Team v Italy

[Sandydragon]

Dyer instead of LRZ. Mental.

Now we're back with Morgan at 6? What? It's not crazy but why go back when Tshiunza seems to be bedding in there?

Gamble on Hawkins to cover 10? Talk about ramping up the inexperience. Hope Owen doesn't get a knock.

No space for Patchell or Keiran Williams. Shame

Nice to hear Gatland blaming the players for last week's result. What a leader.

I'd have put Tompkins on the bench rather than North as well. Tompkins offers something in every game he plays for us. North has been a passenger of late.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Dyer instead of LRZ. Mental.

Now we're back with Morgan at 6? What? It's not crazy but why go back when Tshiunza seems to be bedding in there?

Gamble on Hawkins to cover 10? Talk about ramping up the inexperience. Hope Owen doesn't get a knock.

No space for Patchell or Keiran Williams. Shame

Nice to hear Gatland blaming the players for last week's result. What a leader.

I'd have put Tompkins on the bench rather than North as well. Tompkins offers something in every game he plays for us. North has been a passenger of late.

Yes, Tompkins couldn't have done much more when he came on last time. It does seem a bit crazy to sacrifice the fly half cover to make a space for North. But if we're expecting Hawkins to move to 10 at some point wouldn't it be an idea to have a 12 on the bench?

[Tuco Ramirez]

Dyer instead of LRZ. Mental.

Now we're back with Morgan at 6? What? It's not crazy but why go back when Tshiunza seems to be bedding in there?

Gamble on Hawkins to cover 10? Talk about ramping up the inexperience. Hope Owen doesn't get a knock.

No space for Patchell or Keiran Williams. Shame

Nice to hear Gatland blaming the players for last week's result. What a leader.

I'd have put Tompkins on the bench rather than North as well. Tompkins offers something in every game he plays for us. North has been a passenger of late.

Yes, Tompkins couldn't have done much more when he came on last time. It does seem a bit crazy to sacrifice the fly half cover to make a space for North. But if we're expecting Hawkins to move to 10 at some point wouldn't it be an idea to have a 12 on the bench?

I really cant get my head around his selection. It’s lunacy.

[morepork]

Capuozzo is out for the remainder of the tournament with a bung shoulder.

Rats cocks.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I'd have put Tompkins on the bench rather than North as well. Tompkins offers something in every game he plays for us. North has been a passenger of late.

Yes, Tompkins couldn't have done much more when he came on last time. It does seem a bit crazy to sacrifice the fly half cover to make a space for North. But if we're expecting Hawkins to move to 10 at some point wouldn't it be an idea to have a 12 on the bench?

I really cant get my head around his selection. It’s lunacy.

Let's hope his coaching is better than his selection this week. Unlike the previous weeks. To put it mildly.

[MrK]

I'd have put Tompkins on the bench rather than North as well. Tompkins offers something in every game he plays for us. North has been a passenger of late.

Especially with LRZ covering the back 3

Gatlands picks are starting to look as confused as PIvacs

If you want Tomos and LRZ and North there "when the game opens up" also start with Reffel and put Morgan or Tipuric on the bench - just confused messages again

[Graigwen]

I was struggling to imagine what kind of team Gatland might come up with for this game. I don't think the selections are completely stupid but I do think they indicate that Gatland believes we are in a really big mess. My interpretation is that it is a team that might, possibly, beat Italy, but is again primarily an information gathering exercise.

The fly half selections are particularly risky, giving Williams another chance (his last?) and throwing Hawkins in at the deep end. The absence of Capuozzo might reduce the risk slightly. It seems to me to indicate Patchell is permanently well down the order behind Biggar and Anscombe.

The omission of Tshiunza only makes sense on the basis that he has already proved himself good enough. So we try another back row combination and make comparisons when Reffell comes on.

There is nothing contentious in the front five although there is again a lot of weight on ken Owens' shoulders as he is apparently our only hooker who is even moderately competent at throwing into line outs. We create such bad positions with the inevitable overthrow at the tail of the line out.

