Italy host Wales in Rome at this time in a battle to keep away from the 2023 Six Nations’ wood spoon.
Wales are all-time low of the Championship desk with no factors from their opening three video games, whereas Italy have picked up solely a solitary bonus level, of their slender defeat by France on the opening weekend.
Warren Gatland is aware of Wales should win if they’re to keep away from the humiliation of ending backside of the pile for the primary time in 20 years.
Italy are chasing a primary Six Nations win in Rome since 2013, however they may fancy their possibilities in opposition to a Wales aspect reeling from successive losses to Ireland, Scotland and England.
Here is all the pieces you might want to know.
When is Italy vs Wales?
Wales tackle Italy in Rome at this time, Saturday 11 March, at 2.15pm GMT.
How to observe on TV and on-line
Italy vs Wales will likely be broadcast dwell on free-to-air channels ITV, S4C and STV. To live-stream the sport on-line, viewers can entry the ITVX, S4C and STV web sites and apps.
Team information
Gatland has made six modifications for the Stadio Olimpico encounter, with full-back Liam Williams, wing Rio Dyer, scrum-half Rhys Webb, prop Wyn Jones, lock Dafydd Jenkins and flanker Jac Morgan known as up.
Leigh Halfpenny (hamstring) and Dan Biggar (again) weren’t thought of, whereas different gamers absent embody lock Alun Wyn Jones and flanker Christ Tshiunza.
Webb makes a primary Test begin since October 2020, changing Tomos Williams, and Dyer is most popular to Louis Rees-Zammit, who’s joined on the bench by the likes of George North, Rhys Davies and Tommy Reffell.
Harlequins fly-half Tommy Allan will begin at full-back for Italy. Allan, who crammed the fly-half function in opposition to France and England, replaces Ange Capuozzo. Capuozzo memorably created Italy’s profitable attempt in Cardiff final season, however he’s sidelined by a shoulder harm that has meant Azzurri head coach Kieran Crowley makes one enforced change.
It is in any other case the identical crew that pushed Six Nations leaders and title favourites Ireland shut final day trip.
Confirmed line-ups
Wales
L Williams (Cardiff); J Adams (Cardiff), M Grady (Cardiff), J Hawkins (Ospreys), R Dyer (Dragons); O Williams (Ospreys), R Webb (Ospreys); W Jones (Scarlets), Ok Owens (Scarlets, capt), T Francis (Ospreys), A Beard (Ospreys), D Jenkins (Exeter), J Morgan (Ospreys), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Cardiff).
Replacements: S Baldwin (Ospreys), G Thomas (Ospreys), D Lewis (Cardiff), R Davies (Ospreys), T Reffell (Leicester), T Williams (Cardiff), G North (Ospreys), L Rees-Zammit (Gloucester).
Italy
T Allan (Harlequins); E Padovani (Benetton), J Brex (Benetton), T Menoncello (Benetton), P Bruno (Zebre Parma); P Garbisi (Montpellier), S Varney (Gloucester); D Fischetti (London Irish), G Nicotera (Benetton), S Ferrari (Benetton), N Cannone (Benetton), F Ruzza (Benetton), S Negri (Benetton), M Lamaro (Benetton, capt), L Cannone (Benetton).
Replacements: L Bigi (Zebre Parma), F Zani (Benetton), M Riccioni (Saracens), E Iachizzi (Vannes), G Pettinelli (Benetton), M Zuilani (Benetton), A Fusco (Zebre Parma), L Morisi (London Irish).
