assuming AWJ and Chart start.
Scott Williams must start if Davies is injured, been in great form.

 

[Dougydeluxe]

Italy will get crushed here...

Draggs lay off my Mayor. He has done nothing to the sport of Rugby.

 

[Draggs]

Haha, I love Rob! LG and I are trying to get him to be th next PM.

BTW, are you Doug Ford?

 

[Bluemoon]

Wales are notoriously slow starters in both the 6N and the AI. I think it'll actually be closer than most think for the majority of the game, until the Italian forwards tire. The difference being Wales have some amazing finishers in the back line that Italy can't handle and that will probably tell at the end.

Wales by 12.

 

[Big Ewis]

Wales are notoriously slow starters in both the 6N and the AI. I think it'll actually be closer than most think for the majority of the game, until the Italian forwards tire. The difference being Wales have some amazing finishers in the back line that Italy can't handle and that will probably tell at the end.

Wales by 12.

actually yeah, sounds just about right.
Of course, no particularly good reason Wales shouldn't put 35 past Italy either...

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

Wales by less than 10.

It'll more than likely be tight the whole way through, with us just sneaking it through virtue of having George/Scotty/Cuthbert on our side to actually score some tries. Team wise, Warburton/Gethin injuries considered (Is Coombs going to be fit in time?)

Paul James, Hibbard, Adam, AWJ, Charteris, Lydiate, Tipuric, Faletau; Phillips, Biggar; North, Roberts, Scotty, Cuthbert; Halfpenny
Ken, Bevers, SAMSON LEE, Coombs?, Shingler, Webb, Priestland, Sanjay

Currently trying to invent an excuse to get off work half an hour early next Saturday to get home in time to make the anthems. At the moment, I'm about to kill off my granny.

 

[Big Ewis]

Wales by less than 10.

It'll more than likely be tight the whole way through, with us just sneaking it through virtue of having George/Scotty/Cuthbert on our side to actually score some tries. Team wise, Warburton/Gethin injuries considered (Is Coombs going to be fit in time?)

Paul James, Hibbard, Adam, AWJ, Charteris, Lydiate, Tipuric, Faletau; Phillips, Biggar; North, Roberts, Scotty, Cuthbert; Halfpenny
Ken, Bevers, SAMSON LEE, Coombs?, Shingler, Webb, Priestland, Sanjay

Currently trying to invent an excuse to get off work half an hour early next Saturday to get home in time to make the anthems. At the moment, I'm about to kill off my granny.

hehe, good luck with that !
And I think Welsh fans are playing it way safe here. It's the easy way out to say something like "by less than 10" and "this will be really tight"...say what your gut tells you. Italy in its current form doesn't stand a chance, especially not on the road. And Wales themselves have to make up for a pretty bad Autumn series and will have their eyes set on a third ***le, so they'll come into this one with raging determination. Wales has much too much class on paper anyways for Italy. Every Welsh back is huge, even the freakin scrum-half ffs, they can't defend G. North and J. Roberts and Cuthbert for 80. And Italy have had a terrible time defending the past 6 months. They got smashed by South Africa, Samoa, Australia and even a decimated-by-cards Fiji squad put 31 on Italy....at home.

 

[Bluemoon]

hehe, good luck with that !
And I think Welsh fans are playing it way safe here. It's the easy way out to say something like "by less than 10" and "this will be really tight"...say what your gut tells you. Italy in its current form doesn't stand a chance, especially not on the road. And Wales themselves have to make up for a pretty bad Autumn series and will have their eyes set on a third ***le, so they'll come into this one with raging determination. Wales has much too much class on paper anyways for Italy. Every Welsh back is huge, even the freakin scrum-half ffs, they can't defend G. North and J. Roberts and Cuthbert for 80. And Italy have had a terrible time defending the past 6 months. They got smashed by South Africa, Samoa, Australia and even a decimated-by-cards Fiji squad put 31 on Italy....at home.

This is the 6N in front of an overly expecting crowd Ewis, so the pressure is firmly on Wales. You are probably right and, on paper, Wales should rack up a decent set of scores with the class in the back line. However Wales aren't so predictable in that first game, hence the air of caution!

 

[Big Ewis]

they DO start slowly.....Wales do have patterns in the calendar, it's interesting...the whole Autumn test curse, starting the 6N slow...
but I must insist. I don't want to expose myself too much here, but Wales by quite a bit. I just want to see selection for good measure, and I'll emit a number but just the thought of those guys I mentioned, Roberts-North-Cuthbert... put together current Italian defense ?? aie aie aie....

 

[o'concrete]

The triad of North-Cuthbert-1/2penny will do some serious damage in this one. I fear for Italy here

 

[o'concrete]

will ya stop..this will be a cricket score. wales by 25+, no pressure here

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Early reports suggest Priestland will start at 10 and Warburton might not even make the squad.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Early reports suggest Priestland will start at 10 and Warburton might not even make the squad.

In that case I predict Wales to lose by 50 with Priestland managing to score a drop kick through his own posts.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

WALES SQUAD TO PLAY ITALY:

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 Rugby), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Alun Wyn Jones (CAPT – Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Andrew Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

 

[j'nuh]

No Biggar or Samson Lee? Or are they injured? Such bullsh*t. Scarlets pick Samson Lee to start over Rhodri Jones every time for a reason. As for no Biggar at all, well, I can't even explain it. I just wish he was English and starting every game for us.

At least Tipuric's in...

 

[psychic duck]

No Biggar or Samson Lee? Or are they injured? Such bullsh*t. Scarlets pick Samson Lee to start over Rhodri Jones every time for a reason. As for no Biggar at all, well, I can't even explain it. I just wish he was English and starting every game for us.

At least Tipuric's in...

Samson Lee's continued omission is just stubbornness. Bevington on the bench is a really poor selection as well given his form this season.

 

[Thingimubob]

Biggar not in the squad is daft, he's by far the best, and definitely the most consistent, 10 in Wales. I don't mind Priestland starting as he's been playing well in the HC recently, but why not Biggar on the bench? I'd feel a lot safer with him coming on with some control rather than Hook who isn't saying that much rugby at 10 these days.

Also - F*CKING PICK SAMSON LEE