Team for Italy

[Sandydragon]

Well this is fucking dire. We don't even look like scoring a try. We had 80percent possession in the first quarter and couldn't score. That's truly shocking.

[morepork]

Both teams have pretty staunch defence. Then again, both are playing pretty much one-out attack.

[Ross. S]

Who is glad that relegation was ruled out? I think we'll be bottom of the pile this year but it should at least mean the back of some of these coaches.

Our entire attack consists of bigger chipping through, only problem is nobody else on the welsh side is on the same page. Shockingly it seems our lineout is the only part that seems to be working!

Its like rewinding a decade with Jenkins in charge again.

[Ross. S]

Maggie Alphonsie "if they can slow down the Welsh attack"

What? How much slower does she want it? Any slower and we'd be going backwards (even more so than we currently are)

[wayneha50]

Maggie Alphonsie "if they can slow down the Welsh attack"

What? How much slower does she want it? Any slower and we'd be going backwards (even more so than we currently are)

Slowing down our own attacks seems to be part of the gameplan. See also kick the ball away everytime you have it.

[canta_brian]

Has anyone seen more than two passes before another ruck from Wales?

[Sandydragon]

Italians getting niggly and giving away penalties. Hopefully we can rack some points up and a yellow card might be on its way soon.

At the moment our final tally looks like it will be divisible by 3.

[Sandydragon]

Better. Can we inject some pace into this?

[Sandydragon]

Another penalty against Italy? How many kore ref?

[morepork]

Italy just give up trying every time the clock hits 60.

[Sandydragon]

Italy just give up trying every time the clock hits 60.

Aye. Different game suddenly.

[wayneha50]

Wow we nearly scored one of those things then

[Sandydragon]

Yellow card, been a long time coming.

[Ross. S]

TRY!!!!!!!

[Sandydragon]

Woo hoo, but we made hard work of that!

[Ross. S]

Everyone moans about Bigger whinging at the ref, hes got nothing compared to what Parisse has done for years

[Sandydragon]

And we learn that we can pass th ball, well done Scott Williams, and in the process score a second try. Can we get a bonus?

[Sandydragon]

Three tries in the second half for respectability, but that wasn't pretty.

Bortalami from the commentary box making the point that Sam davies being much flatter made life more difficult for the Italian defence and surely no surprise that he was heavily involved in all three tries.

Come on Howley, even a second row can spot the difference.

[Ross. S]

God that was hard to watch. We can kiss goodbye to the championship after not getting the bonus point (unless we get a grandslam)

[Renniks]

If Biggar can be selected next week, it'd be greatly appreciated!

[ALunpg]

If Biggar can be selected next week, it'd be greatly appreciated!

Funny ...but the same could be said for the England starting 15 but honestly neither side did themselves credit in the first half...but next week is differant as we all know.

[Spiffy]

Not the highest standard of skills on display (same as yesterday's two games), but Tipuric confirms that he's an outstanding 7 and Sam Davies deserves a run of games at 10 to see what he can do. Halfpenny is a great goal kicker, a rock under the high ball, will tackle anything that moves and is certainly worth his place. He looks a tad on the bulky side now and has perhaps lost a bit of his old zip in attack. Maybe he just playing conservatively under coach's instruction.

[Sandydragon]

Not the highest standard of skills on display (same as yesterday's two games), but Tipuric confirms that he's an outstanding 7 and Sam Davies deserves a run of games at 10 to see what he can do. Halfpenny is a great goal kicker, a rock under the high ball, will tackle anything that moves and is certainly worth his place. He looks a tad on the bulky side now and has perhaps lost a bit of his old zip in attack. Maybe he just playing conservatively under coach's instruction.

Halfpenny has looked sharper as m the wing for Wales than at full back.

[MrK]

My ratings...the whole team

First Half - 4, Second Half - 6

Average rating...5

Simples.

[Sandydragon]

My ratings...the whole team

First Half - 4, Second Half - 6

Average rating...5

Simples.

No o e really stood out. Most players did something positive at some point and were meh at other times. Tips and AWJ probably the best of the bunch.

And can someone please explain to me why our skinny winger is crashing the ball into contact over the behemoth on the other wing? If our sole point of north is to give him the ball and simultaneously three defenders with no space then it's all a bit pointless.