Italy next

[Sandydragon]

Im confident that we can get the bonus point win. I suspect Italy will be up for the game and will have targeted this one. But they have a habit of fading in the last 20 so if we can keep our intensity up, and maintain our discipline, then we have to be strong favourites for this one.

I’m confident too. Wales are playing like the team in the 70s - soak up the pressure even though they were behind on the scoreboard and then come back strongly in the last quarter to win convincingly.

Italy are no pushover and are developing a strong core team. They’re not far off giving most other teams in the 6N a competitive game.

I’m glad Pivac has chosen a strong and settled team. They will do a job tomorrow and who knows we may even be champions-elect if England force a narrow win at Twickenham and Ireland beat Scotland.

i've got a huge head vs heart issue on those fixtures.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Im confident that we can get the bonus point win. I suspect Italy will be up for the game and will have targeted this one. But they have a habit of fading in the last 20 so if we can keep our intensity up, and maintain our discipline, then we have to be strong favourites for this one.

I’m confident too. Wales are playing like the team in the 70s - soak up the pressure even though they were behind on the scoreboard and then come back strongly in the last quarter to win convincingly.

Italy are no pushover and are developing a strong core team. They’re not far off giving most other teams in the 6N a competitive game.

I’m glad Pivac has chosen a strong and settled team. They will do a job tomorrow and who knows we may even be champions-elect if England force a narrow win at Twickenham and Ireland beat Scotland.

Since the Jenkins era we've beaten them 15 times straight, with an average margin of over 20 points, and even in a shaky 2020 we beat them by margins of 42 and 20 points. So I'm not desperately worried that this is a banana skin.

Pivac's selections show he's taking this game very seriously. While I think the game's in the bag (and the bonus point almost so), I'm confident that the team will be taking nothing for granted come kick-off.

My guess for the scoreline: Wales 45 - 15 Italy.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Im confident that we can get the bonus point win. I suspect Italy will be up for the game and will have targeted this one. But they have a habit of fading in the last 20 so if we can keep our intensity up, and maintain our discipline, then we have to be strong favourites for this one.

I’m confident too. Wales are playing like the team in the 70s - soak up the pressure even though they were behind on the scoreboard and then come back strongly in the last quarter to win convincingly.

Italy are no pushover and are developing a strong core team. They’re not far off giving most other teams in the 6N a competitive game.

I’m glad Pivac has chosen a strong and settled team. They will do a job tomorrow and who knows we may even be champions-elect if England force a narrow win at Twickenham and Ireland beat Scotland.

i've got a huge head vs heart issue on those fixtures.

Particularly England-France!

[Graigwen]

I think Italy will throw everything at us tomorrow, I have a feeling it may be their best performance of the championship.

We can't even plan tactics in Welsh with Varney on the field!

.

[normanski]

I think Italy will throw everything at us tomorrow, I have a feeling it may be their best performance of the championship.

We can't even plan tactics in Welsh with Varney on the field!

.

I agree Italy will throw everything at us in the first half but we’ve shown we can soak up the pressure and prosper thereafter.

This is a real benchmark game for Wales. Get it right and pile up the points with some scintillating plays and even the doubters will start to realise we will be worthy champions.

We have a pack which provides stable platforms in both set pieces and defensive play, coupled with a sharp minded back line which can introduce wide variety into its play and do so with growing confidence. Paris will be the real deal for this team.

My forecast for today: 12-52 to Wales.

[Graigwen]

This is a real benchmark game for Wales. Get it right and pile up the points with some scintillating plays and even the doubters will start to realise we will be worthy champions.

We have a pack which provides stable platforms in both set pieces and defensive play, coupled with a sharp minded back line which can introduce wide variety into its play and do so with growing confidence. Paris will be the real deal for this team.

My forecast for today: 12-52 to Wales.

I agree with all this. For once there seems to be little chance of a banana skin, unless we get a red card or two. I am happy with the team selection.

We really ought to win by a comfortable margin. We must aim for a huge margin as well as a bonus point, although the permutations for the championship from here on are complex. I can't bring myself to wish for an English win today.

As you say, Paris will be the acid test.

.

[Sourdust]

So it was 14 years ago that we had the infamous penalty kick to touch after time was/wasn’t up disaster in Rome.

Reading the report in the Fail makes me remember the atrocious pre-Gatland era. It also reminds me that England aren’t the only side to ever suffer from a refereeing mistake.

...and also it was a 100% unarguable mistake. One instantly recognized and easily correctable on the field, with a ref who refused to do so. No comparison, really.

[Sourdust]

i've got a huge head vs heart issue on those fixtures.

Yep!

I'll be shouting "Come on England!" while jabbing forks into my leg. And let's face it, this England team are frustrating enough to watch even when you want them to lose...

[Sourdust]

We really ought to win by a comfortable margin. We must aim for a huge margin as well as a bonus point, although the permutations for the championship from here on are complex. I can't bring myself to wish for an English win today.

As you say, Paris will be the acid test.

.

The premutations are complex because we're quietly assuming we'll lose in Paris.

Personally I don't have a problem with that. Win today and whatever happens, this has been a successful 6N for Wales in which we've confounded everyone's expectations (let's be honest; our own included). I know no-one respects the Triple Crown much any more, but it's a trophy-winning season. They gave England a bit of tin for that Autumn nonsense, FFS.

[Sourdust]

but it's a trophy-winning season.

I realize we also have the Doddy and Prince WIlliam's Hairpiece or whatever... but even I'm not counting those.

[Graigwen]

Started on the beer now!

[Sandydragon]

Tidy start!

[Sandydragon]

Bit of a training run this so far.

[normanski]

15-0 and halfway to a bonus point. Wow!

[Sandydragon]

The Italians do know that this isn’t a training session?

[Sandydragon]

Standby for mains about Biggars tackling technique

[normanski]

Standby for mains about Biggars tackling technique

No head contact and Biggar lifted up and back.

[Sandydragon]

BP inside 30 minutes.

[Sandydragon]

Standby for mains about Biggars tackling technique

No head contact and Biggar lifted up and back.

I’m guessing Barnes wanted to give no cause to suggest he hadn’t given it due consideration. But that was never a tackle to the head.

[normanski]

Point a minute- 27-0 and the BP.

[Wallpaperman]

Point a minute- 27-0 and the BP.

Wow, more of the same in the second half I hope. The first game this year where my pulse rate hasn’t approached 200

[Sandydragon]

Shame that try was disallowed.

[Sourdust]

Shame that try was disallowed.

Correct though.

Just like Watson's against us; very pretty, and not a try.

[Sourdust]

Right-ho. Professional job done, BP in the bag, full respect shown.

Now let's get Sheedy et al on, and chuck it about a bit. 63-12 is more use to us than 39-0.

[Sandydragon]

Right-ho. Professional job done, BP in the bag, full respect shown.

Now let's get Sheedy et al on, and chuck it about a bit. 63-12 is more use to us than 39-0.

Yup. Keep the tempo up and put some points on the board.