01.02.2014
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Preview
Wales will be looking for a good start to their 2014 6 Nations campaign. Their aim will be to win this competition for the second year in a row.
Italy have recalled some veterans to their team in Mauro Bergamasco and Marco Bortolami but the reality is is that Italy has struggled to play consistently at a high level. They will struggle against what looks to be a very strong Welsh side.
Last Five Encounters
23.02.2013 Wales 26-9 in Rome (6 Nations)
10.03.2012 Wales 24-3 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
26.02.2011 Wales 24-16 in Rome (6 Nations)
20.03.2010 Wales 33-10 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
14.03.2009 Wales 20-15 in Rome (6 Nations)
Italy last defeated Wales in 2007, winning 23-20 in Rome. Italy has never won in Cardiff
GWC Rugby Rankings:
World Table: Wales 6th, Italy 13th
Europe Table: Wales 3rd, Italy 6th
IRB Ranking Points
Wales 80.10, Italy 73.13
Prediction: Wales by 15 points
Teams
![3[1]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CrK8-oSjbqg/UuzR8RiHDjI/AAAAAAAAM7k/psP5sics0E8/s1600-h/3%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.gif "3[1]")
Wales
| 15 | Leigh Halfpenny | Cardiff Blues | |
| 14 | Alexander Cuthbert | Cardiff Blues | |
| 13 | Scott Williams | Llanelly Scarlets | |
| 12 | James Roberts | Racing-Metro 92, France | |
| 11 | George North | Northampton Saints, England | |
| 10 | Rhys Priestland | Llanelly Scarlets | |
| 9 | Michael Phillips | Bayonne, France | |
| 8 | Tobias Faletau | Newport Gwent Dragons | |
| 7 | Justin Tupuric | Neath Swansea Ospreys | |
| 6 | Daniel Lydiate | Racing-Metro 92, France | |
| 5 | Alyn-Wyn Jones (Capt.) | Neath Swansea Ospreys | |
| 4 | Luke Charteris | USA Perpignan, France | |
| 3 | Adam Jones | Neath Swansea Ospreys | |
| 2 | Richard Hibbard | Neath Swansea Ospreys | |
| 1 | Paul James | Bath Rugby, England | |
| 16 | Kenneth Owens | Llanelly Scarlets | |
| 17 | Ryan Bevington | Neath Swansea Ospreys | |
| 18 | Rhodri Jones | Llanelly Scarlets | |
| 19 | Andrew Coombs | Newport Gwent Dragons | |
| 20 | Samuel Warburton | Cardiff Blues | |
| 21 | Rhys Webb | Neath Swansea Ospreys | |
| 22 | James Hook | USA Perpignan, France | |
| 23 | Liam Williams | Llanelly Scarlets | |
| HEAD COACH: Warren Gatland | |||
![6[1]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Fzm6CvWiLb0/UuzR9lUUrTI/AAAAAAAAM70/meDw_VztQD4/s1600-h/6%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.gif "6[1]")
Italy
| 15 | Luke McLean | Treviso | |
| 14 | Angelo Esposito | Treviso | |
| 13 | Michele Campagnaro | Treviso | |
| 12 | Alberto Sgarbi | Treviso | |
| 11 | Leonardo Sarto | Zebre Rugby | |
| 10 | Tommaso Allan | USAP Perpignan, France | |
| 9 | Edoardo Gori | Treviso | |
| 8 | Sergio Parisse (Capt.) | Stade Francais, France | |
| 7 | Mauro Bergamasco | Zebre Rugby | |
| 6 | Alessandro Zanni | Treviso | |
| 5 | Marco Bortolami | Zebre Rugby | |
| 4 | Quintin Geldenhuys | Zebre Rugby | |
| 3 | Martin Castrogiovanni | Toulon RC, France | |
| 2 | Leonardo Ghiraldini | Treviso | |
| 1 | Michele Rizzo | Treviso | |
| 16 | Davide Giazzon | Zebre Rugby | |
| 17 | Alberto De Marchi | Treviso | |
| 18 | Lorenzo Cittadini | Treviso | |
| 19 | Joshua Furno | Biarritz Olympique, France | |
| 20 | Francesco Minto | Treviso | |
| 21 | Tobais Botes | Treviso | |
| 22 | Luciano Orquera | Zebre Rugby | |
| 23 | Tommaso Iannone | Zebre Rugby | |
| HEAD COACH: Jacques Brunel | |||
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