NPR

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George North recalled but retiring from internationals after this match.

inactionman wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 1:11 pm George North recalled but retiring from internationals after this match.

I'm amazed he's lasted this long considering his history of concussion.

SaintK wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 2:02 pm

inactionman wrote: Wed Mar 13, 2024 1:11 pm George North recalled but retiring from internationals after this match.

I'm amazed he's lasted this long considering his history of concussion.

Aye. He got a little bit prickly in interviews when this came up, which seemed a bit off given the now-known effects of head-knocks, but it may have just been that such questions were e bit too close to home.

Quality player in his younger years. Speed and power, along with playing intelligence. When he was on form your team was in trouble.

Probably the right time for him to leave the international stage as he has become less effective as his pace went, provided Wales have a decent player waiting to fill the gap? If not, I'd be trying to persuade him to keep playing at 13.

No one gives a shit about this season or this game in Wales.
Gats is bonkers

Galles
15 Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)
14 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 58 caps)
13 George North (Ospreys – 120 caps)
12 Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 35 caps)
11 Rio Dyer (Dragons – 18 caps)
10 Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 11 caps)
9 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 57 caps)
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 47 caps)
7 Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 17 caps)
6 Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)
5 Adam Beard (Ospreys – 55 caps)
4 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 16 caps) – Capitano
3 Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 56 caps)
2 Elliot Dee (Dragons – 50 caps)
1 Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 29 caps)

A disposizione
16 Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby – 1 cap)
17 Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 1 cap)
18 Harri O’Connor (Scarlets – uncapped)
19 Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 32 caps)
20 Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps)
21 Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 20 caps)
22 Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets – 6 caps)
23 Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 10 caps)

Italia
15 Lorenzo PANI (Zebre Parma, 7 caps)
14 Louis LYNAGH (Harlequins, 1 cap)
13 Juan Ignacio BREX (Benetton Rugby, 34 caps)
12 Tommaso MENONCELLO (Benetton Rugby, 17 caps)
11 Monty IOANE (Lione, 29 caps)
10 Paolo GARBISI (Tolone, 35 caps)
9 Stephen VARNEY (Gloucester, 28 caps)
8 Lorenzo CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 18 caps)
7 Michele LAMARO (Benetton Rugby, 37 caps) – capitano
6 Sebastian NEGRI (Benetton Rugby, 54 caps)
5 Federico RUZZA (Benetton Rugby, 53 caps)
4 Niccolò CANNONE (Benetton Rugby, 40 caps)
3 Simone FERRARI (Benetton Rugby, 52 caps)
2 Giacomo NICOTERA (Benetton Rugby, 22 caps)
1 Danilo FISCHETTI (Zebre Parma, 40 caps)

A disposizione

16 Gianmarco LUCCHESI (Benetton Rugby, 21 caps)
17 Mirco SPAGNOLO (Benetton Rugby, 4 caps)
18 Giosuè ZILOCCHI (Benetton Rugby, 20 caps)
19 Andrea ZAMBONIN (Zebre Parma, 7 caps)
20 Ross VINTCENT (Exeter, 3 caps)
21 Manuel ZULIANI (Benetton Rugby, 20 caps)
22 Martin PAGE-RELO (Lione, 7 caps)
23 Leonardo MARIN (Benetton Rugby, 8 caps)

Will Rowlands on the bench...
Get fucked

C69 wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2024 8:44 am No one gives a shit about this season or this game in Wales.
Gats is bonkers

and yet weirdly this is the might well be the most anticipated game of the weekend for some.

Planetrugby predicted Scotland by 21 last week .Now Wales by 8.
Please note by 8. Given Wales is weak but strong enough to denie losing bonus point.
Prophetic planetrugby predictions are the best wish.

snaporaz wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:43 am Planetrugby predicted Scotland by 21 last week .Now Wales by 8.
Please note by 8. Given Wales is weak but strong enough to denie losing bonus point.
Prophetic planetrugby predictions are the best wish.

Planetrugby also listed Mirco Spagnolo as "Spanish Mirco" on their team sheet, they're hardly the definitive source of knowledge when it comes to Rugby

sturginho wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 10:05 am

snaporaz wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 9:43 am Planetrugby predicted Scotland by 21 last week .Now Wales by 8.
Please note by 8. Given Wales is weak but strong enough to denie losing bonus point.
Prophetic planetrugby predictions are the best wish.

Planetrugby also listed Mirco Spagnolo as "Spanish Mirco" on their team sheet, they're hardly the definitive source of knowledge when it comes to Rugby

uso esteso dell'Imbecillita Artificiale

Italy by 7

Wales by 1. Last minute penalty for extra heartbreak.

Italy have yet to demonstrate they can deal with expectation. When they beat Wales in Cardiff two years ago, it was a pleasant surprise. When Wales travelled to Italy last season, most people made Italy narrow favourites and they bottled it.

Once again we have Italy looking like they should be favourites and that sentiment being spoken out loud in the rugby world. I'm not sure, deep down, that Italy actually believe in themselves enough to run with it.

I hope I'm wrong, it's so past time for this Italy side to actually kick on beyond merely looking promising.

Italy by 5.

What happened to little Ange?

Jiffy should not be let near any commentary for a Welsh match.

Wales just don't look that enthusiastic. Attack looks toothless and slow.

PCPhil wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:23 pm Jiffy should not be let near any commentary for a Welsh match.

Update. Jiffy, stfu. Thank you.

If Italy keep composure they could rack up a big score here

Taking a man off the ball is foul play you twunts.

Nigel "I've never read the law book" Owens with another stunning comms contribution. It's long past time that Jiffy was put out to pasture.

sockwithaticket wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:32 pm Taking a man off the ball is foul play you twunts.

Nigel "I've never read the law book" Owens with another stunning comms contribution. It's long past time that Jiffy was put out to pasture.

Jiffy trying to make out that actually Italy should have been penalised for Dyer taking the man out.

sockwithaticket wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:32 pm Taking a man off the ball is foul play you twunts.

Nigel "I've never read the law book" Owens with another stunning comms contribution. It's long past time that Jiffy was put out to pasture.

It's like being in a Welsh pub next to the local bore if Wales are losing. Beyond parody now.

Seems to be a lot of contact between dummy runners and defence not being picked up.

Impressive stuff from Italy.

Big D wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:35 pm Seems to be a lot of contact between dummy runners and defence not being picked up.

It's Raynal, application of the law is completely random.

Wales should have been under about 4 different advantags for their behaviour at those rucks, but he didn't bother announcing anymore. Seemed to be a clear double movement from Italy 4 in front of the line that should've taken them back to the original advantage.

And so on and so on throughout the game I'd imagine.

Oxbow wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:36 pm Impressive stuff from Italy.

Not really tbh. This is a terrible disjointed Wales team

Sorry Jiffy, but the two points potential ramifications comment is one to save for when the game is close, not completely one sided.

Maybe it will be important,, but it's not really something to raise at the moment.

Do agree it was a double movement from Italy that should have been brought back to one of the advantages.

Can the number 8 scoop the ball back from the 2nd rows feet?

That kick . Only Italy.

Is the piledriver a legal move?

C69 wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:44 pm Can the number 8 scoop the ball back from the 2nd rows feet?

As he can pick and go I can't see why not.

Absolutely comedy. No pressure on that kick.

petej wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:46 pm

C69 wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:44 pm Can the number 8 scoop the ball back from the 2nd rows feet?

As he can pick and go I can't see why not.

He didn't pick it up he rolled it back a bit and didn't pick it up...
However Costello and Mann are terrible

That is proper Keystone Cops stuff. A dreadful kick turned into an attacking opportunity by incompetence.

Adams is both ineffective and a liability these days, but that could easily apply to 3/4 of this side.

Wyndham Upalot wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 2:49 pm Adams is both ineffective and a liability these days, but that could easily apply to 3/4 of this side.

Yip

Italy still trying to find imaginative ways to screw it up.

First 20 was alright from Italy, but this is a low quality game.

I don't understand some of the refereeing. Wildly inconsistent.