Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Italy v Wales: Everything you need to know

Opposing captains Sergio Parisse and Alun Wyn Jones

Rob Howley’s experienced Wales XV begin the 2017 Six Nations at perennial underdogs Italy, who picked up the wooden spoon last year.

The interim head coach – standing in as Warren Gatland focuses on his British and Irish Lions preparations – selected seven uncapped players in his original squad, none of whom made it into the matchday 23 for Sunday’s meeting in Rome.

Sam Warburton has been stood down as captain to allow him to focus on his own performances, with lock Alun Wyn Jones taking over the leadership of a side that finished second in 2016.

Italy, hoping for their first win over Wales since 2007, continue to be guided by talismanic number eight Sergio Parisse, who played every minute of last year’s campaign.

 

HEAD TO HEAD

Italy: 2

Wales: 21

Draw: 1

 

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016?

Italy will hope most people have forgotten. 

In the final round, Wales ran in nine tries en route to a 67-14 demolition of the Azzurri – their biggest points total in a championship game in Cardiff.

The record victory secured Wales’ place as runners-up behind grand-slam champions England. Italy will be seeking revenge on Sunday.

 

KEY PLAYERS

Sergio Parisse (Italy)

The number eight has embodied his team’s never-say-die attitude since his debut 15 years ago. Not just a colossus at set-pieces and at the breakdown, he is closing in on 3,000 metres gained – more than anyone else in the history of the competition.

Liam Williams (Wales)

The versatile back has been selected on the wing by Howley, despite pressure from some quarters to start him at full-back instead of Leigh Halfpenny. Legendary back Gareth Thomas was among those calling for Williams to be chosen at 15, but Howley and Wales will hope he can use his devastating attacking prowess from out wide.

 

THE LINE-UPS

Italy: Edoardo Padovani, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Benvenuti, Luke McLean, Giovanbattista Venditti, Carlo Canna, Edoardo Gori; Andrea Lovotti, Ornel Gega, Lorenzo Cittadini, Marco Fuser, George Biagi, Abraham Steyn, Maxime Mbanda, Sergio Parisse (captain).

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Ken Owens, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (captain), Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty.

 

COACH COMMENTS

Conor O’Shea (Italy): “We know that the last two games against them have been very difficult for us, but we focus on ourselves, on the work to be done. We have to impose our game plan on them, and at the end of the 80 minutes we will see.”

Rob Howley (Wales): “It took a long time to select the team. We have gone with a lot of experience away from home against what will be a very competitive Italy side, players who have a success record in the Six Nations of more than 70 per cent. It is important that we start well, hence the selection.”

 

OPTA STATS

– Italy have only won three of 17 opening-day fixtures in their Six Nations history, however one of those victories did come against Wales (2003, also against Scotland in 2000 and France in 2013).

–  Wales successfully kicked 85 per cent of their attempts at goal in 2016, the best rate of any Tier One team; Italy (80 per cent) were one of four teams, including Wales, to have a success rate of 80 per cent or better from the tee.

– Justin Tipuric has made 175 tackles since he last missed one for club or country; he’s made 40 for Wales and 135 for the Ospreys since missing a tackle on Finn Russell during last year’s tournament.

– Wales failed to win any of their six away games in 2016, they were whitewashed 3-0 on their tour to New Zealand, lost twice at Twickenham against England and drew with Ireland on the opening day of last year’s Six Nations.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors Scott Robertson responds about handling errors
Search