I HAVE A fever… and the only prescription is more rugby! Sit back, relax and get read to gorge on a feast of Six Nations rugby.
Ireland, England, Wales and France can all win the championship and it is the men in red who are up first.
As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to will@the42.ie, tweet them @Rugby_ie, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
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21 Mar 2015
12:08PM
If you are a rugby fan, today is likely one of the best day’s of your life. Three games, all of which have the potential to decide where the Six Nations championship goes.
We are starting off in Rome, where Wales need to beat Italy by more than 25 to have a chance. If they can win by 35-40, they will set a tough total to beat.
Here are the teams.
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Giovambattista Venditti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 George Fabio Biagi, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Michele Rizzo. Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Quintin Geldenhuys, 20 Robert Barbieri, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Luciano Orquera, 23 Enrico Bacchin.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Rob Evans. Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Scott Williams.
21 Mar 2015
12:10PM
Wales can be backed at 13/2 to win it all today. Am I the only one tempted by that? Italy are the worst team in the championship and conceded 50+ to England in similar circumstances last year. Wales can definitely hit 40 points today and with their tigerish defence, they should limit the Italians.
21 Mar 2015
12:19PM
A key question for this game is how much will last week’s mammoth defensive effort have taken it out of Wales? Their pack put up ridiculous tackle numbers and they will need their back row to be sharp to ensure quick ball for their backs. This game seems perfect for Justin Tipuric to come off the bench and run around like a gazelle.
21 Mar 2015
12:26PM
The battle of the anthems taking place right now… Wales win easily.
Penalty Italy after Rob Evans is penalised for obstruction off the kick off.
21 Mar 2015
12:31PM
Italy 3-0 Wales
Kelly Haimona nails the kick and Italy lead.
21 Mar 2015
12:32PM
Edoardo Gori fields a high kick and gets smashed by Dan Biggar. Liam Williams then catches a high ball and gets taken out in the air. Penalty Wales on halfway.
21 Mar 2015
12:33PM
Wales went for the corner and Roberts crashes up into the Italian 22.
21 Mar 2015
12:35PM
Jonathan Davies snags Gori in the centre of the pitch and the scrum-half knocks on. Wales have a scrum just inside the Italian ten metre line. Haimona is down after the earlier carry from Roberts, as the Welshman flattened the out-half.
21 Mar 2015
12:36PM
The early spell of Welsh pressure in the Italian 22 was ended when Rhys Webb threw a loose offload to Gori.
21 Mar 2015
12:37PM
A strong carry from Williams has Wales back in the 22.
21 Mar 2015
12:38PM
Wales have a penalty 10m from the line after Italy go offside. Surprisingly, they opt for the posts.
21 Mar 2015
12:39PM
Italy 3-3 Wales
Halfpenny kicks Wales’ first points but a missed opportunity to score an early five-pointer.
21 Mar 2015
12:40PM
Haimona has been replaced by Luciano Orquera.
21 Mar 2015
12:41PM
Italy have a penalty after Luke Charteris comes in from the side at the lineout. Orquera to go for the posts just to the right about 40m out.
21 Mar 2015
12:43PM
Italy 6-3 Wales
Italy continue their good start and have be surprisingly accurate from the tee.
21 Mar 2015
12:43PM
But Italy concede a penalty immediately and Halfpenny has a chance to level the game once more.
21 Mar 2015
12:44PM
Italy 6-6 Wales
The man really is a machine.
21 Mar 2015
12:45PM
Leonardo Sarto claims a Biggar cross-kick in the Welsh half and offloads to Orquera who moves into the 22.
21 Mar 2015
12:46PM
The ball is played out to Giovambattista Venditti but the wing fumbles and Wales have a scrum on their 22.
21 Mar 2015
12:49PM
Alun Wyn Jones wins a turnover penalty in his own half and Wales now have a lineout on the Italian 10m line.
21 Mar 2015
12:50PM
Warburton has had some nice carries so far and he takes play towards the Italian 22.
A Davies offload frees Charteris in midfield and a phase later Halfpenny dinks a ball behind the defence and Roberts touches down. A lovely score by the Welsh.
21 Mar 2015
12:51PM
Halfpenny misses the conversion and the lead stays at five.
21 Mar 2015
12:54PM
Williams almost completes another spectacular high catch but the wing fumbles en route to the turf. Scrum Italy on halfway and then win a penalty.
