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Plenty to play for Italy bids for first win; Wales hoping for convincing finale
Updated: Saturday April 07, 2001 7:59 AM
ROME (Reuters) -- Wales will seek to end its truncated Six Nations campaign with a convincing win Sunday against an Italian side which will settle for any kind of victory -- convincing or not. The Welsh come to Rome buoyed by its inspiring 43-35 win in Paris last month, which eased the pain of the 44-15 loss to England in Cardiff in its first match. Its clash against Ireland has been postponed until the next European season, because of the foot-and-mouth crisis in Britain, and Sunday's match against Italy represents a chance to end a mixed Six Nations campaign on a high. Coach Graham Henry has picked the same team that beat the French on March 17 and scrumhalf Rob Howley and right wing Gareth Thomas will win their 50th caps at the Flaminio stadium. The Italians vowed to win at least two of their five Six Nations matches this season, but have so far lost all four -- against Ireland, England, France and Scotland. However, the narrowness of their 23-19 defeat at Murrayfield on March 17 against a Scottish side which had drawn with Wales two weeks previously, suggested Brad Johnstone's men have enough fight in them to avoid a tournament whitewash. Johnstone's job is on the line and the New Zealander needs a solid performance to convince the Italian Rugby Federation that he is the man to lead Italy into the next World Cup.
"Italy will be tough in Rome," Henry said. "They are improving all the time and went close to beating Scotland at Murrayfield in their last championship match. "They also gave both Ireland and France something to think about so we know we are going to have to be at our best. "Italy will be desperate to avoid a whitewash this season and we expect them to give our confidence and organization a thorough examination in Rome." Four tries Wales has not lost to Italy in its seven previous meetings, Thomas scoring a Welsh record-equalling four tries when Wales won 60-21 in Treviso two years ago. In last year's Six Nations, the Welsh hammered the Italians 47-16 in Cardiff. Swansea flanker Geraint Lewis has withdrawn from the squad after failing to recover from a shoulder injury and will be replaced on the bench by uncapped Gavin Thomas. Italy named three changes in its backline. RDS Roma centre Giovanni Raineri replaces Manuel Dallan at centre but Dallan's brother Denis, part of the dominant Benetton Treviso team, is favored over Northampton's Luca Martin on the wing. With first choice scrumhalf Alessandro Troncon and back-up Juan Manuel Queirolo both injured, coach Brad Johnstone named Matteo Mazzantini behind the scrum to partner flyhalf Diego Dominguez. Parma's Filippo Frati had filled the position in Italy's 23-19 defeat in Edinburgh. Italy's pack is unchanged and the team will again be captained by hooker Alessandro Moscardi. Italy: 15-Cristian Stoica; 14-Massimiliano Perziano, 13-Walter Pozzebon, 12-Giovanni Raineri, 11-Denis Dallan; 10-Diego Dominguez, 9-Matteo Mazzantini; 8-Carlo Checchinato, 7-Mauro Bergamasco, 6-Aaron Persico, 5-Andrea Gritti, 4-Wilhelmus Visser, 3-Franco Properzi, 2-Alessandro Moscardi (captain), 1-Andrea Lo Cicero. Wales: 15-Rhys Williams; 14-Gareth Thomas, 13-Mark Taylor, 12-Scott Gibbs, 11-Dafydd James; 10-Neil Jenkins, 9-Rob Howley; 8-Scott Quinnell, 7-Martyn Williams, 6-Colin Charvis, 5-Andy Moore, 4-Ian Gough, 3-David Young, 2-Robin McBryde, 1-Darren Morris.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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