Italy will be looking for their second win of the campaign when they take on the Welsh in a battle to avoid the Six Nations’ wooden spoon. Darry Worthington previews.
2024 Six Nations – Wales v Italy
Saturday 16 March -16:15
Millenium Stadium, Cardiff
The Azzurri will be on a high and have tasted success at the Millenium Stadium in recent years beating the Dragons 21-22 at the venue back in 2022. The sides now go head to head in a bid to avoid the Six Nations‘ wooden spoon.
To Win Match
Wales 1/3 | Draw 25/1 | Italy 24/10
Handicap
Wales (-8.5) 9/10 | Italy (+8.5) 9/10\
Last week’s 24-45 defeat to France sums up this young Dragons side rather nicely; plenty of fire in the belly but still a bit naïve.
Warren Gatland’s young guns came out of the blocks flying against Les Bleus and led proceedings 24-20 just after half-time. Unfortunately for Gatland and his young charges, the French found their groove and launched a final quarter Blitzkrieg which saw them score three tries and knock over a couple of penalties to put a lot of gloss on what should have been a far tighter scoreline.
While the Welsh will be disappointed with their second-half showing, the Italian will be delighted with theirs as they held off the Scots to claim a 31-29 victory.
The Italians, who had run England and close and drew with France, will be happy with their game management in the final throes of last weekend’s encounter – is an area of the game in which they have struggled of late.
Moving to this weekend’s encounter; it should be an interesting one with both sides showing a lot of bravery with ball-in-hand throughout the tournament. And despite being adrift at the bottom of the table, both of these sides are certainly on the up.
Verdict: Italy (+8.5) 9/10
This is another fixture that should go the distance which i why I think the sensible play is on the Italian plus line.