21 Mar 2015
12:55PM
A rumbling Italian maul has rolled into the Welsh 22.
Samuela Vunisa gets tackled 5m short after a lovely pop pass from Luke McClean but a few phases later Venditti sneaks over from close range.
21 Mar 2015
12:59PM
Liam Williams knocks on in midfield as he fights for extra yards. There have been a couple of sloppy Welsh mistakes that weren’t present last week.
21 Mar 2015
1:01PM
Another powerful scrum from Italy wins a penalty. The Italians have a bit of a swagger at the moment.
21 Mar 2015
1:03PM
Just as Italy begin to spray the ball around and make inroads into the Welsh 22, Sam Warburton clings to the ball like a leech and wins a penalty. A booming kick from Biggar then gives Wales a lineout just beyond the Italian 10m line.
21 Mar 2015
1:04PM
As it stands, Wales need to score 28 unanswered to overtake England.
21 Mar 2015
1:05PM
After a strong Welsh maul, Webb snipes before offloading to North on the right wing. The giant takes a few steps but is tackled into touch in the Italian 22.
21 Mar 2015
1:07PM
Vunisa gallops over Lydiate, fends Webb before trucking over Halfpenny on the way into the Welsh half. The fullback is down and looks concussed. Scott Williams comes on.
21 Mar 2015
1:09PM
Play resumes with a lineout to Wales inside the Italian 22 but Roberts knocks on after a big carry.
21 Mar 2015
1:11PM
Italy win yet another penalty and the Welsh front row get a warning. A similar thing happened last week… but the Irish scrum didn’t get as much love.
21 Mar 2015
1:12PM
Italy are offside after a Biggar garryowen and Wales go into the corner. They have a lineout 15m out with 3 minutes left in the half.
21 Mar 2015
1:14PM
Davies gets taken out off the ball by Vunisa and Wales have a penalty. Biggar goes back to the corner. Lineout on the 5m line with a minute to go.
Wales’ maul is collapsed and this time they will go for the posts. Biggar nails it and that is half time. Wales must win the second half by 26 points to have a realistic chance of winning the tournament.
Italy drop a Liam Williams high kick and Wales have a scrum just inside the opposition half.
21 Mar 2015
1:33PM
Scott Williams makes a burst down the right wing and has a chance to offload to an unmarked Webb but his pass goes forward. Good chance for Wales to get firing there. Italy have a scrum 10m from their own line.
21 Mar 2015
1:34PM
Italy try to keep it tight in their 22 but it backfires as Michele Rizzo doesn’t release. Biggar goes back to the corner and Wales have a 5m lineout.
21 Mar 2015
1:35PM
Wales’ maul is slow and ponderous and Mauro Bergamasco is able to wriggle in and poach possession. Italy clear but Wales are back on the attack again.
21 Mar 2015
1:37PM
Davies makes a lovely arching run across the field to create space for Scott Williams, and the sub brings play nicely into the Italian 22. Wales have had a lot of possession in this half but no points yet.
Rhys Webb takes a quick tap outside the 22 and hypnotises a few defenders by carrying in two hands before slipping the ball to the on-rushing Liam Williams, who sprints under the posts.
Wales score again within a minute! An Orquera chip is claimed by Liam Williams at full pace. The wing carries for ten yards before feeding North, who finishes in the corner.
21 Mar 2015
1:42PM
Wales have a scrum on halfway now after holding Italy up. If they put another try away in the next few minutes they could end up with 50+.
21 Mar 2015
1:43PM
Penalty for Wales at the scrum now. What a turnaround it has been in the last few minutes. Lineout to Wales outside the 22.
21 Mar 2015
1:44PM
Andrea Masi has just been yellow carded for a tackle off the ball and Wales have gone quickly in the 22. They smell blood.
Alun Wyn Jones claims an Italy lineout five yards out and Lydiate does well to ship the ball away from the mass of bodies quickly. From there, simple hands put North away for his second try in the corner now.
21 Mar 2015
1:48PM
Subs: Tipuric is on for Lydiate and Scott Andrews is on for Aaron Jarvis. This game is made for the Ospreys flanker.
21 Mar 2015
1:49PM
Finally Wales make an error. North creeps up too far as Webb prepares a box-kick and is penalised for offside. Italy have a lineout on the Welsh 10m line.
