Wales are at home for their second match in a row as Italy visit the Principality Stadium on 16 March.
It’s a clash where all will be on the line, as both teams are firmly at the wrong end of the Guinness Six Nations log, and will be desperate not to finish in the last position.
Wales, rebuilding under Warren Gatland after a less-than-stellar World Cup last year haven’t had the easiest of tournaments, and their inexperienced squad has had to do without several key players from previous campaigns.
Perhaps the biggest loss is that of experienced pivot Dan Biggar, who retired after rugby’s global showpiece last year. While Sam Costello is an excellent flyhalf, he is still learning his way on the international stage. Another massive blow is that of winger Louis Reese-Zammit, who has given up on rugby to try his luck in the United States playing American football.
Of course, Wales can rely on the ever-impressive 100+ capped George North to provide some fireworks from midfield.
The Italians are desperate not to end bottom of the log for the ninth time in a row, but it’s going to be a tough call beating Wales on their home turf.
Team News
There’s no doubt that Gatland will pick his strongest possible side, depending on injuries of course. There is still a lot of depth in this Welsh squad and several experienced players will put up their hands come game time to try to help Wales to a win they will be craving.
No doubt he will stick with Daffyd Jenkins as his captain, having decided to give the 21-year-old the skipper’s armband with building towards the future in mind. Some pundits don’t agree with that decision, but it’s one that Gatland has taken as part of his overall rebuild of Welsh rugby.
Italy, too, will be desperate to claim a win in the Guinness Six Nations. It’s not something that they can often celebrate – they’ve only had 13 wins since 2000 – but against Wales in a rebuilding phase, perhaps they have their best chance in this tournament. With that in mind, and the fact that it’s their final match of this section of the season, new coach Gonzalo Quesada will put his strongest team in the park.
Wales’s Guinness Six Nations Squad
Forwards: Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby), Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby), Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby), Leon Brown (Dragons), Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Will Rowlands (Racing 92), Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby), Taine Basham (Dragons), James Botham (Cardiff Rugby), Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby), Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Backs: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Cai Evans (Dragons), Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets), Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby), George North (Ospreys), Joe Roberts (Scarlets), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Tom Rogers (Scarlets), Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby).
Italy’s squad for the 2024 Guinness Six Nations
Forwards: Pietro Ceccarelli (Perpignan), Danilo Fischetti (Zebre Parma), Matteo Nocera (Zebre Parma), Luca Rizzoli (Zebre Parma), Mirco Spagnolo (Benetton Rugby), Giosuè Zilocchi (Benetton Rugby), Gianmarco Lucchesi (Benetton Rugby), Marco Manfredi (Zebre Parma), Giacomo Nicotera (Benetton Rugby), Niccolò Cannone (Benetton Rugby), Edoardo Iachizzi (Benetton Rugby), Federico Ruzza (Benetton Rugby), Andrea Zambonin (Zebre Parma), Lorenzo Cannone (Benetton Rugby), Riccardo Favretto (Benetton Rugby), Alessandro Izekor (Benetton Rugby), Michele Lamaro (Benetton Rugby), Sebastian Negri (Benetton Rugby), Ross Vintcent (Exeter), Manuel Zuliani (Benetton Rugby).
Backs: Alessandro Garbisi (Benetton Rugby), Martin Page-Relo (Lyon), Stephen Varney (Gloucester), Tommaso Allan (Perpignan), Paolo Garbisi (Montpellier), Juan Ignacio Brex (Benetton Rugby), Tommaso Menoncello (Benetton Rugby), Federico Mori (Bayonne), Marco Zanon (Benetton Rugby), Pierre Bruno (Zebre Parma), Ange Capuozzo (Toulouse), Monty Ioane (Lyon), Simone Gesi (Zebre Parma), Lorenzo Pani (Zebre Parma).
Match Tickets
While it’s not the most glamorous of Guinness Six Nations fixtures, make sure you get your hands on Wales vs Italy tickets as soon as you can seeing that this is the final match for both sets of supporters at this year’s tournament.
And, in all likelihood, the two teams will be fighting to avoid the last position on the log, or the wooden spoonists, as they are often called.
While many Italy tickets will be snapped up by diehard Italian fans making the trip to the Principality Stadium, you can expect the home side’s supporters to turn out in their droves and attempt to sing their team to victory. So make sure you get your Wales tickets as quickly as possible if you want to be one of them. Ticket reselling sites may still have options available in the week leading up to the clash should tickets found on the official channels have sold out.
Prediction
There’s going to be a lot on the line for this encounter. In fact, the loser, depending on how other matches have gone in the tournament, will probably finish last on the log. And no team wants that.
Interestingly, both teams have finished last in the competition on 17 occasions, but bear in mind that Italy only joined the tournament in 2020. A loss for either of them in this encounter, and they will be ever close to the wood spoonist record of 25, currently held by Ireland.
Italy have shown at times during this tournament that they have much to offer, and after a disappointing World Cup, including a record 96-17 loss to the All Blacks, have restored some pride. They were particularly impressive against England in their opening encounter and could give Wales a real run for their money, even away from home.
That said, Wales, even as a side in transition, over the course of 80 minutes will just have a little too much for the plucky Italians. Their victory, however, won’t be a runaway one. In fact, there won’t be much more than five to 10 points between the two sides on the day.
Wales 25-20 Italy
