Darry Worthington takes a look at the first of this weekend’s Six Nations games, which will see cellar-dwellers Italy play host to log leaders Wales on Saturday the 13th of March.
Image Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
This a ‘David versus Goliath clash in store this coming weekend as undefeated Wales take on an Italian side that has suffered heavy defeats in their opening game and head into this one with a points differential of -101.
The Welsh will be out to claim a bonus-point win that would see them up their log points tally to 19 with a round to go, while Italy will be looking to make a game of it against a Dragons side that is breathing fire at the minute.
Italy v Wales
Saturday 13 March
Stadio Olimpico
16:15
To Win (80 Mins)
Italy 14/1
Draw 33/1
Wales 1/100
Handicap
Italy (+25.5) 9/10
Wales (-25.5) 9/10
Italy
It’s been yet another miserable old Six Nations for the Italians who have been well and truly beaten in their opening three games going down 10-50 to France in their opener before being beaten 41-18 by a struggling English side and then 10-48 by the Irish. While they have shown a couple positive signs – they’ve actually created some really good try-scoring opportunities in most of their games – the Italians seem to be nowhere near closing the gap on Europe’s big five sides.
The Italians could be in for yet another cricket score concession here, well at least if last year’s Six Nations result against the Welsh was anything to go by. The fixture saw them go down 42-0. Ironically enough, the aforementioned win was actually Wales’ only victory in last year’s tournament.
Wales
Things have certainly changed for Wales over the past 12 months, From finishing second to last in 2020, the Dragons are now primed to claim the Six Nations title and have already bagged the ‘Triple Crown’ courtesy of their highly impressive 40-24 victory over England in the last Round.
While they will be desperate to garner a bonus point win that would put them in the pound seat for this year’s title, we can expect a couple changes to the Welsh starting line-up here. I would expect to see Callum Sheedy start ahead of Dan Biggar at 10 while George North is likely to be rested as well.
Verdict: Wales (-)
Wales will be gunning for that bonus-point win, and if their attack fires like it did against the English a fortnight ago then Italy are in for a long old afternoon.
