[2025 Six Nations] Italy vs Wales - 08/02/25

[dirty harry]

He'd be good at teaching how to **** off the red.

Just convicne him to play, he's 100% better than any other 20 option, and can bring Edward's on

 

[AlRums]

How have Wales got 6%?

Win probability

 

[Welsh Exile]

At least we've got 3 points.

 

[dirty harry]

I don't want to get into a *** for tat DH but he's a decent URC player. That's about it, he's not rubbish, but he's struggling at this level given where he's been put by Gatland.

He and the line has to drop deep as the defences are up quick and the backline isn't organised at all. We also have very little power to hit the line flat at the minute. Playing flatter would be disastrous.

The functioning of the line is not solely based on a 10's ability - they work in tandem. Plenty of 10's look off with a misfiring backline.

I agree with the first part, he's an average URC player, he isn't international standard, even as a 12. I'm a cardiff season ticket holder, 4 years ago I wanted he could be a good 10, but he's never got a chance. He's a rubbish international player, let alone 10.

He drops deep, letting Italy know when he's kicking, which he kicks deep. We have lost EVERY kicking battle he's been involved with.

He also catches a ball in his gut, instead of his finger tips like most int 10s, which means backlines can't time their runs outside him, because it's shovelled slower then they are used to.

Every backline is based from 9 to 15, 10 is the most important position because he dictates the timing of 9, and tells the backline where to go, if a backline is bad, the 10 is bad, there are no exceptions

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Which one? Any of 20 would fall into this category!

Adams out to the wing, I thought it was an out the back off load gone wrong but the replay shows he just can't pass

 

[Scotty]

Wales are not coming out of that half with any credit or sign that things arnt as bad as they seem.

 

[General Melchett]

I think Wales need a replacement bench for their coaches. Howley would definitely have been subbed at half time. Gatland too to be fair.

 

[dirty harry]

Sadly, for the first time this performance can be tracked back to the coaching team.

Against France Wales conceded 10+kgs per man, but today Welsh forwards in the rain are popping passes in their own half, I can't believe this is a constant individual decision over and over.

Add giving away field position, with over kicking over and over and you are going to get pumped.

I expect this to be a record Italy win over Wales! Scoreboard is in their favour, they should put their foot on our necks and kill this off!

 

[Bluemoon]

I agree with the first part, he's an average URC player, he isn't international standard, even as a 12. I'm a cardiff season ticket holder, 4 years ago I wanted he could be a good 10, but he's never got a chance. He's a rubbish international player, let alone 10.

He drops deep, letting Italy know when he's kicking, which he kicks deep. We have lost EVERY kicking battle he's been involved with.

He also catches a ball in his gut, instead of his finger tips like most int 10s, which means backlines can't time their runs outside him, because it's shovelled slower then they are used to.

Every backline is based from 9 to 15, 10 is the most important position because he dictates the timing of 9, and tells the backline where to go, if a backline is bad, the 10 is bad, there are no exceptions

A fellow Cardiff ST holder. We are suckers for punishment bud!

Im sad to agree at the minute. Im every the optimist that players can improve and get there. But this is poor selection by Gats. He just shouldn't be in post, and this isn't a knee jerk comment. The change that's needed Gatland does not have the ability to make.

 

[Rinkadink]

Well, selections have been costly. I thought this side looked better than the previous but again there are selection problems.

Difference at 9 is incredible yet for some reason there is not at 10? If you want to try and win with experience, why not get Anscombe for half back continuity? Failing that you could select pretty much any other qualified 10 for an improvement over what's been served up these past two 6N fixtures.

 

[AlRums]

Has Josh "Butterfingers" Adams actually passed the ball back today?

 

[General Melchett]

Good from Murray that

 

[dirty harry]

A fellow Cardiff ST holder. We are suckers for punishment bud!

Im sad to agree at the minute. Im every the optimist that players can improve and get there. But this is poor selection by Gats. He just shouldn't be in post, and this isn't a knee jerk comment. The change that's needed Gatland does not have the ability to make.

I'm not slating him BTW, he's put in a position he isn't capable of.

This reminds me of the Cuthbert situation a few years ago, destroying a player through sheer deliverance

 

[dullonien]

Our experienced players are playing like ****. Tompkins, Rowlands, Adams and Gareth Thomas have been absolutely appalling. Rest aren't great either!

 

[dirty harry]

Poor Tomos William's is having to try high risk tactics to gain any sort of platform!

 

[Reiser99]

Murray has been a bright light in the dark.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Needed way more angle on that kick from Murray, but what a break

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Is it bold to say Italy have been quite poor here?

 

[dirty harry]

Our experienced players are playing like ****. Tompkins, Rowlands, Adams and Gareth Thomas have been absolutely appalling. Rest aren't great either!

Tompkins is shite, Rowlands looks fragile, and loses the contact constantly, Adams is old, and only just returning from injury...

Can't agree with Thomas, he's a star in a bad front row

 

[Jimbo]

Got my 5 yr old daughter watching this with me, she's just commented that it's very rough, the blues are much rougher and stronger though, pretty fair assessment if I'm translating it to physicality.