Italy v Wales

[TRF_Cymro]

Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets), James Hook (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); Paul James (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets, capt), Craig Mitchell (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sam Warburton (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), John Yapp (Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues).

 

[SelimNiai]

Im glad to see Hook at 12 as I think that is his best position. Im looking to Preiestland getting on with 20-25 to go with the game won to show what he can do.

Of course as we all know from experience we will make this game harder than it should be and scrape a 10 point win.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Good job Priestland doesn't play one of the centres, he might get some time at FH this game (if he could cover centre then Hook would be used if Jones was brought off)

Should be enough to see off Italy, and it's good to see Roberts back to 12

 

[TrueSlawter]

Quite suprised halfpenny aint starting he'll get some gametime though I suspect as for Roberts / Hook whos 12 and who's 13? has hook ever played 13 before?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Quite suprised halfpenny aint starting he'll get some gametime though I suspect as for Roberts / Hook whos 12 and who's 13? has hook ever played 13 before?

Ye normally Roberts plays 12 and Hook 13, but do suspect that it will be Hook at 12 most of the time and creating the space for Roberts to go through.

Also: Wales rugby star Jamie Roberts 'assaulted' in Cardiff

 

[Draggs]

Ye normally Roberts plays 12 and Hook 13, but do suspect that it will be Hook at 12 most of the time and creating the space for Roberts to go through.

Also: Wales rugby star Jamie Roberts 'assaulted' in Cardiff

"Here's a great idea! Let's go start something with that 6'4", 230lb ******* next to the turk."

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Thought cyRil hadn't been on here in a while, probably icing his knuckles

 

[Draggs]

Thought cyRil hadn't been on here in a while, probably icing his knuckles

I thought that whole Taibach thing had caught up to him.

 

[scarlets-fan]

I'm glad stoddart has kept his place cos he's done nothing wrong to be kicked out, and priestland and halfpenny are great options on the bench. Would be good to see them both come on at some point cos priestland needs more chances to show if he's up to international rugby.

Should be a hard fought 10 point win.

 

[cyRil]

Just been released on bail guys. I feel awful. Funny what 14 jagerbombs in Oceana can do to a man...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sky sports are saying that ***o Tebaldi is replacing Paul Derbyshire

Not content with playing a flank at scrumhalf, they now want to player a scrumhalf at flanker?

 

[Draggs]

Sky sports are saying that ***o Tebaldi is replacing Paul Derbyshire

Not content with playing a flank at scrumhalf, they now want to player a scrumhalf at flanker?

Hope it works out like last time.

 

[TRF_RC]

Right, none of this fannying around.
No smack talk in the press.
Let's go to Rome win this match and get on with the 6N, coz if we don't...so help me God...i will be calling for the head of Warren Gatland. Because we're Welsh...and that's what we do when we don't perform on the field!

 

[danit]

Sky sports are saying that ***o Tebaldi is replacing Paul Derbyshire

Not content with playing a flank at scrumhalf, they now want to player a scrumhalf at flanker?

SS inaccurate

Tebaldi has been called following Canavosio injury (the latest is still in the squad though, but he will not probably be available)

Derbyshire is injured, simple as that

true Mallet is sometimes bizarre but not that much (at least, not twice... )

 

[Draggs]

Right, none of this fannying around.
No smack talk in the press.
Let's go to Rome win this match and get on with the 6N, coz if we don't...so help me God...i will be calling for the head of Warren Gatland. Because we're Welsh...and that's what we do when we don't perform on the field!

Or drop our outside half, the other Welsh thing to do.

 

[TRF_RC]

George North had a more than adequate return to rugby tonight as he scored the only try of the match for the Scarlets, looked strong all over the field, always went looking for work. I was impressed considering it was his first game back from injury and if i paid close enough attention i think he played the full 80.

Anyone see him being called up for the Irish game?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Depends if Halfpenny aggravates an old injury (which, considering his previous luck with injuries, is more than likely) - now that he's been called up I can't see Wales calling up another winger
Maybe Gatland will slip a tenner in the team doctors back pocket
"Oh, Stoddart, turns out your hand IS broken, that's 4-8 weeks rest for you"


Bishop on the otherhand... he's back from injury this weekend? Depending on how he goes for 'spreys could be worth a shout, so they could go back to Hook at flyhalf

 

[Amobokoboko]

I hope Italy can continue what they showed the last games. A never give attitude and some tries.

 

[Draggs]

Italy: 15-Luke McLean, 14-Andrea Masi, 13-Gonzalo Canale, 12-Alberto Sgarbi, 11-Mirco Bergamasco, 10- Kristopher Burton, 9- Fabio Semenzato; 1-Salvatore Perugini, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 4- Santiago Dellape, 5-Quintin Geldenhuys, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 7- Robert Barbieri, 8-Sergio Parisse.
BBC Sport

 

[TRF_Cymro]

George North had a more than adequate return to rugby tonight as he scored the only try of the match for the Scarlets, looked strong all over the field, always went looking for work. I was impressed considering it was his first game back from injury and if i paid close enough attention i think he played the full 80.

Anyone see him being called up for the Irish game?

North has had to pretty major injuries for an 18 year old, id rest him and see what we have in reserve!