This game as no walkover as people may have thought. Italy are often regarded as the easier team. They are not the best team in the tournament, but they certainly have improved over the years.
And being in Rome, the Italians should not be underestimated. And maybe that’s what happened Saturday. Wales made a lot of changes, including a new front row, which wasn’t the strongest, either.
It was one of those games that could not be enjoyed. Italy proved to be tougher than first thought. There were times when it looked that they could actually win the game. But the only points they managed were penalties. They didn’t really threaten the Welsh try line. Was this due to lack of discipline in the Welsh team?
And the kicking wasn’t the best either… not just the goal kicks (they weren’t too bad), but the kicking downfield and into touch and all that. They weren’t going anywhere, and that’s for both sides, too.
But thankfully, Wales got ahead again. Shane Williams scored the first try, which was very good work by Gavin Henson, who followed the ball from one side to the pitch to the other, and got the ball and passed to Williams, who then side stepped over the line. Shanklin’s try was also good, even though he gave Italy 3 points through a penalty and put them in the lead, he ran over the line after a dummy pass to score and Wales were five points clear after the conversion. It ended with Wales having 20 points, and Italy with 15.
But it was all too close for comfort. I don’t know what exactly it was, but Wales just weren’t wholly in the game. If they play like that against Ireland, who knows… but then, we’re back in Cardiff!
We’ll just have to wait and see.
And being in Rome, the Italians should not be underestimated. And maybe that’s what happened Saturday. Wales made a lot of changes, including a new front row, which wasn’t the strongest, either.
It was one of those games that could not be enjoyed. Italy proved to be tougher than first thought. There were times when it looked that they could actually win the game. But the only points they managed were penalties. They didn’t really threaten the Welsh try line. Was this due to lack of discipline in the Welsh team?
And the kicking wasn’t the best either… not just the goal kicks (they weren’t too bad), but the kicking downfield and into touch and all that. They weren’t going anywhere, and that’s for both sides, too.
But thankfully, Wales got ahead again. Shane Williams scored the first try, which was very good work by Gavin Henson, who followed the ball from one side to the pitch to the other, and got the ball and passed to Williams, who then side stepped over the line. Shanklin’s try was also good, even though he gave Italy 3 points through a penalty and put them in the lead, he ran over the line after a dummy pass to score and Wales were five points clear after the conversion. It ended with Wales having 20 points, and Italy with 15.
But it was all too close for comfort. I don’t know what exactly it was, but Wales just weren’t wholly in the game. If they play like that against Ireland, who knows… but then, we’re back in Cardiff!
We’ll just have to wait and see.
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