RBS 6 Nations - Wales vs Italy- 10/03/2012, 14:30

[Draggs]

Beating the All Blacks in New Zealand is pretty "of note" - something only 4 teams have done (I think? SA, Aus, England, France)

We have... Albeit the last time was in 1953.
Rhodesia beat a touring All Blacks side 10-8 in 1949. Don't believe it was capped though.

 

[Macsen]

Beating the All Blacks in New Zealand is pretty "of note" - something only 4 teams have done (I think? SA, Aus, England, France)

Well it's not really surprising that France, one of the top 5 teams in the world, have beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand. It would be stranger if they had never managed it. I'm not sure how that justifies the claim that they're an unstoppable team if they 'turn up'. It seems that, like every other team, they manage a noteworthy win against historically superior opposition every few years. Like Wales winning at Twickenham, or Italy beating France.

 

[Macsen]

We have... Albeit the last time was in 1953.

Wasn't in New Zealand I don't think.

 

[cyRil]

TBH I don't know why you are already talking about wales getting the grand slam, because if france 'turn up', they will win. They may not, looking at their past few games, but with france thats nothing to go by. And france will definitely want a positive result that game (More than previous games) since they will either be playing for the ***le, or for reconciliation after a loss to England. Not than wales aren't dangerous, but France on a good day or with a point to prove are unstoppable, so a grand slam is a BIG ask

Alrighten, tra.

 

[Draggs]

Wasn't in New Zealand I don't think.

Ooohhh, missed that bit.
Carry on, my mistake.

 

[Dicey]

Beating the All Blacks in New Zealand is pretty "of note" - something only 4 teams have done (I think? SA, Aus, England, France)

Lets hopes France don't bring their team that won in New Zealand then .. or maybe we should ?

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Just got back from the match ... must admit ... Wales should have put another 15 or so points on Italy today and have themselves to blame for that. Toby Faletau on two occasions with a men outside and an overlap decided to take the ball into contact instead of passing the ball, he was not the only one to do this. Had players been following up Davies and North's breaks up the middle during the first 10 mins of the game then Wales would / should / could have scored. Mike Phillips lost his head and should have been subbed earlier. Italy must take credit for their defending, putting 121 tackles in, pretty major feet that. All of this contributed to Wales not scoring as much as they should have done.

However I would like to thank Mr George Clancy for putting on a show today. He well and truly spoiled the game for both teams today, not letting the game flow and making some questionable decisions marred the game for all.

The WRU ticket policy was in full view today. £70 + top end ticket in nothing short of a joke. Prices are rising for net year also.

 

[psychic duck]

Just got back from the match ... must admit ... Wales should have put another 15 or so points on Italy today and have themselves to blame for that. Toby Faletau on two occasions with a men outside and an overlap decided to take the ball into contact instead of passing the ball, he was not the only one to do this. Had players been following up Davies and North's breaks up the middle during the first 10 mins of the game then Wales would / should / could have scored. Mike Phillips lost his head and should have been subbed earlier. Italy must take credit for their defending, putting 121 tackles in, pretty major feet that. All of this contributed to Wales not scoring as much as they should have done.

However I would like to thank Mr George Clancy for putting on a show today. He well and truly spoiled the game for both teams today, not letting the game flow and making some questionable decisions marred the game for all.

The WRU ticket policy was in full view today. £70 + top end ticket in nothing short of a joke. Prices are rising for net year also.

I agree 100% with all of this post

those prices are too high although there was a good crowd considering but the 6 Nations has always had good crowds, but the Autumn Internationals have had lowering crowds in recent years as playing the All Blacks now seems less special I feel as they come (and perform the same result normally) every single year

maybe the Autumn Internationals should be series of matches like they are going to make the summer tours? that way there would be at least a three year gap between each side coming and there would be some novelty to it perhaps, although on the other hand I doubt two matches against Argentina would sell out, and Scotland probably couldn't fill Murrayfield with two matches against Argentina or Samoa either

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Well from what I gather the prices are changing next season.

For NZ and England ... top price will be £80
For Australia and Ireland ... £70
For Barbarians and Argentina it will be ... £25

 

[SelimNiai]

Well from what I gather the prices are changing next season.

For NZ and England ... top price will be £80
For Australia and Ireland ... £70

<img style="-webkit-user-select: none" src="http://www.wordans.co.nz/wordansfiles/images/2011/10/3/100792/100792_340.jpg?1317667118">

For 80 squids I demand my seat to me made of Plasma Nitride coated ***anium and a giant fly swatter to whack Brain Moore over the head when my mood suits it

 

[welshglory]

Wales v New Zealand will always sell out. Even if we had the wooden spoon in that years 6 nations it would! They are a massive draw anywhere in the world.
Australia match didn't sell out because it was a nothing game, just a Shane Williams testimonial. Usually it attracts a near full capacity crowd, same with the Boks.
I don't think the Barbarians will get 50,000, more like 30,000 they should just scrap it imo and have test matches against tier two sides no one cares about it any more.
Don't know about Argentina they aren't the most exciting team to play against so yea 50,000 sounds about right

 

[bushytop]

I didn't say that did I. What I'm saying is the six nations is tough to the extent that most teams usually lose to someone, and to my mind, wales haven't looked a cut above in the way that france were in 2010, ireland in 2009 etc.