21 Mar 2015
1:49PM
But the throw is crooked and Wales have a scrum.
21 Mar 2015
1:50PM
Wales win another scrum penalty and have a lineout on the Italian 22.
The Welsh pack made that try. Ken Owens, who just replaced Baldwin, made two strong carries to bring possession near the line before North powered through two tackles to complete his hat-trick.
21 Mar 2015
1:56PM
Wales have a penalty right in front of the posts and Biggar goes to the corner again. Another lineout 5m out.
21 Mar 2015
1:58PM
Williams drops a Biggar cross-kick but the ball is brought back for a penalty and George Fabio Biagi has been carded for coming in from the side. Wales have another lineout.
21 Mar 2015
2:00PM
Apologies, it was Quintin Geldenhuys who was carded. Meanwhile, the ref is going to the TMO for a possible Alun Wyn Jones try but it looks held up.
21 Mar 2015
2:01PM
No try but we are going back for another Italian infringement. They must be close to a Six Nations record for indiscipline at this stage.
Rhys Webb peels off the maul and Leonardo Sarto can’t prevent him from dotting down in the right corner. Biggar misses his first conversion of the half.
Scott Williams offloads to Tipuric, who then feeds a rampaging Warburton who glides under the posts. If you backed Wales at 13/2 you are crying tears of joy at the moment.
21 Mar 2015
2:07PM
Jamie Roberts throws a forward pass on his own 22. Italy need to make something from this scrum, Ireland’s hopes might depend on it.
21 Mar 2015
2:07PM
Italy win a penalty and take it quickly. They are ten yards from the line. Ireland need them to score.
21 Mar 2015
2:08PM
Jones is penalised for hands in the ruck and Italy go to the corner. They have a lineout 5m from the line.
Italy spill the ball on the Welsh line and Jonathan Davies breaks out of defence before his support runners work the ball to Scott Williams, who finishes off a sweeping move.
21 Mar 2015
2:11PM
As it stands, Ireland need to beat Scotland by 28 and England need to win by 24.
21 Mar 2015
2:15PM
Welsh scrum-half Gareth Davies has only just come on but he almost had a try. A loose Italian pass was begging to be picked up in the shadow of the posts but the replacement knocked on.
21 Mar 2015
2:16PM
We are going to the TMO for a possible late Italy try!!! Sarto might have been in but could have stepped in touch.
Orquera converts! Leonardo Sarto could be an Irish hero come 7pm tonight. Wales scored an astonishing 47 points in the second half but how important could that last second try be?
Ireland need to win by 21 and England need to win by 17.
So… are we having fun yet?
21 Mar 2015
2:24PM
So that is all for our Italy v Wales liveblog. I’m off to start a petition that Italy be relegated from the Six Nations but you should hop over to our Scotland v Ireland liveblog to see if Joe Schmidt’s men can overhaul Italy.
As it happened: Italy v Wales, Six Nations final day
I HAVE A fever… and the only prescription is more rugby! Sit back, relax and get read to gorge on a feast of Six Nations rugby.
Ireland, England, Wales and France can all win the championship and it is the men in red who are up first.
As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to will@the42.ie, tweet them @Rugby_ie, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
To disable push notifications on this liveblog, please click the toggle button above.
If you are a rugby fan, today is likely one of the best day’s of your life. Three games, all of which have the potential to decide where the Six Nations championship goes.
We are starting off in Rome, where Wales need to beat Italy by more than 25 to have a chance. If they can win by 35-40, they will set a tough total to beat.
Here are the teams.
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Giovambattista Venditti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Francesco Minto, 5 Joshua Furno, 4 George Fabio Biagi, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Michele Rizzo.
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Quintin Geldenhuys, 20 Robert Barbieri, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Luciano Orquera, 23 Enrico Bacchin.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Scott Williams.
Wales can be backed at 13/2 to win it all today. Am I the only one tempted by that? Italy are the worst team in the championship and conceded 50+ to England in similar circumstances last year. Wales can definitely hit 40 points today and with their tigerish defence, they should limit the Italians.
A key question for this game is how much will last week’s mammoth defensive effort have taken it out of Wales? Their pack put up ridiculous tackle numbers and they will need their back row to be sharp to ensure quick ball for their backs. This game seems perfect for Justin Tipuric to come off the bench and run around like a gazelle.
The battle of the anthems taking place right now… Wales win easily.