I am struggling to buy the idea that Dyer is selected because he is so good in the air.

If Rhys Webb was to get a start, this was probably the best game.

There will probably be interesting reorganisations in the backs later in the game. The omission of Tompkins may also be a sign he has proved himself generally useful (the whole team seems to play better with him); but I think there is pressure on North to show he has continuing value to the team.

Anyway, it should be a very interesting game to watch.

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[Numbers]

I was struggling to imagine what kind of team Gatland might come up with for this game. I don't think the selections are completely stupid but I do think they indicate that Gatland believes we are in a really big mess. My interpretation is that it is a team that might, possibly, beat Italy, but is again primarily an information gathering exercise.

The fly half selections are particularly risky, giving Williams another chance (his last?) and throwing Hawkins in at the deep end. The absence of Capuozzo might reduce the risk slightly. It seems to me to indicate Patchell is permanently well down the order behind Biggar and Anscombe.

The omission of Tshiunza only makes sense on the basis that he has already proved himself good enough. So we try another back row combination and make comparisons when Reffell comes on.

There is nothing contentious in the front five although there is again a lot of weight on ken Owens' shoulders as he is apparently our only hooker who is even moderately competent at throwing into line outs. We create such bad positions with the inevitable overthrow at the tail of the line out.

I am struggling to buy the idea that Dyer is selected because he is so good in the air.

If Rhys Webb was to get a start, this was probably the best game.

There will probably be interesting reorganisations in the backs later in the game. The omission of Tompkins may also be a sign he has proved himself generally useful (the whole team seems to play better with him); but I think there is pressure on North to show he has continuing value to the team.

Anyway, it should be a very interesting game to watch.

.

Well he's selected the Ospreys 9 and an Ospreys 12 so it makes sense to have the Ospreys 10, they should have a good understanding of each others game.

[Tuco Ramirez]

I'd have put Tompkins on the bench rather than North as well. Tompkins offers something in every game he plays for us. North has been a passenger of late.

Especially with LRZ covering the back 3

Gatlands picks are starting to look as confused as PIvacs

If you want Tomos and LRZ and North there "when the game opens up" also start with Reffel and put Morgan or Tipuric on the bench - just confused messages again

It's odd... claims LRZ coming back from injury but was fit enough to play v England, brings in Dyer who was bloody awful v Scotland. North dropped after Scotland, now back in and has done nothing positive for Wales at centre or indeed on the wing for quite some time? You would think that LRZ would be covering back 3 with Grady also able to move there which begs the question why no centre cover on bench if Hawkins is covering 10. It makes no sense. Back row is another name out of the hat job too

[Sandydragon]

I'd have put Tompkins on the bench rather than North as well. Tompkins offers something in every game he plays for us. North has been a passenger of late.

Especially with LRZ covering the back 3

Gatlands picks are starting to look as confused as PIvacs

If you want Tomos and LRZ and North there "when the game opens up" also start with Reffel and put Morgan or Tipuric on the bench - just confused messages again

Exactly. Have Reffell at 7 and have perhaps Christ at 6, with a view to brining on Morgan when the game opens up. Or Morgan at 6 and Reffel at 7 with Tips on the bench. Either makes more sense.

[Sourdust]

I've got no issue (so far) with Grady & Hawkins in the centres; but what was the point of including K. Williams in the squad if he doesn't even get a bench spot against Italy?

Starting to feel like Mr. Never-Never I'm afraid to say. 26 now, and still being spoken of as a "prospect". The other great "prospect" in the side is getting his first consecutive starts at the age of 30... :-/

[Numbers]

I've got no issue (so far) with Grady & Hawkins in the centres; but what was the point of including K. Williams in the squad if he doesn't even get a bench spot against Italy?

Starting to feel like Mr. Never-Never I'm afraid to say. 26 now, and still being spoken of as a "prospect". The other great "prospect" in the side is getting his first consecutive starts at the age of 30... :-/

To be fair he has had a lot of injuries, you're right tho if not this game when?

