Saturday, March 10, 2012

6 NATIONS INTERNATIONAL TEST RUGBY

10.03.2012
Italy v Wales in Cardiff (6 Nations)

Venue: Millennium Stadium

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

  P W D L PF PA PD PT
WALES 3 3 0 0 69 46 23 6
FRANCE 3 2 1 0 70 46 24 5
ENGLAND 3 2 0 1 44 40 4 4
IRELAND 3 1 1 1 50 30 30 3
SCOTLAND 3 0 0 3 36 63 -27 0
ITALY 3 0 0 3 37 91 -54 0

Preview
Wales at the top of this competition should, in theory, put Italy, at the bottom, to the sword.

Wales are with out their captain Warburton. Gethin Jenkins takes over as captain, with Wales fronting their 2009 Lions front row. They are certainly at the height of their season and one would expect a comfortable win.

The only favour going Italy’s way is the fact that Wales might just have their sights on France in a weeks time. Will that be enough of a distraction. I don’t think so. Italy are such a disjointed side with the selector still trying to find the backs to make some use of the hard-one ball the forwards get.

Last Five Encounters
26.02.2011 Wales 24-16 in Rome (6 Nations)
20.03.2010 Wales 33-10 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
14.03.2009 Wales 20-15 in Rome (6 Nations)
23.02.2008 Wales 47-8 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
10.03.2007 Italy 23-20 in Rome (6 Nations)

Italy has never defeated Wales in Cardiff. The closest they got was an 18-18 draw in 2006

Italy Last Five
25.02.2012 v Ireland L 10-42 in Dublin (6 Nations)
11.02.2012 v England L 15-19 in Rome (6 Nations)
04.02.2012 v France L 12-30 in Paris (6 Nations)
11.02.2012 v England L 15-19 in Rome (6 Nations)
02.10.2011 v Ireland L 6-36 in Dunedin (World Cup, Pool C)

Wales Last Five
25.02.2012 v England W 19-12 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
12.02.2012 v Scotland W 27-13 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
05.02.2012 v Ireland W 23-21 in Dublin (6 Nations)
03.12.2011 v Australia L 18-24 in Cardiff
21.10.2011 v Australia L 18-21 in Auckland (World Cup, Playoff 3rd-4th)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Wales 6th, Italy 12th
Europe Table: Wales 3rd, Italy 6th

IRB Rugby Ranking Points
Wales 82.65, Italy 73.33

Prediction
Wales far too much juice at home to win by 24 points.

Teams

6[1]
Italy

15   Andrea Masi  Aironi
14   Luke McLean Treviso
13   Gonzalo Canale  Clermont Auvergne, France
12   Alberto Sgarbi Treviso
11   Mirco Bergamasco Racing Metro, France
10   Kristopher Burton  Treviso
9   Fabio Semenzato  Treviso
8   Sergio Parisse (Capt.) Stade Francais, France
7   Simone Favaro Aironi
6   Alessandro Zanni Treviso
5   Cornelius Van Zyl Treviso
4   Quintin Geldenhuys  Aironi
3   Lorenzo Cittadini  Treviso
2   Leonardo Ghiraldini  Treviso
1   Andrea Lo Cicero  Racing Metro, France
       
16   Tommaso D'Apice  Aironi
17   Fabio Staibano Aironi
18   Marco Bortolami  Aironi
19   Robert Barbieri  Treviso
20   Tobias Botes  Treviso
21   Tommaso Benvenuti Treviso
22   Giulio Toniolatti Aironi
       
    HEAD COACH: Jacques Brunel

3[1]

Wales

15   Leigh Halfpenny Cardiff Blues
14   Alexander Cuthbert  Cardiff Blues
13   Jonathan Davies Llanelly Scarlets
12   James Roberts Cardiff Blues
11   George North Llanelly Scarlets
10   Rhys Priestland Llanelly Scarlets
9   Michael Phillips Bayonne, France
8   Tobias Faletau Newport Gwent Dragons
7   Justin Tipuric  Neath Swansea Ospreys
6   Daniel Lydiate Newport Gwent Dragons
5   Ian Evans Neath Swansea Ospreys
4   Alyn-Wyn Jones Neath Swansea Ospreys
3   Adam Jones  Neath Swansea Ospreys
2   Huw Bennett Neath Swansea Ospreys
1   Gethin Jenkins (Capt.) Cardiff Blues
       
16   Kenneth Owens Llanelly Scarlets
17   Paul James  Neath Swansea Ospreys
18   Luke Charteris Newport Gwent Dragons
19   Ryan Jones Neath Swansea Ospreys
20   Lloyd Williams Cardiff Blues
21   James Hook  Perpignan, France
22   Scott Williams Llanelly Scarlets
       
    COACH: Warren Gatland

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