Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

Wales player ratings vs Italy - Autumn Nations Cup

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Wales player ratings: Well, they got there in the end. The scoreline flattered the Welsh and you fancy they’ll be relieved to limp out of 2020, the long finally ordeal over, with an ugly win against the Italians.

ADVERTISEMENT

Here are our Wales player ratings:

15. LIAM WILLIAMS – NA
If fit, you feel the 2021 Lions jersey is his to lose, but that’s a big if at this stage. Sadly, he limped off after just 17 minutes.

14. JOSH ADAMS – 5
Yellow carded for killing the ball and then acting like a silly little lad after it. Also nearly scuffed a late George North try by giving it too early. One to forget for Adams.

Video Spacer

Shaun Edwards is so ruthless:

Video Spacer

Shaun Edwards is so ruthless:

13. GEORGE NORTH – 7
You felt watching the game that is was a chance for North to prove that he still had real value to offer Wayne Pivac, who seems unsure what do with the aging superstar. He certainly didn’t have to worry about seeing ball and was happy to truck the ball up. Rubbing his nose on an Italian player’s sleeve was entertaining. The best Welsh back on the park.

Wales player ratings

12. JONATHAN DAVIES – 4.5
The 32-year-old Lion is starting to lose his grip on a place in the Wales’ squad and you could see his knee was heavily strapped for this outing. Doesn’t seem himself.

11. LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT – 5
Taking the ball back into his 22 was a schoolboy error, but he will be truly haunted by being gassed by Johan Meyer, albeit with a yard or two to make up on the angle. Managed a few breaks up the pitch but we’re still waiting to see him truly open up in Welsh jersey.

ADVERTISEMENT

10. CALLUM SHEEDY – 5
The Bristol boy is full of adventure and he clearly enjoys bringing the ball to the line, but this was a Test match, not touch rugby. Sometimes it felt like this Welsh team were rudderlessly staggering about around the park. You hate to say it but Wales needed him to kick more. Getting flung into touch at the end summed up a scatty outing for Sheedy.

9. KIERAN HARDY – 6
A bright performance and good value for his try. The game descended into terminal scrappiness but you suspect he’ll be happy with his contribution. Snappy.

1. NICKY SMITH – 6
With Wyn Jones stealing a march on the loosehead jersey, you forget just how effective Nicky Smith can be. He has a baby face but by the gods he is strong.

2. SAM PARRY – 5.5
Well, there’s the big lineout issue isn’t there. It’s not all Parry’s fault of course, as it’s been a curse for the Welsh throughout the Autumn Nations Cup and its origin is presumably systematic rather than the fault of any given hooker. Pivac and co sorting their set-piece issues must be close to the top of their epic snag list. That aside, Parry was useful in flashes.

ADVERTISEMENT

3. TOMAS FRANCIS – 5
An increasingly rare start for the big Chief. Fired up and got involved, but you suspect it may soon be the end of the line for big man, SPSP or not.

4. WILL ROWLANDS – 5
Getting smashed in contact by the Italians and then penalised for not releasing was a poor start for the hulking Wasp, who needed to do something, anything, to stake a claim to the red jersey. Carried competently thereafter.

Wales player ratings

5. ALUN WYN JONES – 5.5
His nuisance factor can’t be underestimated and it was dialed right up today. He’s still the heart and soul of this Welsh pack, but this Welsh team are a shambles right now, and he too is performing under par.

6. JAMES BOTHAM – 6
His fourth straight start and what’s been a productive series for the Cardiff Blues backrow. He hasn’t hit too many ‘sixes’ but he’s had plenty of ‘runs’ all the same. Cricketing puns aside, he’s been Pivac’s most significant breakout player this series.

7. JUSTIN TIPURIC – 8
What a line and dummy from Tipuric to put his 9, Kieran Hardy, in for his first Test try. He and Faletau are the only Welsh players who would be part of a world XV conversation at the moment.

8. TAULUPE FALETAU – 8.5
A rock of excellence in the sea of Welsh mediocrity around him. Makes metres and wins collisions, and deservedly won his MOTM award.

REPLACEMENTS:
22. IOAN LLOYD – 4
Completely out of position for Italy’s 33-minute try after coming on for Willams. Missed a tackle on Italian nine Vardy as he slalomed his way up the pitch minutes later. One to forget for the young man, who looked unsure of himself.

21. Gareth Davies – 7.5
Great try when he came on. Why don’t Wales play him more? Someone should tell Wayne.

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 All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster | Autumn Nations Series All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
Search