By Zippy
February 10 2005

Preview of this weekend 6 Nations fixture between Italy and Wales, the game takes place at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome, for details read on.

Wales: G Thomas (capt); H Luscombe, T Shanklin, G Henson, S Williams; S Jones, D Peel; G Jenkins, M Davies, A Jones; B Cockbain, R Sidoli; J Thomas, M Williams, M Owen.
Replacements: R McBryde, J Yapp, I Gough, G Cooper, C Sweeney, K Morgan. R Sowden-Taylor.

News:

Dafydd Jones suffers a late groin strain injury and is replaced by Jonny Thomas, Robin Sowden-Taylor gets a place on the bench, I can't say I'm happy he got there ahead of Richie Pugh.

Hal Luscombe continues on the wing, how he keeps his place in the side I don't know, did I miss a "Rugby Idol" where the winner got a place in the Welsh side?

Italy: R de Marigny; Mirco Bergamasco, W Pozzebon, A Masi, L Nitoglia; L Orquera, A Troncon; A Lo Cicero, F Ongaro, M Castrogiovanni, S Dellape, M Bortolami (capt), A Persico, Mauro Bergamasco, S Parisse.
Replacements: G Intoppa, S Perugini, CA del Fava, D dal Maso, P Griffen, M Barbini, KP Robertson.

Key Players:

The Back Row: All 3 are superb players and athletes, Wales will need to keep them out of the game.

Troncon: The old boy can still put in a peformance and really gets the pack going.

Masi/Nitogila: Talked up as a big talents and looked sharp against Ireland, Wales will need to keep a look out in defence.

Overall:

Wales without doubt should win and cast the loss 2 years ago from the memory, Italy are getting better but so are Wales, if we don't have the game won by 60mins I won't be a happy chappy.

Italy vs Wales

Stadio Flaminio, Rome
Saturday, 12 February

Kick-off: 1330 GMT
Live: BBC1, Five Live, Radio Wales & Radio Cymru.