| 20 Mar | Wales | v | Italy | 33-10 | ||
| 20 Mar | Ireland | v | Scotland | 20-23 | ||
| 20 Mar | France | v | England | 12-10 |
Wales:
L Byrne (Ospreys); T Prydie (Ospreys), J Hook (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), A Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), J Thomas (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt)
Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), P James (Ospreys), I Gough (Ospreys), G Delve (Gloucester), D Peel (Sale Sharks), A Bishop (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues)
Italy:
L McLean (Benetton Treviso); K Robertson (Viadana), G Canale (Clermont Auvergne), G Garcia (Benetton Treviso), M Bergamasco (Stade Francais); C Gower (Bayonne), P Canavosio (Viadana); S Perugini (Bayonne), L Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester), M Bortolami (Gloucester), J Sole (Viadana), M Bergamasco (Stade Francais), A Zanni (Benetton Treviso)
Replacements: M Aguero (Saracens), F Ongaro (Saracens), V Bernabo (Roma), Manoa Vosawai (Parma), T Tebaldi (Gran Parma), R Bocchino (Rovigo), M Pratichetti (Viadana)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Marius Jonker (RSA), Stuart Terheege (Eng)
TMO: Graham Hughes (Eng)
Ireland:
G Murphy (Leicester); T Bowe (Ospreys), B O’Driscoll (Leinster, capt), G D’Arcy (Leinster), K Earls (Munster); J Sexton (Leinster); T O’Leary (Munster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), J Hayes (Munster), D O’Callaghan (Munster), P O’Connell (Munster), S Ferris (Ulster), D Wallace (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster).
Replacements: S Cronin (Connacht), T Buckley (Munster), L Cullen (Leinster), S Jennings (Leinster), E Reddan (Leinster), R O’Gara (Munster), R Kearney (Leinster)
Scotland:
H Southwell (Stade Francais); S Lamont (Scarlets), N De Luca (Edinburgh), G Morrison (Glasgow), M Evans (Glasgow); D Parks (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Glasgow, capt); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), J Hamilton (Edinburgh), A Kellock (Glasgow), K Brown (Glasgow), J Barclay (Glasgow), J Beattie (Glasgow).
Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), A Dickinson (Gloucester), R Gray (Glasgow), A MacDonald (Edinburgh), M Blair (Edinburgh), P Godman (Edinburgh), S Danielli (Ulster).
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (SA)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (SA), Jerome Garces (Fra)
Television Match Official: Giulio de Santis (Ita)
France:
C Poitrenaud (Toulouse); M Andreu (Castres), M Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), A Palisson (Brive); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne); T Domingo (Clermont Auvergne), W Servat (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), L Nallet (Racing Metro), J Pierre (Clermont Auvergne) T Dusautoir (Toulouse, captain), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz)
Replacements: D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), J-B Poux (Toulouse), S Chabal (Racing Metro), A Lapandry (Clermont Auvergne), D Yachvili (Biarritz), D Marty (Perpignan), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne)
England:
B Foden (Northampton); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), M Tindall (Gloucester), R Flutey (Brive), C Ashton (Northampton); T Flood (Leicester), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps), L Deacon (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), L Moody (Leicester, captain), N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath), T Palmer (Stade Francais), J Haskell (Stade Francais), B Youngs (Leicester), J Wilkinson (Toulon), M Tait (Sale Sharks)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (NZ)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ire), Simon McDowell (Ire)
Television Match Official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wal)
Good afternoon, folks, I’m Mark Doyle and welcome to scrum.com’s live coverage of today’s Six Nations clash between Wales and Italy in Cardiff. The importance of this game is being overlooked by many but this is a pretty significant encounter for both sides. Indeed, Wales dare not lose it, while Italy can equal their best ever Championship finish with a win (fourth place in 2007).
The hosts, of course, have endured a disastrous Six Nations campaign. Yes, they have shown plenty of heart in thrice attempting stirring second-half comebacks but only once, against Scotland in round two, have they proven successful. In addition, they produced a dismal display in Croke Park against the Irish last weekend and, make no mistake about it, head coach Warren Gatland is under more pressure than at any previous point in his reign. Dare we say it, but a loss in Cardiff today might see the axe fall on the Kiwi.
