Celebrations for Wales as Liam Williams crosses the line against France in the Six Nations

Italy v Wales: Team line-ups, kick-off time, key quotes, predictions, odds and where to watch on TV

By Sporting Life

Rugby Union

Sat February 09, 2019 · 7y ago

Our guide to Saturday's Guinness Six Nations clash between Italy and Wales in Rome includes team news, predictions, statistics and more.

Wales fought back against France to get their Six Nations campaign off to a winning start and will expect to add another win in Rome, where Italy await.

The Italians rallied late on to salvage a respectable scoreline against Scotland, but ultimately need to improve again if they're to avoid the wooden spoon.

What time is kick off & what channel is it on?

The match, which takes place at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome, will start at 1645 GMT on Saturday February 9 and will be screened live on ITV 1.

Italy v Wales: Team news

Wasps flanker Thomas Young and Leicester wing Jonah Holmes will make their Six Nations debuts for Wales in Saturday's clash with Italy.

Young, who won two caps on Wales' 2017 summer tour against Tonga and Samoa, lines up in Rome alongside back-row colleagues Aaron Wainwright and Josh Navidi.

Centre Jonathan Davies captains his country for a first time - regular skipper Alun Wyn Jones is on the replacements' bench - as Wales head coach Warren Gatland makes 10 changes and one positional switch from the side that beat France last week.

There is also a Six Nations bow for Holmes, who made his Test debut during this season's autumn series, with scrum-half Aled Davies and flanker Wainwright handed first starts in the tournament.

Centre Owen Watkin, fly-half Dan Biggar, who replaces Gareth Anscombe, hooker Elliot Dee and lock Jake Ball also feature, with Navidi moving from blindside flanker to number eight.

Players that started the 24-19 victory over France who are not involved in Wales' match-day 23 this weekend include wing George North, centre Hadleigh Parkes and hooker Ken Owens as Gatland maximises a 31-man squad who have trained in Nice this week.

Italy coach Conor O'Shea has made two changes for for the clash.

Edoardo Padovani comes into the backline and Nicola Quaglio into the front row as Italy look to bounce back from their opening defeat to Scotland.

Padovani, who scored a try off the bench in the second half against Scotland, comes onto the right wing while Michele Campagnaro shifts back inside to his preferred position in the centre.

That means Tommaso Castello drops out of the matchday 23, while Quaglio replaces loosehead prop Andrea Lovotti, who has the flu.

Teams:

Italy: J Hayward (Benetton), E Padovani (Zebre), M Campagnaro (Wasps), L Morisi (Benetton), Angelo Esposito (Benetton), Tommaso Allan (Benetton), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre); Nicola Quaglio (Benetton) Leonardo Ghiraldini (Toulouse), Simone Ferrari (Benetton), David Sisi (Zebre), Dean Budd (Benetton), Sebastian Negri (Benetton), Abraham Jurgens Steyn (Benetton), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais, capt)

Replacements: Luca Bigi, Cherif Traore, Tiziano Pasquali, Federico Ruzza, Marco Barbini, Edoardo Gori, Ian McKinley, Tommaso Benvenuti (all Benetton).

Wales: L Williams (Saracens); J Holmes (Leicester), J Davies (Scarlets, capt), O Watkin (Ospreys), J Adams (Worcester); D Biggar (Northampton), A Davies (Ospreys); N Smith (Ospreys), E Dee (Dragons), S Lee (Scarlets), J Ball (Scarlets), A Beard (Ospreys), A Wainwright (Dragons), T Young (Wasps), J Navidi (Cardiff Blues).

Replacements: R Elias (Scarlets), W Jones (Scarlets), D Lewis (Cardiff Blues), A W Jones (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Dragons), G Davies (Scarlets), G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), H Amos (Dragons).

Italy v Wales: Odds & advice

At 1/33, Wales are unbackable favourites and it will be a major surprise if they do not win. Just how comfortable their victory will be is the key question for punters, with initial handicap lines set around the 23-point mark.

Italy are 14/1 to cause an almighty upset and 20/1 for a draw.

Click here to check out all Sky Bet's Italy v Wales odds

Tony Calvin's verdict...

"I think Italy +9 at 10-11 on the half-time handicap market is worth a bet – there was some 11 available before the Welsh team was named, but that soon went – and the 5-1 about Italy leading at half-time is also worth taking. If you can’t access the latter price the 13-2 Italy-Wales HT-FT bet is a decent alternative."

Click here to read Tony's full preview

Italy v Wales: Key quotes

Italy captain Sergio Parisse: "I am really confident because I have seen a lot of great work from the team during training in the week.

"We go into the game with belief, and we are playing with confidence.

"But the most important thing is the whole 80 minutes against a big, big side in Wales who are (ranked) fourth in the world.

"They won in France not playing their best rugby. France conceded some very easy tries, but we know Wales are a very dangerous side. For us, we want to be in the game for 80 minutes."

Wales coach Warren Gatland: "It's a challenge this year, making changes. Guys have got to go out there and prove themselves. We've left out some real experience and quality players."

Wasps flanker Thomas Young: "I have got the opportunity, and I want to make sure I perform.

"It's a massive opportunity, especially with the quality of back-rowers we have got. But hopefully, I can go out there and take the opportunity I've been given.

"I have been trying to be involved in the squad for the last 18 months-two years, and I just have to treat it as another game.

"My preparation won't be any different to what it has been at club level. Obviously, it is going to be a step up and hopefully something I take in my stride, but I have to make sure I take the opportunity."

Italy v Wales: Last four meetings

2018: Wales 38-14 Italy, Cardiff

2017: Wales 33-7 Italy, Rome

2016: Wales 23-19 Italy, Cardiff

2015: Wales 67-14 Italy, Cardiff

Six Nations fixtures and results

Round One (February 1-2)

France 19-24 Wales
Click here for match report
Scotland 33-20 Italy
Click here for match report
Ireland 20-32 England
Click here for match report

Round Two (February 9-10)

Scotland v Ireland, Saturday February 9, 1415 GMT, BT Murrayfield, BBC 1
Italy v Wales, Saturday February 9, 1645 GMT, Stadio Olimpico, ITV & S4C
England v France Sunday February 10, 1500 GMT, Twickenham, ITV 1

Round Three (February 23-24)

France v Scotland, Saturday February 23, 1415 GMT, Stade de France, BBC 1
Wales v England, Saturday February 23 , 1645 GMT, Principality Stadium, BBC 1 & S4C
Italy v Ireland, Sunday February 24, 1500 GMT, Stadio Olimpico, ITV 1

Round Four (March 9-10)