Preview: Wales Seek First Six Nations Win In Clash With Excellent Italy
Preview: Wales Seek First Six Nations Win In Clash With Excellent Italy
Wales face Italy in Cardiff hoping to end a 15 match Six Nations losing streak as the improving Azzurri chase a historic third win of the 2026 championship.
Italy arrive in Cardiff for the final round of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations carrying a confidence that would have seemed improbable only a few seasons ago. Gonzalo Quesada’s side travel to the Principality Stadium chasing a slice of history, with victory over Wales giving the Azzurri three wins in a single championship for the first time.
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Momentum is firmly on Italy’s side. Their dramatic victory over England in Rome last weekend underlined just how far this team has progressed. The Italians were relentless in the contact area, disciplined in defence and dangerous whenever they found space in the wider channels. It was the sort of complete performance that has become increasingly familiar during Quesada’s tenure.
The visitors have made three changes to the side that defeated England. Muhamed Hasa comes into the front row at tighthead prop following Simone Ferrari’s injury, Federico Ruzza partners Niccolò Cannone in the second row and Alessandro Fusco starts at scrum half. None of those changes alter the core identity of this Italian side.
At their best, Italy combine abrasive forward play with genuine attacking flair behind. The Cannone brothers provide power through the middle of the field, while captain Michele Lamaro continues to set the tone at the breakdown. Out wide, the combination of Monty Ioane, Louis Lynagh and Lorenzo Pani ensures Italy possess pace and creativity whenever the ball reaches the edges.
Tommaso Menoncello remains a key figure in midfield. His ability to carry through contact and create quick ball gives Italy the platform to play with tempo, while Juan Ignacio Brex offers defensive stability and distribution alongside him. With Paolo Garbisi directing matters at fly half, Italy have the structure and control required to turn territory into points.
For Wales, the narrative surrounding this fixture is markedly different. Steve Tandy’s side remain winless in this year’s championship and are desperate to end a run that has seen them lose 15 consecutive Six Nations matches. Yet the performances in recent weeks have suggested a team slowly rebuilding confidence.
The defeat in Dublin last weekend was far more competitive than many expected. Wales remained within a score of Ireland late in the match and showed a level of physical intensity that had been absent earlier in the tournament. That effort has convinced Tandy to keep faith with the same starting lineup.
Captain Dewi Lake continues to lead the side from hooker and has been one of Wales’ most influential figures during a difficult campaign. Around him, the Welsh pack has shown increasing resilience. Rhys Carre has provided impact with ball in hand, Tomas Francis has stabilised the scrum and back rowers Alex Mann, James Botham and Aaron Wainwright have delivered tireless defensive work.
Despite those improvements, Wales still face a clear challenge. Their attack has struggled to consistently create opportunities for their outside backs. Too often the Welsh game has relied on individual moments rather than sustained attacking patterns, leaving players such as Louis Rees Zammit and Josh Adams searching for involvement.
That contrast in attacking fluency could prove decisive on Saturday.
Italy’s confidence with ball in hand has been one of the defining features of their championship. They have demonstrated an ability to stretch defences and convert pressure into tries, something Wales have found far harder to achieve. If the Italians can replicate the physical edge they produced against England and generate quick ruck ball, their backline has the quality to create scoring chances.
Wales, however, will take encouragement from the signs of progress in recent rounds. The defensive effort against Ireland showed a team beginning to rediscover its resilience. Playing in front of a home crowd at the Principality Stadium should also provide an emotional lift for a squad desperate to reward supporters who have endured a long run without success.
Ultimately, the contest may hinge on which side controls the breakdown and the tempo of the game. If Wales can disrupt Italy’s attacking rhythm and turn the match into a tight forward contest, they give themselves a genuine chance of ending their losing run. If Italy find space and play at speed, their attacking weapons will be difficult to contain.
Given the improvements Wales have shown over the past two rounds and the energy likely to come from the home crowd, there is a sense that this could finally be the afternoon where their long wait for a Six Nations victory comes to an end.
Prediction: Wales by 2 points.
Wales vs Italy Line-Ups
Wales: 15 Louis Rees Zammit, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Eddie James, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 James Botham, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Ben Carter, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Rhys Carre
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Adam Beard, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Blair Murray
Italy: 15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Michele Lamaro (c), 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Giosuè Zilocchi, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 David Odiase, 21 Stephen Varney, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Tommaso Allan
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