Gatland’s certainly had the look of a desperate man of late and he’s made five changes to the side beaten in Dublin, with the most exciting inclusion undoubtedly that of Tom Prydie, the Ospreys winger who, at 18 years and 27 days old, is to become Wales’ youngest ever international. However, the selection of Sam Warburton on the openside ahead of his Cardiff Blues colleague Martyn Williams has also generated much debate. Elsewhere, Wales are boosted by the return of Mike Phillips, Gethin Jenkins and Ryan Jones, which would suggest that they should have too much quality for their visitors.
However, Italy cannot be underestimated. They were left chasing shadows at time in Paris last week but they were not the first side in this year’s Championship to experience such a fate and besides, they never kept battling and finished the game strongly, racking up late tries through Carlo Antonio del Fava and Pablo Canavosio. As a result, they will arrive in Cardiff brimming with belief. They have never won here before but they did manage a draw back in 2006.
So, all in all, there’s plenty to look forward to; let’s hope ‘Super Saturday’ begins with a bang. Kick-off is now just over an hour away.
1
A loud shrill of the whistle from referee Wayne Barnes, a deep kick-off from Italy fly-half Craig Gower and we’re underway in Cardiff.
7
Our first glimpse of Prydie on the front foot. The ball is worked wide by Wales and Prydie chips the ball ahead. However, Robertson comes hurtling across on the slide to collect and carry the ball into touch.
6
The Welsh could be in for another day of woe at the lineout. Their first throw is very scappy but they manage to claim it all the same.
4
More good possession from the Italians – without ever threatening to break the gain-line – before Gower attempts a drop goal from the edge of the 22. It’s an ugly effort, though, and it wobbles wide.
3
Not even three minutes gone her in Cardiff and they’re dropping like flies. Adam Jones has been forced off with a nasty gash above his eye, while Gonzalo Canale is struggling to get back on his feet after being taken to ground by Prydie.
2
Decent start from the Azzurri, who take it through a number of phases before Gower slices a kick out to the left wing. It looks like food and drink for Williams, but the Wales wing lets it slip through his fingers and out into touch.
8min 3 – 0
S Jones – penalty goal
14
Davies has been forced off after taking a heavy knock to the head. It remains to be seen whether the lock, who has been one of Wales’ few success stories in this year’s Championship, manages to return.
13
Such bad luck for the Italians. Ryan Jones is caught offside at a ruck some 35 metres out from his own line but while Bergamasco strikes his kick on goal well, it comes back off the right post. Harsh on the visitors, who deserve to be level given the amount of possession they’ve had early on.
11
Pratichetti majestically claims a high ball in midfield but Wales managed to turn the ball over and immediately clear.
10
Adam Jones is fit to return after being stitched up, so it’s back to the bench for Paul James.
21min 6 – 0
Stephen Jones decides to take on the Italian defence again. He’s taken to the floor but Geldenhuys is guilty of not releasing and Jones picks himself up, dusts himself off and strokes over a second penalty to double the home side’s advantage.
25
Wales are growing into this and looking more and more menacing with each passing attack. Byrne has gone close to the line twice in the past two minutes.
24
More bad news for the Italians, with the lively Pablo Canavosio being forced off through injury. Tebaldi comes on in his place.
23
The recalled Mike Phillips makes his first break of the game, taking a quick tap in midfield which catches the Italians napping. He storms forward, dragging Wales deep into Italian territory before eventually being grounded. Exciting stuff from the Ospreys scrum-half.
Thank God I saw this thread,I nearly forgot to put my picks on Super Bru..
29
One cannot help but admire the Italians: they’re nothing if not resilient. Wales just had a five-metre scrum wide on the left but the Azzurri’s front row got a huge shove on and forced their Welsh counterparts into the concession of a penalty. Fantastic stuff.
27
Wales set up camp in the left corner and batter away at the Italian line before eventually moving the ball wide. Williams bends his run superbly before putting Byrne in to score. However, Williams’ try was forward. Devastating blow for the hosts.
31min 9 – 0
Wales keep the pressure on and when the Italians are caught offside for the umpteenth time, Stephen Jones steps up to the mark again and strokes over another penalty.
