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Men's Six Nations: Italy v Wales
Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Date: Saturday, 8 February Kick-off: 14:15 GMT
Coverage: Listen unrecorded connected BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales & BBC Radio Cymru; substance commentary and highlights connected BBC Sport website and app; ticker connected ITV1 and S4C.
Number 8 Taulupe Faletau has been passed acceptable and centre Eddie James volition marque his archetypal Wales planetary commencement successful the Six Nations travel to Italy connected Saturday.
Head manager Warren Gatland has made 2 changes from the 43-0 drubbing by France successful Paris with Faletau coming successful for Aaron Wainwright and James replacing the injured Owen Watkin.
Wainwright is named arsenic a replacement aft recovering from a facial wounded suffered astatine the Stade de France, with Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell dropping retired of the 23-man squad.
Scarlets centre James, who has made 3 erstwhile Wales replacement Test appearances, partners Nick Tompkins successful different caller centre operation with Ben Thomas staying astatine fly-half. The midfield trio each regularly play astatine wrong centre for their nonrecreational sides.
Wales volition alert from their Nice grooming basal to Rome connected Thursday arsenic they bid to debar a 14th consecutive planetary defeat.
Cardiff fig 8 Faletau was unavailable to look France due to the fact that of a genu issue.
The 34-year-old has not played an planetary since the World Cup excavation triumph against Georgia successful October 2023 due to the fact that of a bid of injuries.
That was the past clip Wales won a Test lucifer with Gatland's broadside having since suffered 13 successive planetary defeats.
Wainwright, 27, near the tract successful the 4th infinitesimal successful Paris aft taking a stroke to his caput but suffered nary facial fracture oregon concussion.
James, 22, comes successful for Watkin who is ruled retired of the remainder of the tourney due to the fact that helium requires country for the superior genu wounded suffered successful Paris.
Gatland's broadside look an Italian outfit that were beaten 31-19 by Scotland successful Edinburgh successful the opening circular of matches.
Wales person not been beaten successful Rome since 2007 and their past Six Nations triumph was the distant travel to Italy 2 years ago.
This has been followed by 7 consecutive defeats successful the tourney and decision this week volition permission Gatland's squad contemplating consecutive Wooden Spoons with location matches against Ireland and England and a travel to Scotland to come.
Another nonaccomplishment volition besides astir apt spot Wales driblet to a lowest presumption of 12th successful the satellite rankings.
"This has been an important week with a batch of hard enactment enactment successful during training," said Gatland.
"We privation to beryllium close and disciplined connected Saturday. It's astir our execution and however we negociate the game.
"We cognize Italy are a prime broadside with carnal players and are looking guardant to a bully contest. We're excited for the situation connected Saturday."
Wales: L Williams; Rogers, Tompkins, James, Adams; B Thomas, T Williams; G Thomas, Lloyd, H Thomas, Rowlands, Jenkins, Botham, Morgan (capt), Faletau.
Replacements: Dee, Smith, Assiratti, F Thomas, Wainwright, R Williams, Edwards, Murray.
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