Team for Italy

[Graigwen]

Wales: L Williams; Holmes, J Davies (capt), Watkin, Adams; Biggar, A Davies; N Smith, Dee, Lee, Ball, Beard Wainwright, Young, Navidi.

Replacements: Elias, W Jones, D Lewis, Alun Wyn Jones, Moriarty, G Davies, Anscombe, Amos.

[Graigwen]

The only surprise for me is that Biggar starts.

It is potentially an exciting team.

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[Numbers]

I'm looking forward to seeing how Owen Watkin gets on and it's nice to see Young and Wainwright given a go, Ball should add some carrying, we should win this one quite easily, tho I said that last week..

[Son of Mathonwy]

A bit more experimental than I expected. It should be enough to get the expected 4 tries, hope they get off to a good start. Would have preferred to see Amos starting, but they're giving plenty of players a chance here.

[Graigwen]

I'm looking forward to seeing how Owen Watkin gets on and it's nice to see Young and Wainwright given a go, Ball should add some carrying, we should win this one quite easily, tho I said that last week..

I think Watkins is fairly low risk in midfield with the Fox alongside him. It was obviously the match to slot Young in, with Wainwright having shown a surprisingly smooth transition to test level. I guess Navidi will be doing much of the thinking for the back five in the scrum, there is a fair bit of pressure on him.

Biggar of course provides experience and stability. It is a side that has the potential to win easily, but at the same time is not without risk. To build a large squad of test hardened players you have to take some risks.

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[Graigwen]

A bit more experimental than I expected. It should be enough to get the expected 4 tries, hope they get off to a good start. Would have preferred to see Amos starting, but they're giving plenty of players a chance here.

I agree, but there is no room for everyone!

I can't recall feeling so comfortable about our second choice front row starting with the third choice on the bench.

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[Hooky]

Disappointed that anscombe doesn’t start. He wasn’t great against France and this was a chance to get some confidence back. Would suggest that Biggar will start against England.

[Sourdust]

With our squad depth developing nicely I agree that most of these changes, while bold, are justified. But starting with Biggar seems odd - he's obviously got nothing to prove, while Anscombe's confidence could do with a show of faith IMO. If Anscombe doesn't start this match it's hardly possible to imagine him starting against England so it feels like we've shown our hand a bit early there.

Back row looks light but that might be useful if we can force an open game.

Have Wales ever started with an "all-English" (playing in England) back three?

[Sandydragon]

Disappointed that anscombe doesn’t start. He wasn’t great against France and this was a chance to get some confidence back. Would suggest that Biggar will start against England.

I think that’s very likely. Against aggressive English defence Biggar is probably the better bet to start.

[normanski]

A bit more change than I would have predicted but nevertheless if these youngsters come through and can give a BP win then we’ll take that.

It’s important to protect as many first choice players as possible for the England game while still blooding the newer youngsters ready for Japan.

The squad Gatland is building reminds me of the group he took to RWC in 2011 and they were a surprise package being only a yellow card away from the final.

I guess that in the team’s mindset is they’re playing to give Gats a final year to remember.

[Sourdust]

It's always tempting to go for broke against Italy and feel that anything less than giving them a royal shoeing is a disappointment. But it's an away match in a competitive tournament, and we need to be more pragmatic than that. Yes, we need the bonus point; but given that, 26-18 will do just fine. We're going to need everything for the next match so it's risky to expend any more than necessary this time.

[Graigwen]

If (and its not certain) we get off to a good start and have a good lead by half time, we may see Biggar substituted. I agree he now looks a certain starter for the England game.

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[Hooky]

Disappointed that anscombe doesn’t start. He wasn’t great against France and this was a chance to get some confidence back. Would suggest that Biggar will start against England.

I think that’s very likely. Against aggressive English defence Biggar is probably the better bet to start.

Probably, but not necessarily the right option to rack up the most points possible against Italy?

[normanski]

Although Gats has made ten changes there is still a strong spine to the team.

Some of these newer players need the experience and will probably feature in the summer warm up games to become vital backups for RWC.

It will be interesting to see how incisive and destructive our new look back row can be. There’s a lot of promise there and if they can get off to a flyer and get early and quick ball then in Biggar we have someone who can keep the pressure up and pin the Italians deep in their own half.

I think Wales will win comfortably in the end but will endure a tough first half. My prediction 32 - 14.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Disappointed that anscombe doesn’t start. He wasn’t great against France and this was a chance to get some confidence back. Would suggest that Biggar will start against England.

I think that’s very likely. Against aggressive English defence Biggar is probably the better bet to start.

Probably, but not necessarily the right option to rack up the most points possible against Italy?

Agreed, you'd think Biggar would be better as a safe pair of hands at the end if things look shaky. We should (trying not to be arrogant...) win comfortably so will not need his better accuracy on the penalty kicks. This is a game for scoring tries, which (dare I hope) means not kicking the ball back to them at every opportunity.