Wales host Italy in the Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday, a final opportunity for the hosts to find a win.
Wales v Italy, Saturday 14th March, Cardiff, KO 18:40 (South African time)
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU), Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Weather Forecast – Cardiff, check to see if the roof will be closed
Wales:
Wales remain rock bottom of the standings having suffered 4 defeats and they have just 1 losing bonus point to show for their efforts so far. Barring a bonus point win here and a defeat for England in Paris later they will pick up the wooden spoon again.
Round 4 did see another improved display by Wales, albeit in a 27-17 defeat in Ireland. Although they were given around 26.4 points start on the main handicap line Wales only trailed 12-10 at the break and kept Ireland for the duration of the second half but they left Dublin empty handed.
Wales hosted Scotland in Cardiff in Round 3 and the bookmakers had them priced as 18.5 point underdogs. The story of the game was very different with Wales in front early doors and 17-5 up at the break. Wales were still leading up to the 75th minute when a Scotland try completed a comeback and the visitors run out winners, 26-23.
In Round 2 Wales crashed to a 54-12 defeat to France in Cardiff, a margin of defeat that was greater than the bookmakers main handicap line which had seen Wales given 31.5 points start.
Wales were given around 28.5 points start on the main handicap line for their opening 6N match against England at Twickenham and it was nowhere near enough as they crashed and burned 48-7.
Results and Fixtures: R1 England (a) lost 48-7, R2 France (h) lost 54-12, R3 Scotland (h) lost 26-23, R4 Ireland (a) lost 27-17, R5 Italy (h)
Italy:
Italy have a record of 2 wins and 2 defeats and they have picked up 9 log points so far which puts them in fourth place 3 points better off than fifth placed England.
Italy made history in Round 4 when they beat England for the first time, ending up on the right side of a see-saw encounter which finished 23-18 in the favour. They started that game at around 8.5 point underdogs and Tommaso Menoncello and Leonardo Marin scored the tries.
Round 3 saw Italy head to Lille to take on France and they finished beaten 33-8 never really getting in a blow after trailing 19-8 at half time. The margin of defeat was a touch lower than the main handicap line.
In Round 2 Italy threatened to surprise Ireland in Dublin, leading 10-5 at half time but they eventually went down 20-13 and came away with a losing bonus point.
Italy were 8.5 point underdogs for their clash with Scotland in Rome in Round 1 and they didn’t need any of it as they came out on top 18-15.
Results and Fixtures: R1 Scotland (h) won 18-15, R2 Ireland (a) lost 20-13, R3 France (a) lost 33-8, R4 England (h) won 23-18, R5 Wales (a)
Recent Head to Head
Feb 2025 6N Rome Italy 22-15 Wales
Mar 2024 6N Cardiff Wales 21–24 Italy
Feb 2023 6N Rome Italy 17-29 Wales
Mar 2022 6N Cardiff Wales 21–22 Italy
Feb 2021 6N Rome Italy 7-48 Wales
Team News
Wales: tbc
Italy: tbc
The Betting
Average early show, subject to change
Wales +4.5 points at 9/10
Italy -4.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Brent Graham's betting angle and plays for this week’s will follow here
Bets: To follow
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