Wales v Italy: Six Nations 2024 – live | Six Nations 2024

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Key events

28 min: The Principality erupts as North makes a break but Lamaro tackles him and wins the turnover. The Italian captain is having a great game. Garbisi clears.

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27 min: The Italian lineout is loose but they manage to clean up the scraps. They weave left and right trying to find a way to the line, they kick it to Lynagh but it’s loose again. Menoncello is then stripped and Wales are off.

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26 min: We restart with an Italian scrum and they win another penalty, they shout and pat each other on the back with that. Garbisi kicks to the corner and he makes great ground.

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24 min: Everyone is okay to continue here, I think it was Dee who needed some treatment. Steve Pospisil emailed and said: “I‘m in a very nice bar in Lyon, having scoffed a nice lunch and nursing a dodgy back in anticipation of Le Crunch this evening. It’s tough, but someone has to do it.”

This sounds incredible, I hope your back gets better though.

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24 min: Wales come away with the ball from the scrum, they run the ball through the hands and it looks like they are going to break but Ioane runs full pelt into Winnett and it dislodges the ball. Ioane has a beaming smile and claps after that, he loved that tackle. Slight break in play while a player receives some attention.

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23 min: Nothing comes of Negri’s actions. Wales do win a free kick, they opt for a scrum, after Italy refuse to move back in the line out. Bizarre few minutes if I‘m honest.

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22 min: It looked like Negri was shouting at Mann on the floor there, I think the TMO will check that in the background.

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MISSED CONVERSION! Wales 0-11 Italy (Garbisi, 20′)

It’s an awful kick but it’s still all Italy so far.

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TRY! Wales 0-11 Italy (Ioane, 20′)

Wow, they run it through the phases and get it to Ioane. He is always going to score from there.

Monty Ioane celebrates scoring a try for Italy. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images/Reuters
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19 min: Italy come alive! They have it through the hands quickly, Menoncello with a lovely line break. They have advantage for a breakdown penalty.

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18 min: Wales’ lineout is good and they decide to go with the maul this time. Williams whips it out from the back of the maul but Tompkins knocks on – another Italian scrum to come. It comes in, the referee says ‘stay square’, he doesn’t and Italy win a scrum penalty. They kick upfield, it’s not in penalty kickable range.

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17 min: Wales win a turnover this time and they kick upfield. Costelow though can’t find touch and Italy are able to clear. Such a scrappy game so far, particularly from Wales.

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15 min: Wales win a turnover from the restart and this time the hosts point to the sticks, this could be all penalties today. However, the referee has just got word from the TMO that an Italian player was obstructed by Dyer and so it is reversed.

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PENALTY! Wales 0-6 Italy (Garbisi, 14′)

It’s a great strike.

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13 min: John Barclay in the commentary box is coming in with comical comments, every time Wales’ attack falters he says things like ‘going backwards’, ‘slow ball’. It’s making me chuckle. Barclay isn’t wrong again though as Lamaro wins another turnover – Garbisi points to the sticks again.

Elliot Dee is tackled by Italy’s Lorenzo Cannone. Photograph: Ian Walton/Reuters
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12 min: It’s a clean Italian line-out but they kick it away, they win a lot of territory but Wales attack. It’s then kicked to Pani, who decides to run, he makes a good initial break but he is then tackled into touch.

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10 min: Wales go through two phases and Italy turn it over. They whip it to the wing and Ioane kicks, it’s charged down into touch. A really poor attacking play from Wales.

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10 min: Italy kick it away this time and Wales decide to run it, they win a breakdown penalty with Costelow kicking to the corner. It reaches the 22, a Wlesh line-out is clean and they opt to run it through the hands.

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8 min: Italy’s defence is holding strong and it inspires Wales to kick over the top. Dyer runs for it but Italy recover the ball, slight desperation from the Wales attack. They had gone through three or four phases before they chose to kick it away.

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PENALTY! Wales 0-3 Italy (Garbisi, 6′)

The ball stays on the tee, thankfully, and Garbisi strikes it sweetly.

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6 min: Wales launch an attack but slow ruck speed eventually leads to a knock on and we have our first scrum of the game. It’s a clean scrum from both sides and Italy whip it fast to Lynagh on the wing. However, Wales turn the ball over at the breakdown – a great defensive effort. But a few phases later Italy win a penalty, surely they will kick from here? Yes they point to the sticks.

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4 min: It ends with Ioane deciding to run it, a great break for the wing. He passes to Garbisi but as he looks to put in a grubber kick he is tackled and the chance is gone. Italy arguably starting the better so far, Wales’ ruck speed is so slow.

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2 min: Winnett catches the box kick from Varney and Wales start the first attack. They opt for a kick and a series of kicks begins.

Wales’ Josh Adams is tackled by Italy’s Stephen Varney and Tommaso Menoncello. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA
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Kick-off! Wales 0-0 Italy

So will Wales finish bottom of the Six Nations table for the first time in 21 years? Can Italy produce another heroic performance? All to come. Another thing to note, the roof is closed at the Principality and so the atmosphere is even more electric.

