By Lestyn
February 16 2003

The fact remains that We haven't won an opening Six Nations match for six year now, many coaches have tried and failed, Graham Henry even sent the team on a bonding sessions, but too no avail. According to parts of the media and Azzuri coach John Kirwan, the Italians could sneak a shock win.

Team For Italy

Subs: Gareth Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Dafydd Jones,  Gavin Thomas, Gareth Cooper , Ceri Sweeney , Matthew J Watkins

Steve Hansen has made few changes to the side that lost against New Zealand last year. Other than the forced absences of Stephen Jones, Robin McBryde, Sonny Parker and Jamie Robinson, He has made two tactical changes in the pack, with Dafydd Jones and Gareth Llewellyn missing out.

Dafydd Jones selection on the bench may surprise a few people after His performances in the Autumn internationals. But Michael Owen is preferred at blindside. Jones's form at club level has dropped over the last few weeks, and so has Craig Morgan's, which explains why He's not there.

Owens's selection could indicate the tactical approach for Saturday's game, Owen is the more conservative out of Him and Dafydd Jones. The Ponty player has been has been described by some as an out of position lock, His added weight, will help try and dominate the scrums early on. Charvis and Owen are expected rotate between blindside flanker and number eight, depending on the field position of each scrum.

In the second row, Hansen has gone for the combination of Sidoli and Steve Williams, it's strange that Llewellyn doesn't even make the bench, but Gavin Thomas a back rower does. There has always been something the national coaches haven't been telling us about the Bath based player. Now I may not be the most avid Zurich Premiership watcher, but from what I have seen, He's nothing better than the Welsh based player's We have, Richard Parks must wonder what He's got to do. Not picking a second rower on the subs bench is criminal, although Michael Owen could quite easily be moved forward, if needs be.

At hooker there is little doubt Mefin Davies is the best hooker at the moment, and Gareth Williams considering the amount of quality number two's out injured is probably the only choice He could realistically make.

The centre partnership look's a bit iffy, but then again I haven't seen too much of Tom Shanklin this season. Doubt's remain over whether Leigh Davies can cut it at this level and if His fitness is up to it.

Harris's start at outside half has already been well documented, but Saturday could be a big day in His union career.

The match .....

Last years Six Nations campaign was a complete nightmare. The said the better, but under Graham Henry We really thought We could beat Ireland on the opening weekend, but the result was disastrous. Steve Hansen came in and did an okay job with a demoralised squad.

Our only win came, hosting the newest arrivals to the tournament, in what was in all truth a dire performance, but we still won comfortably 44-20. The year before was a bit closer in Rome, running out 33-23, thanks to a Gibbsy double. In our first ever Six Nations meeting, an Italian side confident from their first ever championship win against Scotland two weeks earlier, were ripped apart 47-16.

The most memorable of all the encounters had to be the year before, outside the tournament. A seven try demolish in Treviso by Captain Rob Howley's men. A reassuring fact is that Italy have never beaten Wales, losing all eight encounters. The first ever being in 1994.

A comfortable win tomorrow could physiologically have a great affect ahead of the England match in a weeks time. A close victory, would keep the players on the edge, which may be a good thing. A defeat would be an unimaginable blow, the rest of the tournament would fade into insignificance, and leave Steve Hansen's World cup plan's in tatters. The inexperienced players in the squad need a win, for their confidence more than anything.

Italy are renowned for bad discipline, with Yellow cards galore in most of their six nations matches so far. Hopefully Iestyn should punish them with any chances He get's.

On paper We should win by a canter, but You never know.

The embarrassment of defeat doesn't even bare thinking about.