Wales Name Unchanged XV for Six Nations Clash with Italy in Cardiff
Wales head coach Steve Tandy has opted for continuity, naming an unchanged starting XV as his side prepares to face Italy in the Six Nations this Saturday. The decision comes after a spirited performance against Ireland in Dublin last Friday, which has bolstered hopes of ending a long winless streak in the championship.
Seeking a Long-Awaited Victory
It has been more than three years since Wales last secured a victory in the Six Nations, with the team facing the prospect of a third consecutive winless campaign unless they triumph over Italy at the Principality Stadium on "Super Saturday." The last Welsh win in the tournament came against Italy in round four of the 2023 campaign, and they are now aiming to snap a 15-match losing run.
Improved showings against Scotland and Ireland have provided a glimmer of optimism, suggesting that the Azzurri can be overcome in Cardiff. Tandy has stuck with the same group that impressed in Dublin, highlighting the cohesion and consistency within the squad.
Team Selection and Key Players
Dan Edwards continues at fly half in the absence of Sam Costelow, while Louis Rees-Zammit is once again deployed from full-back. The forward pack, which performed admirably in Dublin, will be tasked with taking on a formidable Italian unit. The only change to the matchday squad is on the bench, where Blair Murray replaces last week's debutant Louie Hennessey in the No 23 shirt.
This marks the first time since the 2019 Rugby World Cup that Wales have made just a single change between fixtures. Tandy emphasized the importance of building on recent performances, stating, "Having an unchanged team, I think it reflects the cohesion and the consistency in the group and the consistency of performance out in Ireland."
Coach's Call for Fan Support
After empty seats were visible during the round two match against France, a larger crowd is anticipated for Wales's final fixture of the tournament. Tandy has urged fans to rally behind the home side, noting the significance of playing at the Principality Stadium. "For the team and myself, going back to Principality Stadium is amazing," he said. "The boys did really well creating their own energy against Ireland, but there's nothing better [than being at home]."
He added, "The boys reference in meetings what the Scotland game meant to them and the French game, the New Zealand game - the fans have been incredible and I think they're really behind the team and the team are really putting in performances to represent our nation."
Looking Ahead to the Match
Tandy stressed the need for an elevated performance this weekend, saying, "This week we need to go up another level. We've had some really good performances. I think there were parts against France, then we built up into the Scotland game where I thought we were very good. Against Ireland we stepped up to the plate physically. Now it's putting it all together and creating our best performance this weekend."
The match is scheduled for Saturday, 14 March, at 4.40pm GMT in Cardiff. Wales will be hoping that consistency in selection translates into a much-needed victory to break their Six Nations drought.
Wales Team Line-Up
Starting XV: 1 Rhys Carre, 2 Dewi Lake (capt.), 3 Tomas Francis; 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 5 Ben Carter; 6 Alex Mann, 7 James Botham, 8 Aaron Wainwright; 9 Tomos Williams, 10 Dan Edwards; 11 Josh Adams, 12 Joe Hawkins, 13 Eddie James, 14 Ellis Mee; 15 Louis Rees-Zammit.
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.
