Preview: Wales - Italy
Wales play their final match of the Six Nations rugby championship against Italy tomorrow, and what a damp squib it is shaping up to be, though I’m sure the pink cowboy hats and stretched-around-the belly replica jerseys will get a good outing.
Italy, the perennial wooden spoon contenders, hardly inspires the public at the best of times and this Six Nations certainly hasn’t been the best of times for Wales.
Wales have been beset with discipline issues. Lee Byrne’s flappy hands against Ireland and Alun Wyn Jones’ tripping feet against England earned both players ten minutes in the sin-bin and on both occasions the team was duly punished. Both were acts of great stupidity on the field of play.
One act of stupidity, this time off the pitch, that will be remembered for a long time, maybe more than the last minute heart-in-the-mouth comeback against Scotland, was Andy Powell’s celebrations after that win. Almost heroically stupid, he was arrested and duly dropped from the squad for stealing a golf buggy while smashed and attempting to drive down the M4 (Sub Ed note: theSprout does not endorse drinking, drink-driving or heck even driving, get a bike instead).
Wales need to win this match and win it convincingly but it won’t be a walk in the park. Italy came close to winning their first ever away match in the Six Nations, pushing England all the way in a close 17-12 defeat. They’ve also brushed aside Scotland this campaign and are improving all the time.
The Italy match can offer redemption and renewal for Wales or set Warren Gatland’s plans back months if not years. With tests against South Africa and New Zealand this summer, here’s hoping the Azzuri don’t spoil the party and that those straining red shirts, which will be filling the pubs and bars are soaked with beers rather than tears.
IMAGE: Brainless Angel
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