Don't know why a winning Wales gets under so many peoples skin. Remember reading a lot of articles/comments during tje 2005 & 2008 slams saying that the quality within the 6N just happened to be poor during these Welsh successes.

This year we have'nt even won a slam yet and we are recieving negativity about whether Wales are worthy of it. Results may not tell the whole story but they don't lie.

Wales have a lot more in the tank than what they have currently shown. I also feel that due to the media (British not just Welsh) it helps opposing teams focus and raise their games.

 

[Saintjay]

Don't know why a winning Wales gets under so many peoples skin. Remember reading a lot of articles/comments during tje 2005 & 2008 slams saying that the quality within the 6N just happened to be poor during these Welsh successes.

This year we have'nt even won a slam yet and we are recieving negativity about whether Wales are worthy of it. Results may not tell the whole story but they don't lie.

Wales have a lot more in the tank than what they have currently shown. I also feel that due to the media (British not just Welsh) it helps opposing teams focus and raise their games.

Gatland did not help the cause at all yesterday with his comments after the game and in the press conference that followed to be honest.

I do not think the potential talk of "We have won the grand slam three times in eight years" is helping. The French feel no need to mention how many times they have won the six nations ***le and god forbid any Englishman if he mentions how many trophies England have won in the past.

I am not sure people mind Wales winning I think not everyone is convinced by all the hype about how amazing they are.

 

[Toby Faletau-Jones]

Italy played really well today. Their defense for the majority of the game was pretty good considering they had to defend against the likes of Cuthbert, and North. However, why on earth is Clancy an international referee, apart from slowing the game down, with his whistle happy mood, he missed knocks-ons, and various stuff committed by both teams. As for Peter Fitzgibbon one of the touch officials, pffft what does he do? Things happen right in front of him, and yet he is oblivious to it. This is what makes Rugby league a much better game, with the consistent refereeing and communication between the officials and ref.

Another thing why don't they just eradicate the contested scrums, and make it like in league? It is highly frustrating that a great proportion of the game is taken up by scrums - it gets boring.

As for Wales, i will admit after today we are slightly overrated. There is only so many times you can play poorly. No disrespect to Italy, but we claim we want to be the best or one of, and yet we beat Italy by 20 points. SA, and NZ would have put 50/60 on Italy. Priestland needs sacking, just temporarily, because he is playing quite bad. He kicks aimless kicks, and just seems out of his depth at the moment. Perhaps by giving hooky some time, he will realise his spot is not guaranteed and play some decent footy. Jamie Roberts did nothing as usual, apart from that try, and i would think Williams is more deserved of a place alongside Davies.

I think Wales need to work on their execution, because they bombed a few tries. Basic errors such as handling errors were creeping in, and at this level it is unexceptable on a consistent basis. I suppose a positive out of today was that we played our worst for a while, and still won convincingly with a ref that suited the Italian game. However, even with the performance of today/ yesterday, i still think if we played like that against France we would win. From now on the only team i would fear as such and worry about in the NH are England. I hope they beat the French and continue to improve, because they smashed Wales, and should have won had their execution been better. But i guess they will learn from that.

But to be truthful, i would rather lose the grand slam, and Wales tour Australia and win that. That would be more impressive, and a sign of progression. But even if we don't; Wales are bloody fantastic for a country the size of Tasmania in Australia, with little resources, and population. Now that's what makes us a truly special team.

 

[cyRil]

I do not think the potential talk of "We have won the grand slam three times in eight years" is helping. The French feel no need to mention how many times they have won the six nations ***le and god forbid any Englishman if he mentions how many trophies England have won in the past.

But it's not us saying that. From all I've seen only John Inverdale keeps dragging it out... and then coming up with a billion mathematical permutations of how England can still win the championship to keep the majority of the viewership interested!

 

[Saintjay]

But it's not us saying that. From all I've seen only John Inverdale keeps dragging it out... and then coming up with a billion mathematical permutations of how England can still win the championship to keep the majority of the viewership interested!

Warren Gatland yesterday "The potential of us winning three grandslams in eight years is pretty special".

 

[cyRil]

Warren Gatland yesterday "The potential of us winning three grandslams in eight years is pretty special".

Cocky prick, inee?...

 

[Saintjay]

Cocky prick, inee?...

No not at all, as you said it's not us saying those kind of things

 

[Macsen]

Warren Gatland yesterday "The potential of us winning three grandslams in eight years is pretty special".

Well, it is, considering the last Grand Slam before that was 27 years previous. France, England, etc, don't feel the need to mention their myriad throphies because they have so many of them. They judge success in World Cups, not Six Nations trophies. Wales' standards are just lower, I suppose.

Interestingly I don’t get the same impression that Wales is going mad for this campaign like they were in 2005 and 2008. Getting bored of going for slams? Maybe the World Cup success spoiled us...

 

[Macsen]

I am not sure people mind Wales winning I think not everyone is convinced by all the hype about how amazing they are.

Where is the hype coming from, though? Wales were expected to come fourth before the start of the championship. Then they beat Ireland and suddenly they are treated like a visiting tri-nations team. 15 point win against Scotland? Disappointing. Seven point win at Twickenham, where we've only won once since 1988? A travesty. 20 point win against Italy? Awful.

Seems to me most of the hype is coming from the Guardian, Telegraph, etc. And the occasional Welshman who depends on these newspapers for their opinion.