WALES continue their quest for a Grand Slam with a Six Nations game against Italy in Rome today.
The surprise-package of this year’s competition, the Welsh took England apart 40-24 a fortnight ago in Cardiff.
Italy meanwhile are once again heading towards the Wooden Spoon and haven’t won a Six Nations match since 2015.
What time does Italy vs Wales rugby kick off?
- This Six Nations clash is set for today – Saturday, March 13.
- Kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico is at 2.15pm GMT.
- When Wales visited this stadium last in 2019, they were comfortable 26-15 winners.
What TV channel is Italy vs Wales rugby on and can I live stream it?
- You can watch this match live on ITV1.
- To stream, head to the ITV Hub or download the official app.
- For those of you in Wales, S4C will also be showing the match complete with Welsh language commentary.
- DMAX is the Six Nations broadcaster in Italy.
Can I watch Italy vs Wales for free?
- Yes. All the Six Nations is on free-to-air TV.
- UK viewers can watch ITV1, ITV Hub or S4C without paying a penny.
What is the team news?
Gareth Davies replaced Kieran Hardy for Wales after the latter suffered a hamstring injury against England.
Lock Cory hill comes in for Adam Beard, who is rested.
Leigh Halfpenny remains out after picking up a concussion against Scotland three weeks ago.
Scrum-half Stephen Varney returns for Italy after being injured in the warm-up against Ireland.
Wing Mattia Bellini will replace Luca Sperandio.
In the pack, lock Niccolo Cannone and props Danilo Fischetti and Giosue Zilocchi as in for Marco Lazzaroni, Andrea Lovotti and Marco Riccioni.
Match odds
- Italy to win – 16/1
- Wales victory – 1/10
- Tie – 50/1
*All odds from Paddy Power and correct at time of publication.
What they said
Italy head coach Franco Smith: “We are ready to continue our journey facing a team that is aiming to win the Championship,
“We are meeting our goal: to improve our performances and to become more and more competitive match after match. Every week we’re together, staff and players, we are working hard to win.”
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac: “For us it is about the performance and we are not overly happy with the full 80 minutes yet. We are doing some things very well in games.
“I think most people would agree we are improving in different areas, but we have still got a long way to go.
“This team is building a bit of momentum and we want to stay with that momentum and probably reward the players that have done the bulk of it so far.
“We have talked about how we want to play the game. There are two very important games to go and it is about getting results.”
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HEAD TO HEAD
The Six Nations head to head record between the two nations does not make good reading for the Azzurri.
Wales have triumphed in the last thirteen Six Nations meetings between the sides.
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EVER PRESENT ALUN
Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones makes his 156th Test match appearance for Wales and the British and Irish Lions this weekend.
He’ll pick up his 147th Wales cap this afternoon, to add to his nine Lions caps.
If Wales do pick up a Grand Slam next week it would be Jones’ record fourth Six Nations.
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AZZURRI WOES
Italy are rooted to the bottom of the Six Nations table, and are winless in the competition since 2015.
The Azzurri have not won for THIRTY games in the Championship, and are massive underdogs this afternoon against an in form Wales side.
Franco Smith’s side have conceded nineteen tries so far this campaign, which is just five less than all of the other teams combined.
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AS IT STANDS
Here’s a look at the Six Nations table ahead of this weekend’s penultimate round of fixtures.
Wales are in pole position to secure this year’s title, but France will still fancy their chances of a first Six Nations trophy since 2010.
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VARNEY RETURNS
The Azzurri will be delighted to welcome back 19-year-old scrum half Stephen Varney this afternoon.
Varney was named in the starting side against Ireland two weeks ago, but had to be replaced at the last minute after picking up an injury in the warm up.
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GRAND SLAM?
Wales boast a flawless record so far in the 2021 Six Nations.
A win today would mean Wayne Pivac’s side could secure a second Grand Slam in three years against France in Paris next weekend.
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WALES SUBS
And Wayne Pivac has these men at his disposal off the bench:
16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Leon Brown, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Uilisi Halaholo
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ITALY REPLACEMENTS
These are the options off the bench for the Azzurri
16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Andrea Lovotti, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Marco Lazzaroni, 20 Maxime Mbanda, 21 Marcello Violi, 22 Federico Mori, 23 Edoardo Padovani
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WALES STARTING XV
Kieran Hardy is replaced by Gareth Davies at scrum half, and Cory Hill is in for Adam Beard at lock.
15 Liam Williams, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 George North, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies
1 Wyn Jones, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Cory Hill, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 6 Josh Navidi, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Taulupe Faletau
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ITALY STARTING XV
The Azzurri welcome back Stephen Varney at scrum half, and Mattia Bellini replaces Luca Sperandio on the wing.
In the pack Marco Lazzaroni, Andrea Lovotti and Marco Riccioni drop to the bench, with Niccolo Cannone, Danilo Fischetti and Giosue Zilocchi into replace them.
15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Mattia Bellini, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Carlo Canna, 11 Montanna Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney
1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Luca Bigi (c), 3 Giosue Zilocchi, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 5 David Sisi, 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Johan Meyer, 8 Michele Lamaro
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GOOD AFTERNOON
The Six Nations resumes this afternoon after a two week break.
Italy vs Wales is the first game of the weekend, as Wayne Pivac’s side look to maintain their one hundred percent record in this years tournament.
A win this afternoon for Wales would mean the Dragons could secure a Grand Slam next week against France in what is a mouthwatering fixture in Paris.
Italy meanwhile are winless in the 2021 campaign, and have not won a Six Nations match since victory against Scotland in 2015.
That’s a run of THIRTY Six Nations games without a win.
The omens don’t bode well for the Azzurri either, as the last time the two sides met in the competition Wales ran out emphatic 42-0 winners.
In Italy’s three games so far this year they’ve leaked 139 points and 19 tries, and it would not be a surprise if Wales picked up a bonus point win this afternoon.
The Azzurri have given a good account of themselves at times though this year, and will be hoping to showcase their improvement today.
Kick off is at 2.15pm and the team news is coming up next.
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