RugbyRebels

The weather next Saturday in Rome should be a little kinder than Friday and will probably suit our game far better and allow us to play a full 80 minutes at pace. Something we will need to do to dominate Italy and secure a winning bonus point like Scotland.

How many changes do posters see Gatland making?

One suggestion I’ve seen is to bring in Jake Ball to rest AWJ while keeping Hill and Beard in the mix to build experience for them.

While tempted to say we should start Biggar there’s the experience/confidence reason to consider in retaining Anscombe.

Biggar seems to be carrying a leg injury so we need to nurse him as much as possible before England.

Thoughts please!

Put your "B" team out against Italy cos you'll need your "A" team to be firing on all 4 to come close to beating England!!

Not too many changes unless injury is a concern.

I’d keep Anscombe and let him redeem himself. He had a bad game. It happens. For that reasons I’d keep Tomos starting as well.

I like the idea of giving AWJ a rest, although we need some leadership in there, although if Cory Hill starts then he could be captain.

I’d also be tempted to start Owen Watkin. I’d like to see Amos get a run, but perhaps from the bench.

May be worth giving Jonah Holmes an opportunity?

Williams, Amos, Davies, Watkins, Adams, Anscombe, Williams
Evans, Owens (capt), Francis, Ball, Hill, Youngs, Tipuric, Navidi

Jones, Dee,Lewis, AWJ, Wainwright, Davies, Biggar, North

MrK wrote:Williams, Amos, Davies, Watkins, Adams, Anscombe, Williams
Evans, Owens (capt), Francis, Ball, Hill, Youngs, Tipuric, Navidi

Jones, Dee,Lewis, AWJ, Wainwright, Davies, Biggar, North

I was thinking that Moriarty would benefit from game time, although I like the idea of Young’s getting some game time.

I know what you mean about game time with Moriaty, but we need his and AWJs presence guaranteed for England.

Looks like Nicky Smith travelled too, maybe give him some game time.

francoisfou wrote:Put your "B" team out against Italy cos you'll need your "A" team to be firing on all 4 to come close to beating England!!

That's not the way to build momentum, same team for me.

Numbers wrote:

francoisfou wrote:Put your "B" team out against Italy cos you'll need your "A" team to be firing on all 4 to come close to beating England!!

That's not the way to build momentum, same team for me.

Momentum is key in the 6N and we should never underestimate the Azzurri on their own patch even though they’ve lost the last 18 games in the tournament. They haven’t won a 6N game since 2015.

Gatland will try to give some of the younger players match time but hope he doesn’t make wholesale changes.

Biggar, who is carrying a leg/thigh injury needs to be nursed so a bench place for him. Leave the France game half backs as starters for experience and redemption.

I’d keep the same back row because of the damage they can do in attack and defence. Quick breakdown ball is vital if we want to go for the BP. If we’re well on top at half time Moriarty could be subbed to protect him for the England.

I’d also keep the front row intact because we’ve got to dominate upfront from the start to start tiring some very useful Italian forwards. Ball and Hill (capt) would give grunt with athleticism.

The fixtures this year have fallen favourably for Wales.

We have the hex on France, Italy are the weakest side, England had a big game which they dominated but have lost their most influential forward Itoje and now face a France side next week who could be smarting and want to put things right.

France could do us a big favour if they get their mindset right and up their game for a full 80 minutes. It will be a real tester for resurgent England.

There’s a two week turnaround after Italy so a decent interval to sort out minor knocks and to work on plan A and B for the visit to Cardiff.

If I was the WRU I would start maintenance work on the Principality roof to make certain it was in good working order before the England game. Wouldn’t it be terrible if it jammed closed!

Exciting times.

This is an away game, and we need 4 tries. So I wouldn't make too many changes.

I wouldn't change the forwards unless someone took a knock.

Anscombe should start. We shouldn't need Biggar's place-kicking accuracy against Italy (I hope). Hopefully Patchell will be in contention again soon.

Our centres weren't particularly visible on Friday, but (unless Scott Williams is fit) I wouldn't change them.

I'd like to as Amos given a chance but can't argue for any of the back three to be dropped. Maybe Amos on the bench instead of Watkin?

MrK wrote:Williams, Amos, Davies, Watkins, Adams, Anscombe, Williams
Evans, Owens (capt), Francis, Ball, Hill, Youngs, Tipuric, Navidi

Jones, Dee,Lewis, AWJ, Wainwright, Davies, Biggar, North

McBryde was bigging up Tom Young at today’s press briefing in Nice.

You might yet have a good handle on the back row!

So we now know the "other eight"

Smith, Elias, Lewis, Ball, Youngs, A Davies, Amos, Holmes

If Gatland is true to his word, we might see all 8 of these involved - which is a big call at Hooker, 9 and the Back 3!

Be interesting to see if he sticks to that - if he does and with JD names as captain, Id expect to see Owens, AWJ, Moriaty and North rested

The last time I saw Aled Davies play his box kicking was very good. I wonder if the management want to see how well that goes against Italy as both other scrum halves aren't kicking that well.

Sandydragon wrote:The last time I saw Aled Davies play his box kicking was very good. I wonder if the management want to see how well that goes against Italy as both other scrum halves aren't kicking that well.

He's the best box kicker and passer of the three imo, he doesn't have the same sniping ability or speed of foot as the other two tho.

Might be a bit of Ospreys bias but I'm very happy to see Davies given a chance. That said, there was a good case for Williams IMO, I didn't think he did too badly last time.

I find Davies very frustrating. A lethal player when he's in the right mood and lets his muscles do the thinking, but goes quiet for too long too often, and will seemingly always throw at least one terrible pass per match.

10 changes, more than I was expecting.

Wales team to face Italy: Liam Williams; Jonah Holmes, Jonathan Davies, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Aled Davies; Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Thomas Young, Josh Navidi.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Alun Wyn Jones, Ross Moriarty, Gareth Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Hallam Amos.