BOD weighs in on game #1.
Penalty Italy after Rob Evans is penalised for obstruction off the kick off.
Italy 3-0 Wales
Kelly Haimona nails the kick and Italy lead.
Edoardo Gori fields a high kick and gets smashed by Dan Biggar. Liam Williams then catches a high ball and gets taken out in the air. Penalty Wales on halfway.
Wales went for the corner and Roberts crashes up into the Italian 22.
Jonathan Davies snags Gori in the centre of the pitch and the scrum-half knocks on. Wales have a scrum just inside the Italian ten metre line. Haimona is down after the earlier carry from Roberts, as the Welshman flattened the out-half.
The early spell of Welsh pressure in the Italian 22 was ended when Rhys Webb threw a loose offload to Gori.
A strong carry from Williams has Wales back in the 22.
Wales have a penalty 10m from the line after Italy go offside. Surprisingly, they opt for the posts.
Italy 3-3 Wales
Halfpenny kicks Wales’ first points but a missed opportunity to score an early five-pointer.
Haimona has been replaced by Luciano Orquera.
Italy have a penalty after Luke Charteris comes in from the side at the lineout. Orquera to go for the posts just to the right about 40m out.
Italy 6-3 Wales
Italy continue their good start and have be surprisingly accurate from the tee.
But Italy concede a penalty immediately and Halfpenny has a chance to level the game once more.
Italy 6-6 Wales
The man really is a machine.
Leonardo Sarto claims a Biggar cross-kick in the Welsh half and offloads to Orquera who moves into the 22.
The ball is played out to Giovambattista Venditti but the wing fumbles and Wales have a scrum on their 22.
Alun Wyn Jones wins a turnover penalty in his own half and Wales now have a lineout on the Italian 10m line.
Warburton has had some nice carries so far and he takes play towards the Italian 22.
TRY! Italy 6-11 Wales
A Davies offload frees Charteris in midfield and a phase later Halfpenny dinks a ball behind the defence and Roberts touches down. A lovely score by the Welsh.
Halfpenny misses the conversion and the lead stays at five.
Williams almost completes another spectacular high catch but the wing fumbles en route to the turf. Scrum Italy on halfway and then win a penalty.
A rumbling Italian maul has rolled into the Welsh 22.
TRY! Italy 13-11 Wales
Samuela Vunisa gets tackled 5m short after a lovely pop pass from Luke McClean but a few phases later Venditti sneaks over from close range.
Liam Williams knocks on in midfield as he fights for extra yards. There have been a couple of sloppy Welsh mistakes that weren’t present last week.
Another powerful scrum from Italy wins a penalty. The Italians have a bit of a swagger at the moment.
Just as Italy begin to spray the ball around and make inroads into the Welsh 22, Sam Warburton clings to the ball like a leech and wins a penalty. A booming kick from Biggar then gives Wales a lineout just beyond the Italian 10m line.
As it stands, Wales need to score 28 unanswered to overtake England.
After a strong Welsh maul, Webb snipes before offloading to North on the right wing. The giant takes a few steps but is tackled into touch in the Italian 22.
Vunisa gallops over Lydiate, fends Webb before trucking over Halfpenny on the way into the Welsh half. The fullback is down and looks concussed. Scott Williams comes on.
Play resumes with a lineout to Wales inside the Italian 22 but Roberts knocks on after a big carry.
Italy win yet another penalty and the Welsh front row get a warning. A similar thing happened last week… but the Irish scrum didn’t get as much love.
Italy are offside after a Biggar garryowen and Wales go into the corner. They have a lineout 15m out with 3 minutes left in the half.
Davies gets taken out off the ball by Vunisa and Wales have a penalty. Biggar goes back to the corner. Lineout on the 5m line with a minute to go.
HT: Italy 13-14 Wales
Wales’ maul is collapsed and this time they will go for the posts. Biggar nails it and that is half time. Wales must win the second half by 26 points to have a realistic chance of winning the tournament.
Here’s Jamie Roberts’ lovely try from the first half.
We are off in the second half!
Italy drop a Liam Williams high kick and Wales have a scrum just inside the opposition half.
Scott Williams makes a burst down the right wing and has a chance to offload to an unmarked Webb but his pass goes forward. Good chance for Wales to get firing there. Italy have a scrum 10m from their own line.
