With the Championship reaching its denouement this weekend, last year’s high-octane Super Saturday will be tough to beat as far as the entertainment factor is concerned, and all eyes this time around are on Eddie Jones’s England who will be hunting their first Grand Slam since 2003.
WALES
West of the Severn, however, the dust has settled and the Deep Heat and TCP supply has been fully replenished. Wales will no doubt rue their lacklustre first half display against England last weekend when they had their feathers ruffled early on. They were weak at the breakdown where they lacked any cohesion whatsoever, and Welsh fans had all but put the kettle on and switched over to their favourite soap opera on the 60 minute mark before a somewhat galvanised squad dug deep and fell agonisingly short of one of the greatest ever comebacks in their country’s rugby history. It wasn’t to be, and so whilst their neighbours hunt a Grand Slam, Wales are hunting their pride and a respectable second place finish.
Warren Gatland has made a handful of changes to his starting lineup for tomorrow’s clash. The standout performer last weekend, Liam Williams is an obvious choice at full-back keeping his place in the starting XV. George North continues on the right wing with Hallam Amos coming in for Alex Cuthbert. Davies and Roberts link up again having been solid as a rock throughout this year’s campaign, but a change to the half-back pairing sees Rhys Webb returning from injury to start alongside fellow Osprey Dan Biggar.
In the pack, Taulupe Faletau rounds off an impressive string of performances for Wales by keeping his place at the back of the scrum. With Warburton unavailable for selection, Lydiate takes the captaincy and Justin Tipuric has his opportunity to impress at open-side flanker. The experienced hands of Bradley Davies and Luke Charteris link up in the second-row, and Gatland sticks with Scott Baldwin at hooker, with the in-form Ken Owens working his hind legs off to make the starting 15. Scarlets Rob Evans and Sampson Lee start at loose-head and tight-head respectively, making up a starting lineup the bulk of which took to the field last weekend.
Player to watch: George North
North has been steadily improving and re-finding form over the past few months. Whilst Wales struggled with go-forward in round four, North was instrumental in their last minute comeback and showed real determination in getting Wales over the try-line.
ITALY
Having made huge strides in the last decade, the past couple of seasons have seen Italian rugby take a couple of steps back. This year’s competition has been no different, and whilst the talismanic Sergio Parisse has displayed some of the best performances of his career, the Azzurri still managed to be completely and utterly demolished by an Irish team who turned up the heat in the Aviva Stadium last weekend racking up an enormous 58 points and showing real class whilst doing so.
David Odiete and Leonardo Sarto start on the wing and at full-back respectively, with Mattia Bellini taking to the field in the Number 11 jersey. Treviso centre Andrea Pratichetti starts at outside-centre in place of the injured Michele Campagnaro – a huge loss to Italy’s attacking game – with the powerful Zebre centre Garcia on his inside shoulder. Perpignan fly-half Tommaso Allan makes a return from injury and starts at outside-half, the fourth player to do so in five games for the Italians.
In the pack, Sergio Parisse rounds off an impressive Six Nations campaign starting at number 8, the captain’s armband firmly cemented on. Minto and Zanni will no doubt have to work hard at the breakdown, and Bernabo and Geldenhuys will be called upon to salvage the maul if Wales manage any go-forward from the lineout. Martin Castogiovanni makes a welcome return from injury at tight-head prop with Giazzon and Lovotti joining him in the front-row.
Player to watch: Sergio Parisse
Week in, week out, Parisse has led by example. Never afraid to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in, he offers a certain creativity and unpredictability lacking from all other aspects of the Italian game. I expect he’ll be looking for the Azzurri to go out of this year’s 6 Nations campaign with an almighty bang.
PREDICTION
Wales still have second place to play for and their pride is well and truly on the line tomorrow in Cardiff. No doubt Shaun Edwards will have read the riot act after last weekend’s slip-up, and with the pressure of the Championship now off their shoulders, I expect Wales to run the ball from anywhere and show an attacking mettle that has been missing for the past few weeks.
Italy have heart – and they have Parisse. But other than that, they haven’t shown that they have a huge amount else. With an increasing injury list and the wooden spoon officially theirs, a rout could very well be on the cards again this weekend. Wales by 20.
By Daniel Jenkins
Follow Daniel on Twitter: @DanWJenkins
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Hard game to get excited for – we need to win to secure 2nd place, but we’re at the stage now where 2nd place doesn’t get the desire going. With Italy as they are it’s a case of the only way this match could be exciting is if we’re on for a loss. Win marginally and it’ll be awful, win big and it’ll have been what was expected. Epitome of a dead rubber.
Personally if I was Gatland I’d go and change a lot more and bring in some players (I’m sorry I don’t know enough of Welsh Rugby to name who) to give them an experience of test rugby.
After all he knows what Roberts, Davies, Faletau, Biggar (who looks in serious need of rest, he can only be 80% fit) and Charteris can do, give them boys a rest and show that he has got creative ideas, he does trust the depth of talent in Wales and it will also send a message to some established stars that there is competition for their places out there.
As it is Wales will slap Italy about quite properly, the England game will be seen as a blip and the same old names will go to New Zealand in the summer and Get a proper shellacing!
We’re not hiding the NZ B team, Jez, in favour of Roberts et al. The same old faces will be going on tour because they’re the best players we have at the moment. The depth has always been the perennial issue for Wales.
Although with the u20’s about to GS tonight the future may look a bit brighter than it would otherwise.
Along with the changes already made, I’d have gone one further and started Priestland. Think he’s played with confidence during the cameos he’s had – and Biggar is evidently in need of a rest.
Yep, would have like to see Priestland start and Anscombe as backup, make some bench space for Patchell or Davies. Other than that agree that we are not going to throw a new 6 or 7 players in to suffer potentially embarrassing loss if they are not up to it. Have to introduce them steadily and we are doing ok with that – two years ago the likes of Webb, Williams, Amos and the entire front row were well away from the 1st team. Evolution is ticking along, better depth prospects than we have had for years, as the World Cup showed.
Wales to win by at least 50 points and not concede a try, thus being crowned the true 6n champions, if only the mind of their defence coach:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2016/03/17/shaun-edwards-challenges-wales-to-top-six-nations-defence-table/
I wonder whether Gatland could have been a bit more experimental without risking the win, but not close enough to Welsh rugby to know if there are any viable options, ready to come in. Dead rubber matches can be a chore, but always hold a bit more excitement when “the next great thing” is making their debut to hint at a brighter future. A more expansive centre perhaps instead of Roberts or a more dynamic 6 than Lydiate? Certainly the current and recent u20s teams seem to hint that this may be forthcoming.
Priestland and Matthew Morgan are the obvious choices to come in, particularly when there are two 10s on the bench.
The only realistic options to Roberts at the moment are Scott Williams and Tyler Morgan, who are both injured. Owen Watkin looks like he’s already a brilliant player, but it’s only his first senior season and he’s playing for the U20s. He’ll have to be considered when the next squad is announced.
Also not in the squad, but Sam Davies would bring a huge amount of excitement! He’s looked better than Bigger for the Ospreys this season. Much more of a running threat and a comparable kicking game.
In the back row there are less options though. Ross Moriarty is on the bench and is a completely different player than Lydiate, but behind him you’re looking at James King (solid player, grafter) and Dan Baker (quite dynamic, but gone off the boil this season). Neither of them look like the next big thing though. Harrisson Keddie, the U20s captain is one to watch.