Wales vs Italy

jamesgould

jamesgould

Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Staff member
Admin
The second match of the double header!

Wales: (from)
Neil Budworth Moranbah Miners
Ross Divorty Halifax
Gil Dudson Wigan Warriors
Jacob Emmitt Salford Red Devils
Ben Evans Bradford Bulls
Rhys Evans Warrington Wolves
Ben Flower Wigan Warriors
Tyson Frizell St George Illawarra Dragons
Jordan James Salford Red Devils
Elliot Kear Bradford Bulls
Craig Kopzcak Huddersfield Giants
Rhodri Lloyd Wigan Warriors
Peter Lupton Workington Town
Larne Patrick Huddersfield Giants
Matt Seamark Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Anthony Walker St Helens
Ian Webster Central Queensland Capras
Lloyd White Widnes Vikings
Rhys Williams Warrington Wolves

1. Anthony Minichiello (C) (Sydney Roosters)
2. Joshua Mantellato (Newcastle Knights)
3. James Tedesco (Wests Tigers)
4. Aiden Guerra (Sydney Roosters)
5. Chris Centrone (North Sydney Bears)
6. Ben Falcone (Souths Logan Magpies)
7. Ryan Ghietti (Northern Pride)
8. Anthony Laffranchi (St Helens)
9. Dean Parata (Parramatta Eels)
10. Paul Vaughan (Canberra Raiders)
11. Mark Minichiello (Gold Coast Titans)
12. Cameron Ciraldo (Penrith Panthers)
13. Joel Riethmuller (North Queensland Cowboys)
Interchange (from)
14. Sam Gardel (Souths Logan Magpies)
15. Ryan Tramonte (Windsor Wolves)
16. Brendan Santi (Wests Tigers)
17. Raymond Nasso (Sporting Olympique Avignon)
18. Tim Maccan (Tweed Heads Seagulls)
19. Gavin Hiscox (Central Queensland Cappas)

Tough one to pick this. I'd have said Wales for sure, but Italy's warm up game will give them a lot of confidence.

In front of a huge home crowd, I think Wales might just pip them, though.
 
Italy to win by 13+ I reckon, They are a team that can give the big teams a few headaches..

Good luck to both teams and our very own Josh Mantellato :)
 
Wales v Italy preview

By Dominic Brock
NRL.com
2:05pm Fri 25th October, 2013

Who

Wales v Italy

Where

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Time

Saturday October 26, 4.30pm (UK time)
Sunday October 27, 2.30am (AEDT); 1.30am (AEST)


Directly following the World Cup curtain-raiser between England and Australia at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium will be a clash of two of the more mysterious sides in this year's tournament.

Both Wales and Italy have good reason to believe they can go deep in this competition – the Welsh have long-standing history on their side while the Italians are coming off arguably their greatest ever result in rugby league: a stunning one-point win over England.

In some ways this match will echo the England v Australia clash, as another match-up pitting Super League stars against their counterparts from the NRL. The Wales team is dominated by Super League players (many English-born), while Italy boast several high-quality NRL veterans.

Wales failed to qualify for the 2008 tournament so are keen to make amends this time around. They have a strong record at the World Cup, having reached the semi-finals in 1995 and 2000 – at one point leading Australia 20-8 during the 2000 semi-finals before being run down late in the second half.

The Italians can't match that World Cup history – in fact their previous record at the tournament is non-existent. Yet they'll start favourites in this match thanks to their shock 15-14 win over England last weekend.

Watch Out Italy

Wales have a strong forward pack, led by veteran prop and skipper Craig Kopczak and Super League-winning Wigan forwards Gil Dudson and Ben Flower. Second-rower Tyson Frizell is their sole NRL representative in the squad, fresh from his first full season with the Dragons.

They also boast 13 current Super League players in their extended squad of 19 for this match, so they should have more cohesion than an Italy side that only really came together in the past fortnight.

With a home crowd behind them in their nation's capital, the Welsh will be a tough team to beat for the World Cup newcomers.

Watch Out Wales

Italy may be World Cup rookies but their players are hardly newcomers – skipper Anthony Minichiello is an 18-Test veteran with the Kangaroos and has just won the NRL premiership alongside Roosters teammate and Italy centre Aidan Guerra, while the Italians also boast two props and an entire back row with NRL experience (Anthony Laffranchi, Paul Vaughan, Mark Minicheillo, Cameron Ciraldo and Joel Riethmuller).

That's a forward pack that can certainly match it with the Welsh, and Minichiello, Guerra and Wests Tigers speedster James Tedesco arguably give the Italians the advantage in the outside backs.

Their win over England will have been a massive confidence-boost for the team's lower-grade players, like Queensland Cup halves combination Ryan Ghietti and Ben Falcone.

Key Match-Up

The front rows. Big men Craig Kopczak, Jordan James and Gil Hudson are the obvious strength of the Welsh side, possessing experience and great go-forward.

But they'll be well matched by St Helens star Anthony Laffranchi and Canberra's Paul Vaughan, and if Italy can avoid being dominated up the middle then their talented players on the fringes should be strong enough to get the win.

Where It Will Be Won

Handling the pressure. This is a massive occasion for both teams – Wales are helping to launch a World Cup in front of a home crowd and will be under pressure to perform against one of rugby league's traditional lightweights, while Italy are suddenly feeling some pressure themselves after last weekend's performance and will need to handle a massive step-up in intensity on the world stage.

Whichever team fails to handle the occasion could find itself on the wrong end of the scoreline.

Televised

7Mate – Live 2:30am (NSW), 1.30am (Qld).

The Way We See It

Home ground advantage will help Wales but the talent and experience of Italy's stars can't be ignored. The Italians can match Wales's famed forward pack and last week's result showed they are capable of producing boilovers in this tournament if their opponents aren't on top of their games. Italy by six points.



http://www.nrl.com/wales-v-italy-preview/tabid/10874/newsid/75150/default.aspx



 
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should be a lot of support for Wales as it's there home but you'd have to think looking at those teams at least to my knowledge(and just for hope of matellao and snowy in the next games) Italy will win.
 
I dunno, I'd say most of those players will actually be from Wales, as well, and playing in front of a big home crowd I think will be like a lifelong dream for them. I think it'll get them over the line.

Italy possibly played their grand final last week, as well. It'll be tough for them to get up twice in a row.
 
Let's go game two!!! Not sure who to cheer for in this one. I'd go with Wales for sure if not for the Knights players in Italy. I guess since Snowden isn't playing yet, I'll stick with Wales. Hope Mantellato goes well though!
 
Got first leg up in multi with Australia winning by less then 20.5 now need Italy to win by 5 or more so ill be well on my way to a $780 collect.
 
very excited for this match the Italian side looks very entertaining hopefully the big mantree plays a good part in the game
 
as gouldy mentioned ealier the welsh players look very passionate about being there

- - - Updated - - -

oh no ashley klein is the ref this could go bad
 
Geez Riethmuller has put a few kilos on. Better hope he loses it before preseason starts cause he is going to get flogged.
 
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