Italy try to keep it tight in their 22 but it backfires as Michele Rizzo doesn’t release. Biggar goes back to the corner and Wales have a 5m lineout.
Wales’ maul is slow and ponderous and Mauro Bergamasco is able to wriggle in and poach possession. Italy clear but Wales are back on the attack again.
Davies makes a lovely arching run across the field to create space for Scott Williams, and the sub brings play nicely into the Italian 22. Wales have had a lot of possession in this half but no points yet.
TRY! Italy 13-21 Wales
Rhys Webb takes a quick tap outside the 22 and hypnotises a few defenders by carrying in two hands before slipping the ball to the on-rushing Liam Williams, who sprints under the posts.
TRY! Italy 13-28 Wales
Wales score again within a minute! An Orquera chip is claimed by Liam Williams at full pace. The wing carries for ten yards before feeding North, who finishes in the corner.
Wales have a scrum on halfway now after holding Italy up. If they put another try away in the next few minutes they could end up with 50+.
Penalty for Wales at the scrum now. What a turnaround it has been in the last few minutes. Lineout to Wales outside the 22.
Andrea Masi has just been yellow carded for a tackle off the ball and Wales have gone quickly in the 22. They smell blood.
TRY! Italy 13-35 Wales
Alun Wyn Jones claims an Italy lineout five yards out and Lydiate does well to ship the ball away from the mass of bodies quickly. From there, simple hands put North away for his second try in the corner now.
Subs: Tipuric is on for Lydiate and Scott Andrews is on for Aaron Jarvis. This game is made for the Ospreys flanker.
Finally Wales make an error. North creeps up too far as Webb prepares a box-kick and is penalised for offside. Italy have a lineout on the Welsh 10m line.
But the throw is crooked and Wales have a scrum.
Wales win another scrum penalty and have a lineout on the Italian 22.
TRY! Italy 13-42 Wales
The Welsh pack made that try. Ken Owens, who just replaced Baldwin, made two strong carries to bring possession near the line before North powered through two tackles to complete his hat-trick.
Wales have a penalty right in front of the posts and Biggar goes to the corner again. Another lineout 5m out.
Williams drops a Biggar cross-kick but the ball is brought back for a penalty and George Fabio Biagi has been carded for coming in from the side. Wales have another lineout.
Apologies, it was Quintin Geldenhuys who was carded. Meanwhile, the ref is going to the TMO for a possible Alun Wyn Jones try but it looks held up.
No try but we are going back for another Italian infringement. They must be close to a Six Nations record for indiscipline at this stage.
TRY! Italy 13-47 Wales
Rhys Webb peels off the maul and Leonardo Sarto can’t prevent him from dotting down in the right corner. Biggar misses his first conversion of the half.
TRY! Italy 13-54 Wales
Scott Williams offloads to Tipuric, who then feeds a rampaging Warburton who glides under the posts. If you backed Wales at 13/2 you are crying tears of joy at the moment.
Jamie Roberts throws a forward pass on his own 22. Italy need to make something from this scrum, Ireland’s hopes might depend on it.
Italy win a penalty and take it quickly. They are ten yards from the line. Ireland need them to score.
Jones is penalised for hands in the ruck and Italy go to the corner. They have a lineout 5m from the line.
TRY! Italy 13-61 Wales
Italy spill the ball on the Welsh line and Jonathan Davies breaks out of defence before his support runners work the ball to Scott Williams, who finishes off a sweeping move.
As it stands, Ireland need to beat Scotland by 28 and England need to win by 24.
Welsh scrum-half Gareth Davies has only just come on but he almost had a try. A loose Italian pass was begging to be picked up in the shadow of the posts but the replacement knocked on.
We are going to the TMO for a possible late Italy try!!! Sarto might have been in but could have stepped in touch.
TRY! Italy 18-61 Wales
Sarto has scored! How important could that be at the end of today!
FT: Italy 20-61 Wales
Orquera converts! Leonardo Sarto could be an Irish hero come 7pm tonight. Wales scored an astonishing 47 points in the second half but how important could that last second try be?
So this is how it looks now.
Ireland need to win by 21 and England need to win by 17.
So… are we having fun yet?
So that is all for our Italy v Wales liveblog. I’m off to start a petition that Italy be relegated from the Six Nations but you should hop over to our Scotland v Ireland liveblog to see if Joe Schmidt’s men can overhaul Italy.
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