[Sandydragon]

I've got no issue (so far) with Grady & Hawkins in the centres; but what was the point of including K. Williams in the squad if he doesn't even get a bench spot against Italy?

Starting to feel like Mr. Never-Never I'm afraid to say. 26 now, and still being spoken of as a "prospect". The other great "prospect" in the side is getting his first consecutive starts at the age of 30... :-/

To be fair he has had a lot of injuries, you're right tho if not this game when?

Not the only great prospect that’s happened to sadly. I still think Ollie Griffiths could have been a legend for Wales

[Sandydragon]

I've got no issue (so far) with Grady & Hawkins in the centres; but what was the point of including K. Williams in the squad if he doesn't even get a bench spot against Italy?

Starting to feel like Mr. Never-Never I'm afraid to say. 26 now, and still being spoken of as a "prospect". The other great "prospect" in the side is getting his first consecutive starts at the age of 30... :-/

To be fair he has had a lot of injuries, you're right tho if not this game when?

Not the only great prospect that’s happened to sadly. I still think Ollie Griffiths could have been a legend for Wales.

I can only assume that Gats likes what he sees in our other centres and wants to give them
Maximum time to develop. Sadly that’s Kieran out of luck

[Sandydragon]

If anyone believes in omens, the u20s just lost an entertaining game. They were 10 points up before an intercepted pass led to a score and then it was pretty much all Italy and their pretty hefty pack.

[pompey-zebra]

If anyone believes in omens, the u20s just lost an entertaining game. They were 10 points up before an intercepted pass led to a score and then it was pretty much all Italy and their pretty hefty pack.

I'm sure the commentator said that the italian u20 front row was 30 kg heavier that the front row facing Wales this afternoon! Did I heat that right? If they are, bloody hell there's some big units!

[Son of Mathonwy]

If anyone believes in omens, the u20s just lost an entertaining game. They were 10 points up before an intercepted pass led to a score and then it was pretty much all Italy and their pretty hefty pack.

I'm sure the commentator said that the italian u20 front row was 30 kg heavier that the front row facing Wales this afternoon! Did I heat that right? If they are, bloody hell there's some big units!

Plausible - they certainly destroyed our scrum.

[Son of Mathonwy]

If anyone believes in omens, the u20s just lost an entertaining game. They were 10 points up before an intercepted pass led to a score and then it was pretty much all Italy and their pretty hefty pack.

Another game where once the opponent got into the Welsh 22 a try was almost certain to follow. But we made up for that in other areas to make a close game.

[Sandydragon]

If anyone believes in omens, the u20s just lost an entertaining game. They were 10 points up before an intercepted pass led to a score and then it was pretty much all Italy and their pretty hefty pack.

I'm sure the commentator said that the italian u20 front row was 30 kg heavier that the front row facing Wales this afternoon! Did I heat that right? If they are, bloody hell there's some big units!

That wouldn’t surprise me. They were pretty damn sizable!

[Sandydragon]

If anyone believes in omens, the u20s just lost an entertaining game. They were 10 points up before an intercepted pass led to a score and then it was pretty much all Italy and their pretty hefty pack.

Another game where once the opponent got into the Welsh 22 a try was almost certain to follow. But we made up for that in other areas to make a close game.

I’ve watched a few of the U20 games and they have done much right this campaign, some genuine promising areas for the future. But defensively they are frail. In the English game they let in a try for every English visit at one point and the game was gone.

[Graigwen]

Another game where I have had to buy in more beer to insulate myself from trauma.

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[normanski]

Another game where I have had to buy in more beer to insulate myself from trauma.

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Let’s hope it’s bubbly this evening!!

[Sandydragon]

Another game where I have had to buy in more beer to insulate myself from trauma.

.

Might need something stronger if it’s a bad result today.

[Graigwen]

Let’s hope it’s bubbly this evening!!

It might be, but to be honest I have been expecting a wooden spoon since the first match. I just want to feel that we are making some progress.

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[Sandydragon]

On the emotion stakes, Italy are winning pre kick off. Come on Wales, let’s please start strongly