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George North is struggling to sing the anthem through tears, an emotional one for the centre.

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Peter Gibbs has emailed and said: “Hunkered down on a west coast beach on the Isle of Arran in my campervan for the day. It’s raining and blowy and I don’t care…Sarah, while I’m at it, can I just remind all that last night’s U20 rugby finale had everything.”

It really did Peter. The reaction from the England bench highlighted they got the job done the hard way. I hope the rain doesn’t dampen your day too much.

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The anthems are next and then we get underway.

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North leads out the Wales team on his last cap, the Principality rightly erupts. One of the best to ever do it, not only for Wales but ever. He has his solo moment and appluads the fans. A firework display for one of the most exciting Wales players of all time.

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George North bows out after 121 caps today, have a read of his retirement piece here:

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“I wish I was snacking on some McVities Blissfuls, but alas I am at Raleigh/Durham airport in North Carolina waiting for a work flight to Washington D.C., so instead I am nibbling on Hazelnut Cocoa Creme Filled Shortbread Cooke Cups from Lidl and rooting for Italy” Gregory Phillips says. “It was agonizing to see them miss out against France. But given this is in Cardiff and Wales know they’re up against live opponents, I think Italy will fall short, but heroically so.”

Your snack still sounds amazing and delicious. I hope it is just as nice as it sounds. Yes that draw for Italy was frustrating against France. I too think it will be a close game today, if Wales finish bottom (which they could do even with a win) it will be the first time they have done that in 21 years.

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Here’s a reminder too to change your fantasy team if you haven’t yet. You have until kick-off to change out players who have been benched or dropped.

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The last time the two teams played at the Principality Stadium Italy were the team celebrating. Ange Capuozzo set up the last try perfectly to give the visitors a 22-21 win. Can Italy replicate their heroics? We will soon find out.

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I’d love to hear from you! Where are you watching the game? What snacks have you got on the go? And any of your score predictions. I have a feeling Italy could take this one.

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New Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has had an immediate impact on the team, generating results already after being appointed in November. He was asked about his side’s match up against Wales in the build-up.

“A very difficult match awaits us,” he said. “The pressure will be on both teams. Wales are hungry for points, and they will say goodbye to one of their greatest players of recent years – George North.

In all, or almost all, of their (Six Nations) matches they had the opportunity to play on equal terms with their opponents for certain moments.

“In the second half against Scotland and in the first hour of the battles against England and France, so the defeats that have come are not really that bad.”

Photograph: Adam Davy/PA
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Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright, who has played really well this tournament, was put up to speak before they play Italy. He spoke passionately about the need for Wales to get a win in the tournament.

“It would be embarrassing,” Wainwright said of getting the wooden spoon. “We can’t afford to go out tomorrow and lose. We need to win. I don’t think anything else is acceptable.

“Massive respect to the Italians for what they’ve done so far in the tournament, but we are definitely going out there and getting a win to end the campaign on a high.”

Photograph: Dimitris Legakis/EPA
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Wales have made the most changes of any nation for the last round with Warren Gatland making five to his starting XV.

There is a new centre partnership with Nick Tompkins and George North back in the team. The game will be North’s last for Wales as he has announced his international retirement.

There is almost a new front row with Elliot Dee and Dillon Lewis coming in. Dafydd Jenkins moves back to the second row to make way for Alex Mann.

Wales: Cameron Winnett, Josh Adams, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Sam Costelow, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins (captain), Adam Beard, Alex Mann, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Dillon Harri O’Connor, Will Rowlands, Mackenzie Martin, Kieran Hardy, Ioan Lloyd, Mason Grady

Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

Italy, meanwhile, have made three changes to their starting team.

Full back Ange Capuozzo broke his finger against Scotland and so Lorenzo Pani comes in for him. Stephen Varney starts ahead of Martin Page-Relo at nine.

In the forwards, Lorenzo Cannone starts at number eight ahead of Ross Vintcent.

Italy: Lorenzo Pani; Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Montanna Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Stephen Varney; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Lorenzo Cannone

Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Andrea Zambonin, Ross Vintcent, Manuel Zuliani, Martin Page-Relo, Leonardo Marin.

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Preamble

Hello and welcome to the start of the Six Nations’ Super Saturday. It all kicks off in Cardiff as Wales take on Italy to see who will be left with the wooden spoon.

Wales are currently sat on the bottom of the table after losing every match so far. They have picked up three bonus points which puts them in contention for moving to fifth to overtake opponents Italy. It is something important to the team with Aaron wainwright saying it would be ‘embarrassing’ to finish the Six Nations without a win.

Italy have had a successful Six Nations despite being in fifth. They almost beat England in round one, were defeated by defending champions Ireland in round two, held France to a draw and then beat an in-form Scotland team last time out. If they draw or beat Wales today it will be the first time they go unbeaten in three games in the championship.

The team news has already been announced and so stay tuned for all the updates around that. Kick off coming at 2.15pm GMT.

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