Zippy's Player Ratings - Wales vs Italy

By Zippy
April 10 2006

Wales ratings for the 18 – 18 draw with Italy on Saturday in the RBS 6 Nations at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. For details read on

15. Lee Byrne (5) – One of the better Welsh players and looking like he could make an impact at this level, marked down for losing the ball in contact once too often but his tactical kicking is something.

14. Mark Jones (5) – Another notch for him, quiet for most of the game and I don’t think he was fully fit.

13. Hal Luscombe (3) – Completely useless bar the pass for the Mark Jones try, spilled the ball, ran useless lines and hasn’t played a good game all championship, must be replaced.

12. Mathew Watkins (3) – Tried hard and that was a rarity on Sat, completely outplayed by Bergamasco, defence remains a worry but most definitely an outside centre. Also a ridiculous pass for the interception try.

11. Shane Williams (5) – Another who tried hard but not getting the luck at the minute, says a lot that Wales look to play an expensive game but the wingers had no decent ball at all.

10. Stephen Jones (5) – Another steady game without being spectular, we would have lost without him on Sat make no mistake.

9. Michael Phillips (4) – Dwayne Peel looked a match winner before he went off, Phillips was too predictable, distribution is not his strength and it is a worry that he is first choice next week, hope he surprises me.

8. Michael Owen capt (3) – Again won good line out ball but his performance was brutally taken apart by Gwyn Jones on Scrum V last night, did not do the work we needed him to do, when he was at his best he was hungry to do the work of a forward but now looks lost.

7. Martyn Williams (4) – Again the pick of the back row but that is saying very very little, a poor performance looked in for a try but decided to step back inside. Won a lot of line out ball which is bizarre for someone at around the 6’ mark.

6. Colin Charvis (2) – Did he play? Been anonymous for Wales all 6 nations and this should be his last cap, for the 50mins he was on the field the game just past him by.

5. Robert Sidoli (4) – Outplayed by the Italian 2^nd rows and some have suggested he was even bullied by Bortalami, we need him to be a lot tougher and show a bit of nastiness.

4. Ian Gough (3) – Lots of effort but once again fell short, we have to give someone else a go here?

3. Adam Jones (5) – Another decent game in the tight and our problems in the scrum are long gone, has to up his work rate if he is to hold onto his place.

2. Rhys Thomas (4) – Line out creaked quite a bit, not imposing himself enough in the contact area bit our only real option here.

1. Duncan Jones (5) – The only forward who carried with purpose, sometimes we do need someone to just put their head down and carry and he will do that for you all day.

Subs of note:

Alix Popham – Should have started, aggressive ball carrier.

Italian Stars:

Mirco Bergamasco – He was fantastic, gave the Welsh defence problems all game.

Bortolami – A towering performance full of aggression and purpose, a proper 2^nd row

Overall Comments:

Oh dear oh dear oh dear, what a load of rubbish that was.

Scott Johnson’s job interview for me was done on Saturday, he has proven that he is no head coach and that Wales need an overhaul of coaching staff.

Wales were outfought up front by the Italians and lacked any purpose when they had the ball, it was so painfully average, the error count was silly and we are once again a laughing stock, only Wales can go back so quickly in just a year.

They were quite rightly booed at the end of the game.

The likes of Owen & Charvis 2 experienced international back row players have been useless all championship when Wales needed them most and its times to pick form players and Alix Popham and Gareth Delve should go into the team so they can have a go at the French.

We need to go back to basics and start playing aggressive rugby, the French looked like they were starting to come into form and we should be worried.

Match Summary: