Star duo set for milestone appearances – Wales v Italy talking points

Wales conclude their Guinness Six Nations campaign when they tackle Italy at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Saturday.

It has proved a frustrating campaign for last season’s champions, losing three games, albeit the last two defeats – against England and Scotland – were by a total of eight points, while Italy are again resigned to finishing bottom of the championship.

Here, the PA news agency assesses some key talking points heading into the game.

After a dismal display on the tournament’s opening day in Dublin, losing 29-7 against Ireland, Wales could secure a top-three finish if they beat Italy with a bonus point. Should results involving England and Scotland then also go their way, then Wales would complete the podium places behind France and Ireland, who are battling it out for the title. Given pre-tournament injuries to several key personnel – the likes of George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens and Justin Tipuric have played no part in the competition – it would represent a reasonable outcome for head coach Wayne Pivac, who has considerable credit in the bank following last season’s Six Nations title triumph.

Wales’ Six Nations finale will be a red-letter day for two of the finest players in Welsh rugby history – Dan Biggar and Alun Wyn Jones. Fly-half Biggar becomes only the seventh Welshman to win 100 caps, while Jones enters new territory for the world game as his 150th Wales cap beckons. It is fitting that their milestones will be reached in Cardiff, when an expected crowd of more than 60,000 can pay suitable homage. Biggar was planning a coffee with his team-mate this week to decide who will lead Wales out, but it would be no surprise to see them take the field together.

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