Yes Gats' selections are becoming Pivac like. Why would he drop LRZ when he is the most dangerous weapon we have. I agree with Dyer but Adams is very lucky to make the 23. Lot of faith being placed in young Hawkins for sure. 

The guy just scores tries for fun, there is no logical reason for dropping him (aside from injury which he doesn't have as he will be on the bench).

Thanks for this, still haven't seen anything in Hawkins that makes me sit up and take notice. I know Chips said he's the most naturally gifted player he's seen etc and Orders writes everyday how incredible he is......and the more that's said the more I watch and I really don't get the glossing...just saying it as it is. Now he is being touted as the next Dan Carter....it doesn't stop.

I do appreciate someone who does things in spades like Genge for England. On a different note Webb and Biggar well you can base your whole game plan on their ability to create nothing. 

LRZ is the best attacking player we have...now he is a gifted player, hopeless in defence but offensively he is a different breed.....utter folly leaving him out.

Gatland is bending to public love ins.

Well said, the WRU just seem to just walk from one disastrous decision to another, but nothing really changes at the top.  

Gatland was seen as the answer to a very poor last 18 months of PIVACs tenure, yet even Pivac managed not to win a wooden spoon.

Could it get any worse there are three better 10’s at the Scarlets.

This Osprey love in has killed the Welsh team this six nations.

Rhys Webb for god sake and no Christ even on bench.

Gatland has had a huge bet on us getting the wooden spoon there is no other explanation for this absolute car crash of side.

Hope he plays well and remains injury-free.

Late change, or error? If a late change, why not give Patchell a chance?

It looks as if Gatland has taken the sensible approach that since we're out of contention for the 6N, he might as well have a look at some other players, and I don't blame him for that.

Webb at 9 will annoy some Scarlets supporters, who seem to hate him - I reckon he's a senior pro who has a good rugby brain, but is past his best. 9 is the position in which the selectors got things wrong in a major way (IMHO) - I'd have picked Cawdor and Blacker - or at least one of them - in preference to any of the three chosen. 

LRZ is better than Dyer, so that's a bit of a puzzler unless he is nursing an injury. 

I understand the thinking about the forwards, though Tshiunza is unlucky. 

Good to see Mason Grady get another shot at 13; last week showed that the 12 for the RWC is likely to be our own Jonny Williams, who was tremendous, but of course he gained fitness too late for this 6N squad.

I think Italy start as favourites for this one - their form has been better. The one thing in our favour is that their outstanding 15 is injured and won't be there - he did for us last year.

Don't like Webb being promoted above Hardy either.

The point being about Webb , EO Sir as you stated he's past his best...Rhodri Williams at the Drags would be a better option....his tan though is still up to speed...it doesn't annoy me at all he's picked, just glad it's not a Scarlet player for reasons I've posted for the last 16 years on here.

And Dyer reminds me of Nigel Walker...fast runner but brainless.

Because?

(Because there is no-one else big, experienced and not ancient, injured or playing in Japan)

No, I'm not a fan either - but the cupboard is bare.

Hawkins is the next Dan Carter according to Welsh Management.

Why because he's AWJ bestest lock mate....he has no ability at all and reminds me of Derwyn Jones in his prime....except Derwyn didn't have a prime.

I totally get it...I can guarantee he will run a yard and flop over, always on his left side and make incredible jibs at the camera ....money for nothing ...dont call him Beard he is a Dire Straits classic song.

Some confidence Gatland must have to expose him to the position under the circumstances. I can't imagine he's played much senior rugby at fly half?

Really? And Chips is an admirer too, I think...

Not seen anything much from him yet, but then I've not seen hm often. I'm sure they are better judges of  back play than I am, so here's hoping...

Fscarlet what's you view on this .

Thanks Aber I thought I was becoming a looney tune.

Haha! 

That Derwyn Donk crack is absolutely brilliant!

Classic Ladram quote cheers handsome. 

I'll be honest I haven't seen much of him, all for bigging players up but that's a hell of a comparison. 

I like Hawkins, he's got a lot of potential and could be very good. Plus, Dan Carter would probably be just 'ok' in our current set-up. Hard to make any comparisons, just give him a chance to show how he progressess in the next year. Though that's going to be difficult as we are now an average Tier 2 nation.

Can you enlighten me why Gaffer....when I'm told he is the next best thing, I want to see something different not just like everyone else. I'd like to see something that makes a " potential gifted player" do something like a Benny, Jiffy, John, to back it all up. I'm all for watching the birth of a superstar, but if I am watching I want to see the dazzle to understand and agree.

Wales are now officially a laughing stock. 

