So, we are two weeks down the line from the dramatic, if erratic, victory over our old foes England at Twickenham, and are now back in Cardiff for the remainder of the tournament. Securing the Triple-Crown on English soil was a feather to put in Warren Gatland's cap, but as he would tell you, the job is only half complete. Today, Wales have to beat a tough Italian side, who have yet again shone in bursts, but seem set again to end the tournament with a whimper, and the inevitable last weekend battle with Scotland for the Wooden Spoon. Wales should be wary though, defeat against Italy would be border-line catastrophic, and would ultimately cost us a potential Grand-Slam, and maybe even the chance of winning the 6 Nations itself. There is another bonus to beating the Italians. The more wins that Wales rack up, the more points they get in the IRB World Rankings, which ultimately decides the top-seeds for the World Cup draw. If Wales can finish in the top four of these rankings, then they are guaranteed to not be drawn with the likes of New Zealand or Australia in the group stages of the 2015 World Cup. So hopefully, the rest of the 6 Nations will be a case of onwards and upwards (literally) for Wales!
In terms of the squads, Wales are again without captain Sam Warburton, who has a knee injury, and looks an ever increasing doubt for the France game next weekend. In his place comes Justin Tipuric, who starts his first game for Wales, having made 3 previous appearances off the bench. The other change sees the front row Lions trio reunited, as hooker Matthew Rees comes in for Ken Owens. Hero of two weeks ago Scott Williams is named on the bench, with Jamie Roberts fit to face Italy, days after it looking like his tournament was over. Also on the bench, scrum-half Lloyd Williams is replaced by Rhys Webb due to a thigh strain, whilst James Hook is back in the replacements, along with Luke Charteris, meaning there is no place in the match-day 22 for Stephen Jones. Captaining the side will be Gethin Jenkins, who leads the side for the fourth time. A danger sign if any is that Wales have lost seven of eight games while a prop has captained the side, so Jenkins will be hoping to break his duck today in Cardiff.
Italy have made whole-sale changes to the side that got trounced by Ireland two weeks ago, again shuffling their half-back pairing, with Kristopher Burton replacing Tobias Botes at fly-half, and Fabio Semenzato coming in for scrum-half Edoardo Gori, who has dropped out of the squad completely. Gonzalo Canale has been preferred to Tommaso Benvenuti at centre, and the old war-horse Mirco Bergamasco replaces Giovanbattista Venditti on the wing. In the forwards, Andrea Lo Cicero is at prop ahead of Michele Rizzo, second-row Marco Bortolami drops to the bench to make way for Cornelius van Zyl, and flanker Simone Favaro replaces Robert Barbieri. The Italians will be looking to put in a good performance for the whole 80 minutes today, having played well in the first halves against France, England, and Ireland, but then losing their way badly in the second period.
In reality, you can't look past a Wales victory, but the margin of victory could be crucial. A ruthless, confident performance would really set the wheels in motion for a Grand-Slam next weekend, and the momentum we take from this game today could be crucial in aiding our efforts against France. We have to take Italy seriously though, and we cannot afford to be complacent, as England almost found out to their cost in the second week. They have beaten us twice before, though on the road, so they know how to win. But ultimately, Wales should prove to have too much skill and composure to break down and crumple the Italian resistance.
Wales:
Backs: Halfpenny; Cuthbert, J Davies, Roberts, North; Priestland, Phillips.
Forwards: Jenkins (c), Rees, A Jones, A-W Jones, Evans, Lydiate, Tipuric, Faletau.
Replacements: Owens, James, Charteris, R Jones, Webb, Hook, S Williams.
Italy:
Backs: Masi; McLean, Canale, Sgarbi, Bergamasco; Burton, Semenzato.
Forwards: Lo Cicero, Ghiraldini, Cittadini, Geldenhuys, van Zyl, Zanni, Favaro, Parrise (c).
Replacements: D'Apice, Staibano, Bortolami, Barbieri, Botes, Benvenuti, Toniolatti.
Dewch ar Cymru!
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