34min 12 – 0
It’s the Welsh front row which manages to force a penalty this time around and Jones takes advantage, lofting the ball over from close range to move the home side int
37
More nice play from Hook, who claims a crossfield kick in midfield before finding Roberts with the most delicious off-load off the floor. Unfortunately, the move comes to nothing in the face of more uncompromising defending from the Italians.
39
Scrum.com’s Graham Jenkins: “As impressive as Italy’s industry is they are painfully short of ideas with the ball in hand.”
40
After another lengthy spell of possession, Gower attempts a long-range drop goal. The fly-half loses his footing and the ball ends up harmlessly trickling over the end-line. That has just about summed up Italy’s half: plenty of possession but no end product. Wales have hardly been scintillating but they have been effective and Jones is having another very productive afternoon with the boot. If Wales remain patient the tries will come.
42
Rees threatens to find a way through for Wales down the left wing with the aid of a nice hand-off and an impressive turn of pace but the hooker’s break comes to nothing.
41
Italy begin with two ugly kicks, from McLean and Bergamasco. Hardly the most encouraging start for head coach Nick Mallett.
44
A timely boost for the Italians, with their front row earning themselves another penalty in the set-piece. This should enable McLean to kick Italy into an advantageous kicking position.
45
Williams brings the Millennium Stadium to life with a trademark jinking run from deep inside his own half. Wales work it wide but too many players end up spoiling the broth. Williams then tries a little grubber out to the left for Prydie but Gower is back to cover.
Time Score
51 19 – 0
The game Italian resistance is finally broken, with Hook breaking through a desperately weak challenge from Tebaldi to crash over from close range. Jones adds the extras from wide on the left in some style.
50 17 – 0
Hook – try
57 26 – 0
S Jones – conversion
56 24 – 0
Hook – try
Wales (12) 26 – 3 (0) Italy (65′)
68 33 – 3
S Jones – conversion
67 31 – 3
Williams – try
Wales (12) 33 – 3 (0) Italy (69′)
4 33 – 8
McLean – try
Wales (12) 33 – 10 (0) Italy (75′)
Wales (12) 33 – 10 (0) Italy (80′)
Wales kick the ball long. They don’t even bother to chase as Italy just have to touch the ball down. They do just that and the game is over. A morale-boosting win for Wales, who produced their most consistent performance of the Championship. A shame for them that it came on the last day when there was nothing at stake. Still, the fans will go home happy after an encouraging display. As for Italy, well, they finally ran out of steam after what has been a decent campaign for them. They again showed remarkable heart but once more their lack of incision behind the scrum was painfully evident.
Next Game starts now
Ireland (0) 0 – 3 (0) Scotland (6′)
9
The ball is recycled and David Wallace bursts up the touchline with his electric pace but he’s just in touch.
8
The battle of the lineouts is going with the throw so far – O’Callaghan takes it off the top inside the Irish half and wilky soft hands from the backs finds Murphy in space on the left wing.
7
Scotland win a free kick at the scrum, but Parks’ clearance doesn’t find touch – it could be dangerous but Murphy kicks it back and the fly half calls the mark.
6
Earls takes a lovely late pass from Sexton just outside the Irish 22, he gets over the gain line and offloads to O’Connell, who bursts up to a few metres shy of the line, but Ireland knock on as they recycle.
5 0 – 3
SImple chip from in front of the posts and Parks gives Scotland the lead. Worrying for Ireland though, they fell foul of the South African referee’s interpretation at the breakdown, and they have again.
Ireland (0) 5 – 3 (0) Scotland (11′)
13
Now it’s Scotland’s turn to steal a lineout, with Hamilton pinching it at the front very cleanly. It’s on the floor and just as the Scots look to attack, O’Callaghan hacks it back and the danger is averted.
12
Big chase from Max Evans from the kickoff, but he just knocks the ball into touch on the right hand side.
11 7 – 3
Sexton can’t miss from there and he doesn’t.
10 5 – 3
First stolen lineout ball and Ireland are really trying to keep it in hand here. Sexton runs the loop, evades a few tacklers and offloads to D’Arcy, he runs into the 22 and sucks in the tackler before passing it to O’Driscoll who runs in under the posts – a gorgeous opening score ther
15 7 – 8
Beattie – try
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