And Tipuric starts. Jesus. I’ll watch the game but with a sense of horrified fascination rather than entertainment I suspect 

This is a complete and utter shambles and this time it is down to gats if and when we lose

Now

If the lions were playing Italy , I totally agree ..The lions is the biggest lie I've ever seen in any sport ....

Never thought  I would say this, but Wales might just as well stuck with Pivac until the WC...bizarre as that may sound.

Gatland has undoubtedly  taken  a "poisoned  chalice ", BUT, in terms of tactics and  haphazard  selection, we have gone backwards .

No real hope of anything but another defeat on sat, hopefully,  not too humiliating one.

This.

Edwards. 

100% right There is a reason why we havent developed or transitioned to a new squad and a lot is down to these mindless selections and the coaches dictating a limited pre-determined game plan....In short kick and chase to orders.

As usual we are not only losing, but we're losing the chance to develop, grow, improve and try different gameplans and different players within these gameplans. Such a waste. 

Im off to william hill to put a few ponies on the azzuri

Yes he was consistent. Once that first game had gone he should have selected a young team and stuck with it. 

The Welsh nation have a Saviour.

In fairness the ball Owen had from Williams was so slow he didn't have much choice.

Bring on the commemorative wooden spoons…….

I don't know if I quite agree with that RR. Front 5 is pretty even I would say with their back row superior to ours mainly because they have the correct balance - Negri is a hard carrier, Connone, the young 8 is a huge presence going forward & their captain at 7 is a terrier at the breakdown. They have the edge in pace & control at half back & their midfield is solid if unspectacular. Our best chance would have been to try to exploit the 13 & wide channels but inexplicably we have left our most explosive runner on the bench.

Do Hawkins & Grady have enough guile to exploit them. Add into the mix a very canny coach - Crowley who spotted Irish problems in the 13 channel with two 12's playing and set his team up so well & the more I dwell the worse I feel. 

A breath do fresh air is needed on and off the pitch. 

Agree it is one of those games 

I'd convinced myself we'd be OK until I read this. Your not wrong-i was!

Italy reverting to type and we having the luck of the Irish Welsh Germans and every other country.

Could be the worst thing that happens to us 

40 minutes left ...anything can happen. 

Is that analogue or digital...he's been efficient.  

We've had a lot of luck with the bounce and poor Italian play or decisions. The ref has been fairly good, though had to be corrected by his assistants a couple of times.

Surely, we can't find a way to lose this one - but, please, don't take any dummies second half... just smash the ball carrier! I'd like to see a little bit more enterprise, too - not so much box kicking. Mix it up a bit more.

I said a while back that Webb was the only 9 in the squad who's form is good - he does what he does very well, and has a better vision than the others. Tomos W and hardy should not have been picked in the first place on this year's form.

Our defence and clearing out is hopeless. Fitness levels are questionable. Pivac has done a great deal of damage in his 3 years. Trouble is there's not a lot of quality coming through - very weak, especially at 3, 8, 9. 10. 13. I'm not over the moon at that performance.

We haven't turned a corner and we are truly boring and France will put a cricket score on us with this side.

10, 12, 13 against French class will be embarrassing....dont understand the enthusiasm for these players as they were up against Italy....not France.

They even ran through us from their own 22....this back line of Wales is rubbish. 

Back to that performance today, are 12 and 13 realy the best centre in Wales?

congratulations and happy for you, at least is not so bad, for me, lost against Wales..

We had our bad day at office and without Ioane and Capuozzo, Italy is a normal team, specially against a team with immense experience as today Wales..

Hope Italy can win next week

The result, while good for 500K in terms of 6N league place, changes nothing.

Next Saturday is likely to be very difficult indeed and a score gap rather wide

Next up for him to face is the best no 9 on the planet A Dupont who will expose his weaknesses, graphically....just saying.

As for the rest of the French backs....carnage.

Your a better man than me.

Next up for Wales are besides Dupont....the best player on the planet are Jonathan Danty, Fickou, Penaud Ramos ....and we have ....oh yes.

Our centres were torn to shreds today and Owens Williams offers nothing. Dyer is not international standard his attempt at a tackle when last line of defence was schoolboy stuff.

Jenkins very good in second row and could form a decent pair with Rowlands. 

France will put 50 on this side in Paris next week 

What would losing to italy prove. Everyone knows we are pants. Winning this against a woeful Italy team proves nothing, we did it last year 

Except we lost 21-22.

And don't tell me it’s ironic because it isn’t.

I’m really disappointed that gats didn’t look outside his initial squad after they were exposed 3 games in a row, plenty of players ignored first time round who would have been an improvement on what’s there. Hoping we ate up for a scrap vs France, they just look awesome 1-23. 

We’ve been getting bashed by quite a few sides.

Or, do you mean the fans criticising?