Italy vs Wales
Kickoff: 2:15pm Saturday, Rome, ITV 1
Team news
Italy
1.Fischetti 2.Nicotera 3.Ferrari 4.N.Cannone 5.Ruzza
6.Negri 7.Lamaro(C) 8.L.Cannone 9.Page-Relo 10.P.Garbisi
11.Ioane 12.Menoncello 13.Brex 14.Capuozzo 15.Allan
16.Luchessi 17.RIzzoli 18.RIccioni 19.Lamb
20.Zuliani 21.Vintcent 22.A.Garbisi 23.Trulla
Wales
1.G.Thomas 2.Lloyd 3.H.Thomas 4.Rowlands 5.Jenkins
6.Botham 7.Morgan(C) 8.Faletau 9.T.Williams 10.B.Thomas
11.Adams 12.James 13.Tompkins 14.Rogers 15.L.Williams
16.Dee 17.Smith 18.Assiratti 19.F.Thomas
20.Wainwright 21.R.Williams 22.D.Edwards 23.Murray
Gonzalo Quesada makes one change from the team that started their loss against Scotland, Dino Lamb is replaced by Niccolo Cannone. Italy need to win this game if they are to maintain the status as the most improved team in the competition. This will be the first game in Italy's 25 year Six Nations history in which they are actually favourites to win a game. This brings a very different type of pressure. They have been able to overcome the pressure of desperately needing a win and the pressure of pulling off major upsets to establish themselves but this is very different. This time, the shoe is on the other foot as Italy are favourites against a Welsh team that is desperate to taste victory.
In order to be successful on Saturday Italy have to improve their attack. Relying on penalties and one interception is not going to be a consistently successful formula. Ange Capuozzo was a non-factor against Scotland and needs to get his hands on the ball more if he is to make the necessary impact for his team. Wales's scrum was surprisingly solid against France so Italy will face a challenge there but will know that all they need to do is keep things level in the pack due to their superior back line. The Azzuri have threats everywhere across the back line so if they can get quick ball, they will likely be able to capitalise against a questionable Welsh defence.
Wales need to be solid up front and will be hoping that the return of the ageing Faletau will give them more of an edge in their attack. Ben Thomas starts once again at fly-half and will be hoping he'll have a little more time on his hands than he did last week. Eddie James is an exciting addition in the midfield, he brings a physicality and carrying ability to the back-line that was missing last week. His ability to get over the gain line should help to take the pressure off Ben Thomas in possession. One concern in the Welsh back-line is the fact that Warren Gatland has essentially picked three inside centres to start. Ben Thomas, Eddie James and Sam Tompkins are all good players but two are playing out of position. If this doesn't work and Wales lose yet again, how does Warren Gatland keep his job?
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