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Italy are aiming to confirm their rise as a team by adding a third win to their Guinness Men’s Six Nations tally when they take on Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
Italy are aiming to confirm their rise as a team by adding a third win to their Guinness Men’s Six Nations tally when they take on Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
Gonzalo Quesada’s side have already beaten Scotland and, for the first time, England. Victory over Steve Tandy’s outfit would mean they have won three fixtures for the first time and in doing so would better their achievement in 2024 when they marked Quesada’s first campaign as the Azzurri coach with two wins and a draw.
One of those wins came over Wales at Principality Stadium, and the also won at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome in 2025.
There is no doubting Italy’s confidence, but will it be enough against an improving Wales team, one that is focused on avoiding a third consecutive Championship without a win.
Here’s ATR’s take…
Live In The Moment
One of the most impressive aspects of Italy’s win over England was their ability to stay in the moment. The most obvious time when they didn’t came before halftime. Leading 10-5, all they had to do after winning a scrum was wallop the ball into the stands and head to the sheds for a breather.
Instead, they got carried away. Lorenzo Cannone went charging up the pitch and was turned over. Soon after Tom Roebuck crossed for England’s second try, Fin Smith converted and they were losing at the time when they should have been in the changing room.
For the rest of the match their focus was total, especially when they trailed 18-10 with Giacomo Nicotera in the sinbin. They kept doing what was working and got their rewards. Wales will come at them on Saturday, but there will be times when their vulnerability will show. In both instances they need that same focus and not get carried away, or victory will slip through their fingers.
Seize The Day
Italy’s players have produced some huge moments this tournament and have put themselves through the wringer physically. There will be aching bodies in blue on Saturday evening.
Two years ago in Cardiff, Italy prevailed because they grabbed hold of the match and squeezed Wales, most obviously when Lorenzo Pani scored what became Try of the Championship shortly after halftime to push the result further beyond doubt.
This year, Wales are on more of an upswing and confidence is beginning to return. It means Italy need to be as brave, if not braver, if they are to quiet the Cardiff crowd and claim that third victory.
Make Every Point Count
As impressive as Italy’s run has been, they have only scored six tries this Championship and not looked likely to claim a four-try bonus point. Why does that matter when they are claiming more victories than usual you might ask, and rightly so.
However, bonus points are a sign of being able to claim as many opportunities as possible, and in doing so ensure that you finish each match with something tangible. Italy haven’t been able to do this very often and have won no more than a single bonus point since their introduction.
It would bode well for the future and mean that they are able to put their foot to the throat when they are in the ascendancy. It is something that will be vital come the Nations Championship at the end of the year.
A good place to start would be the rolling maul. For all their pack’s superiority, they have only scored one – Nicotera’s score against Ireland – and against England they were driven into touch after opting to kick to touch after the penalty that earned Maro Itoje a spot on the naughty step.
If It Ain’t Broke…
It should come as no surprise that Quesada has opted to retain 12 of his starters, with only second row Andrea Zambonin and prop Simone Ferrari missing out with injury. His place in the engine room goes to Federico Ruzza, a player with 71 caps and an equally impressive lineout operator.
Meanwhile, Muhamed Hasa has an important job as the starting tighthead. He has impressed when coming off the bench, but has big shoes to fill with Simone Ferrari, so important for setting the tone missing through injury.
Alessandro Fusco returns at scrumhalf, having appeared as a replacement against England. Stephen Varney is his cover on the bench, and the Wales-born player will be desperate to have his first taste of this year’s Championship.
Quesada may well have a word with Pani during the week. The Zebre man received the nod to replace Ange Capuozzo at fullback against England, and in a show of faith Quesada has opted to keep him in the number 15 shirt, rather than bring back the hero of the England win, Leonardo Marin who played there against Scotland, before two appearances in the centres against Ireland and France.
Pani is a fine runner, as his finish for that Try of the Championship attested two years ago. He has had injury struggles, and he showed some rustiness against England, most notably when he allowed a deep kick to bounce towards his own line, before Italy’s defence cleared. It is time pay that faith back and show that even when Capuozzo returns, that the 15 jersey is his to hold onto.
