Wales vs Italy Preview

As harsh as this will sound to Italy, this is the perfect game for Wales after the events of Twickenham. The Welsh players need to put in an outstanding performance to bring the public back onside, as well as remember just how good they are. Italy are the weakest side in the 6 Nations, and we have seen the likes of England and Ireland cut them to shreds already this tournament. They have provided moments of excitement; almost beating France; and scoring some good tries all championship but they remain continually inconsistent. Wales across the board are a better team that Italy, and are at home, they should be capable of scoring plenty of tries this game, and they should try to do that too.

Before we look at Wales let's take a quick look at Italy. In the early part of this years tournament they looked a real threat with Gori, Canna and Campagnaro all combining wonderful to play some exciting expansive rugby which should have won them the game in Paris. Against England they frustrated the men in white for 40 minutes, and only feel apart after a rash decision in the back field leading to an intercept. Two games later another panicked decision by the Italian back three gave Ireland the first score which opened the flood gates to a hiding to forget. Unfortunately injuries have really taken their toll on the Azzuri. With a total of fifteen first choice players injured heading to

With Campagnaro injured, Italy are without their biggest
attacking threat.

Cardiff, four of those took part in the game against Ireland a week ago. They are really struggling to put out a decent side week in week out and that costs them in the long run. It's a consequence of the attritional nature of  the 6 Nations that injuries happen the top teams can deal with them, the Italians can't.

The Italian's cannot be taken lightly, but if you manage to get an early score against them, and build a double score lead quickly they start taking risks and making mistakes upon which any good team can capitalise and score even more. They will have a solid set piece, and a dangerous driving maul, but without the likes of Campagnaro their wide attack won't be particularly threatening. Wales will want to prove themselves in defence after the woeful performance at Twickenham, and will aim to shut out the Italians outright, deny them any opportunities and deny the Azzuri as many points as possible.

Edwards would not have liked
the defence shown last week.

Defence will be a paramount thing that a lot of the Welsh players will want to rectify after the England performance. We're so used to players like Roberts, Biggar and Davies in the midfield making their tackles with 100% completion, instead they were falling off tackles. This was largely due to the fact they weren't getting up off the line and unable to activate a blitz which has been the foundations of their defensive success. That ability to blitz up has so often stemmed from their ability to slow down the opponents ball at the breakdown and allow players like Davies and Roberts to read the play and shut it down. Italy have played with real tempo at points this year, and it could be a test for Wales to slow them down, but it is a chance to show they can pull of their defensive systems yet again.


It isn't just a game for Wales to fix what went wrong in England, it is also a chance to express exactly what went right, and this time do it for a whole game. The attacking threat shown in the last 15 minutes against England was nothing short of exceptional, and it should be the blueprint for the Wales attack - not just against Italy but full stop. The weird thing is, in reality, it's not all that different from their usual game plan. The standard Wales attack is focused on the likes of Roberts and North crashing hard at the 10-12 channel, and then forward carries off 9 sucking in defenders until there is a chance of an overlap for the likes of Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams to exploit. It's a simple game plan and can work as shown over the last few years. Against England Wales did something different, they kept the hard running of Roberts at the 10-12 channel, but supplemented it with hard, straight focused running in the wider channels, all combined with an willingness to pass the ball.

Roberts is more than capable to linking up with players,

Jamie Roberts is often maligned by Welsh supporters about his ability to pass the ball, it is a total misnomer. He has the ability to pass and set up chances, but he isn't asked to. If Wales use him as a decoy runner, or even use him to take the ball before slipping it to another player looping around him, it will suck in two - maybe three - players and create large gaps in the wider channels which players like North, Davies and Liam Williams are more then capable of turning into tries. But it doesn't even have to be that complicated, Wales took England apart by spreading it wide quickly and with purpose, which got the likes of Davies and North  running with intent, ball in hand, in space. Space is key in rugby, it gives players time to think, time to open up the defence and makes them much much harder to stop. Wales in recent months haven't had the confidence to try using the wider channels, whether it is a lack of faith in their handling abilities to get those players in space quickly, or a statement from the coaching staff to not over play. But it's something that Wales need to start doing.

Neither of those reasons are really valid. If you look at this Welsh back-line individually there are stark similarities to the New Zealand team which romped to a World Cup only 6 months ago. Compare: North to Savea; Liam Williams to Ben Smith; Jonathan Davies to Conrad Smith, Rhys Webb to Aaron Smith; Roberts to Nonu. It's not an exact comparison, but these Wales players are more than capable to working on the skills that the All Blacks had on top. Roberts adding a little extra passing work; North looking for work in the centre field getting his hands on the ball. But is it that far of a stretch to see this Wales team playing in a similar way to the excellent Kiwi's? Arguably Dan Biggar doesn't quite have the ability Dan Carter has to take the ball to the line and make a break, but he adds his own weapon to the Welsh arsenal with his ability in the air, although Rhys Preistland can offer that desire to stand flatter should it be required.

The All Black's are the best team on the planet, but Wales posses similar qualities in their back-line, something to consider?

Tipuric is good enough to get in any side, handling skills
better than most backs.

