Next up - Italy

[normanski]

At what point do we move in from drinking games and running round the bar with bits of burning bog paper hanging from our arses to watching rugby with a nice bottle of wine?

I think it happens incredibly slowly in your thirties to forties if you’re lucky. I’ve been married so long I can’t remember exactly when but do appreciate the wine’s comatose afterglow if Wales are losing as they did so often in the 80s and 90s. It was a great comfort.

[normanski]

I think we’re all looking for a composed and measured performance albeit against weaker opponents this afternoon. It would be great early on if Humphrey can get the set piece working like clockwork, Jenkins can improve our speed and menace at the breakdown and Jones gets the youngsters to turn on the style and fire on all cylinders once we gain the upper hand.

If all that happened then I would feel that more confidence in Pivac and his team.

[Wallpaperman]

Shame that Johnny Williams is out. He and North could be a very exciting combination from an attacking perspective. Still fancy Wales to win comfortably today. Hoping that the front five can get in at least one good performance

[normanski]

Shame that Johnny Williams is out. He and North could be a very exciting combination from an attacking perspective. Still fancy Wales to win comfortably today. Hoping that the front five can get in at least one good performance

I hope Foxy stays uninjured for the whole game. It will be interesting to see if he is at 12 rather than 13.

[normanski]

Well worked try. Lovely Tipuric dummy. Italy tackling well but we’re already softening them and winning breakdown penalties.

[Sandydragon]

14 nil up. A better start than we normally have, hopefully we will keep our focus.

Line out is still a horror show.

[Sandydragon]

Normal service resumed.

[Buggaluggs]

What

[Buggaluggs]

..the

[Buggaluggs]

..fuck?

[Sandydragon]

Complete lack of attention there. Too many lateral plays when we had the ball and some awful defending. That try was very soft indeed.

[normanski]

We’ve gone from 14 nil to to give away two easy penalties and a training ground try. 14-11 HT. I had high hopes but discipline is going and Adams in the bin.


We need a spectacular second half otherwise this game will ask more questions than answers.

[Buggaluggs]

We’ve gone from 14 nil to to give away two easy penalties and a training ground try. 14-11 HT. I had high hopes but discipline is going and Adams in the bin.


We need a spectacular second half otherwise this game will ask more questions than answers.

Well, I think the Qs have already been asked. Spectacular second ½ or not.

[Sandydragon]

Too many breakdown penalties.

And a crap lineout.

[Sandydragon]

Anyone else feel Liam Williams was a tad lucky with his clearout?

[Sandydragon]

It was a cracking pass form Faletau for our first try mind.

[Buggaluggs]

Leclerc P2 !

[Buggaluggs]

Leclerc P2 !

Sorry. Focus Buggs. Focus. This game isn't boring. Focus.

[Sandydragon]

Oh FFS. Ioan Lloyd won’t want to see that again.

[Sandydragon]

Wainwright and Davies both in.

[Sandydragon]

And Adams is back.

[Buggaluggs]

Well. At least its more interesting now.

[Buggaluggs]

Bottas pole. Russell off by 2 hundredths

[Sandydragon]

Our most creative players are our open side and number 8.

[Sandydragon]

Ioan Lloyd replaced by Holmes. One for the future but not a great night for him.