Six Nations 2022: Wales v Italy preview, team news & key stats

Wales take on Italy on Saturday with only pride on the line for both teams following disappointing Six Nations.

Fifth-placed Wales delivered a much-improved performance in defeat by France in round four, and can still finish third with a bonus-point victory and favourable results elsewhere.

Lock Alun Wyn Jones will become the first player to reach 150 caps for one nation, with an emphatic win expected.

Captain Dan Biggar will become the seventh Welsh player to reach 100 caps.

The fly-half believes Wales were the better team in losing last week's contest against Grand Slam-chasing France and they next face a side whom they have beaten in each of the past 16 meetings.

Italy — who once again will finish bottom of the standings — are searching for their first Six Nations win since 2015 to end a miserable run of 36 defeats in the tournament.

Biggar continues to lead the team despite the return of Wales' long-term captain, with Jones replacing Will Rowlands at lock in one of seven changes.

Johnny McNicholl, Louis Rees-Zammit, Willis Halaholo and Gareth Davies are recalled in the backline, while Dewi Lake and Dillon Lewis are selected up front.

Liam Williams, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Tomos Williams, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis are dropped from the match-day squad.

Italy make two changes to the side beaten by Scotland, with full-back Ange Capuozzo making his first start after scoring twice from the bench last weekend.

He replaces Pierre Bruno, with Edoardo Padovani switching to the wing, while Marco Fuser is preferred in the second row to Niccolo Cannone, who drops to the bench.

Eddie Butler: «Of all the predictions this is the least demanding: Wales will win. Wales will play with purpose and width and find freedom at last.

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