Of course the Kiwi style doesn't just stem from the make-up of their back-line, but also the ability and desire of forwards to get involved. It's having forwards out in the wide channels, to act as support should someone take the ball into contact, but also forwards who are capable of taking the ball and passing it without killing any opportunities that present themselves. It is something that some Welsh forwards have struggled with through the tournament, Scott Baldwin has spilled multiple passes when Wales have had an overlap out wide, but he isn't the only one. The Welsh forwards need to work on their handling ability so they don't ruin any chances that have been crafted. There are however some shining lights in the Welsh pack that can - and do - know how to use a ball, how to make a gap, and how to set up a score. Lining up against Italy are the likes of Rob Evans who is enjoying doing plenty of ball carrying; Talupe Faletau who is perhaps the only person who is on par with All Black Kieran Read with his all court game; Luke Charteris who's provides excellent dyanism from lock; and the simply majestic Justin Tipuric who would most likely be playing for the All Blacks right now if he'd been born in New Zealand. Wales possess the forwards who are comfortable on the ball, and comfortable in the wide channels to support the style of play the back-line could be trying, but they need to be given the license to do that, and trust in the likes of Lydiate, Bradley Davies and Scott Baldwin to pick up the tight ball carrying duties.

Amos to play big role?

It is interesting to hear Warren Gatland say that he has told the two wingers they have a license to roam this weekend. It's not something we've seen much from Welsh wingers, especially since the legendary Shane Williams retired. Gatland has told Amos and North to go looking for the ball, get involved and have an impact on the game rather than waiting on their wings for something to happen. It could prove to be exciting, for a start it is something that numerous pundits, coaches, and myself have been saying North should be doing anyway, he has the size, power and desire to score to have a direct impact whenever he gets the ball. Amos' "free-roaming" will likely take a different route, he is a far more intelligent player, in a similar mold to Liam Williams where he can act as a play-maker, using his kicking ability to attack in a different fashion, plus he isn't a bad finisher either scoring some wonderful tries for the Dragons. He also possesses some incredible strength for someone so slight, at one point being recorded as having the same squatting stats as the giant George North. The Welsh wingers could have a large impact on the scoreline come Saturday.

It's all very well saying Wales should go into the game looking to play an expansive, fast, powerful game, but it's never that easy. The Italians like to cause problems at ruck time and really kill momentum, it's their best chance of staying in a game and making it a tight arm wrestle where maybe they can steal a victory. The Welsh forwards are going to have to be at their best to supply quick ruck ball for Rhys Webb. They're are likely to be much more aggressive in attack with Webb much more vocal than Gareth Davies, the forwards will be in position to receive the pass before the breakdown is won, allowing them to drive at an unorganised defence and continue the advance forward. The set piece will be crucial, Scotland showed what a dominant scrum can do against the Italians, and the Scarlet duo of Evans & Lee will aim to get on top early and give Webb & Biggar quick clean ball. The lineout struggled against the majestic Itoje last weekend, Wales are unlikely to find someone

The scrum could be key to Wales asserting dominance.

quite so good lining up against them this weekend, but lineout completion is another facet that has to be perfect and allow Wales to control them game and capitalise on any chance in the attacking third.

This is a game which Wales have to win, win and they come second, win and they regain some pride. More importantly they need to win well and show just how good a side they are, get some confidence back in the camp and in the country before they head to New Zealand in the summer. It's a chance to start putting together the style that's going to take them to Japan in four years time.

Key Players:

Dan Biggar: He needs to have a good game, he has struggled to replicate the form that made him a hero in the World Cup, against England he couldn't even start to run the game, but he tried everything. His direct action was what gave Wales hope against the English, and that commitment to the shirt needs to return this weekend. With his life-long friend Rhys Webb back at scrum half, he should feel more comfortable as to what is happening inside him, allowing him to dictate what happens with the backs. Priestland is likely to get an early run out in the second half, Biggar needs to have laid down the foundations, get the scoreboard set up early, to allow Priestland to come on and kill of any Italian fightback.

Rhys Webb is crucial to the Welsh attack.

Rhys Webb: Speaking of Webb, he was the biggest factor in the change of Welsh fortunes last week, he got the forwards organised much faster, meaning they were ready to take the ball - on the charge - and attack the retreating defence. His support lines are second to none in the northern hemisphere and should any Welsh player break the line you can guarantee Webb will be there to take the scoring
pass. Needs to show a full game performance before he prepares to do battle with the best scrum half in the world in June.

George North: With license to roam he should be out there to touch the ball as much as possible, take on the Italian backs in the 12-13 channel and look to exploit and weak shoulders that are presented to him. Last year he scored a hat-trick in this fixture, he'll be looking to do the same again. He's been (statistically) the best attacking player in the tournament, now is the time to prove it.

Ken Owens to lead the second wave.

Ken Owens: From the bench "cannonball Ken" will look to continue his (unwanted) super-sub title, will add a huge amount of dynamism, and explosive ball carrying to the Welsh in the second half, and against tired Italian legs - who hopefully would have
been moved around the park a lot - he could have a massive impact towards Wales second half scores.