Wales predicted team v Italy: Warren Gatland rests hopes on ‘all-time great’ in ‘Wooden Spoon decider’
From left to right: Warren Gatland, Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau
Games don’t get much bigger than this for Wales, given the truly terrible run of form they’re on, but this is a chance for them to change the narrative.?
Wales have lost 13 Tests on the spin now following their disastrous 43-0 loss against France last weekend, and their last competitive win came against Georgia in the World Cup; however, a win against Italy would surely generate new life into the national side.
Simply put, this is an absolute must-win for Wales this weekend. After all, it’s essentially a Wooden Spoon decider.
But, with so much riding on the result of the game, what will head coach Warren Gatland do with his team? Will he throw the dice and make some changes? Or, will he give last weekend’s team another chance?
Without further ado, here is our best bet at how Wales will line up this weekend.
15 Liam Williams
Experienced back Liam Williams should keep his spot in the starting XV this weekend. In times like this, a player with his Test level know-how is vital if they want to get themselves back to winning ways, and his touch of class could get their attack firing too.
14 Tom Rogers
Had a pretty steady game last weekend, despite the result, and should feel good coming into Italy as a result. He posed a serious threat both in the air and with ball-in-hand against France, and if Wales can fix their kicking game up could be a really good weapon in their arsenal.
13 Nick Tompkins
Needs a big game to prove why Gatland is continually backing him in the starting XV, especially with wholesale changes looming should they lose.
12 Ben Thomas
With the injury to Owen Watkin, you’d think Ben Thomas will return to his favoured position of 12 this time out. He did get Wales playing some nice attacking rugby when they had concentrated periods of possession against France, and now acting as that second ball-player in the backline he could play a crucial role in getting them purring.
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11 Josh Adams
Another vastly experienced head now in Josh Adams, who will need to step up if his team want to get a result in Rome. The winger is, when at his best, a really explosive and powerful carrier, and that is something Wales need right now.
10 Dan Edwards
A week on from making his Test debut, young Ospreys starlet Dan Edwards should come into the starting XV this weekend. He gave it a good go under challenging circumstances last time out, but his form for Ospreys shows just how good a player he is, and he gets a proper chance to prove that at Test level against Italy.
9 Tomos Williams
Despite a mixed bag against France, Tomos Williams is such a classy player and has the X-factor to potentially get his team over the line. As he has proved for both Gloucester and Wales this season, he can generate serious tempo for an attack and poses a threat around the breakdown too.
8 Taulupe Faletau
One of Wales’ all-time greats is back in the starting line-up! Taulupe Faletau has had his injury issues in recent years, but has proved time and time again that he is a world-class operator and could give the pack a serious boost. Crucially, he is also another experienced head to add to the mix.
7 Jac Morgan
Genuinely world-class, and his monumental performance last weekend proved that. If Wales had won last weekend, his display might have been remembered as one of the greatest in Six Nations history, but that standard of performance is what he delivers week in and week out. Just a brilliant, brilliant player.
6 Aaron Wainwright
It’s a harsh call dropping James Botham, but with the return of Faletau, it should push Wainwright back to the six shirt. The Dragons’ big bopper was a bright spark in a dark 2024 for the national side, and his brand of sheer physicality will be pivotal against a strong Italian pack.
5 Dafydd Jenkins
Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins might not have the captain’s armband this year, but he looked every bit a leader in Paris despite the loss. He just runs his blood to water for his side, and gets through so much work in the tight exchanges. Jenkins is also a top lineout operator too.
4 Will Rowlands
You’d imagine Will Rowlands will once again join Jenkins in the engine room, given his busy showing against France. Like Jenkins, he just gets himself about around the park, and gets stuck into the ugly stuff.
3 Henry Thomas
Held his end of the scrum up pretty well, and that should mean Henry Thomas retains the three shirt. He will come under the pump again this weekend though, so needs to replicate this scrummaging performance.
2 Evan Lloyd
Despite picking up a cheap yellow last time out, his work in the set-piece, particularly at the lineout, should keep Evan Lloyd in the starting XV. Needs a stronger game around the park to keep Elliott Dee at arm’s length.
1 Gareth Thomas
Like H. Thomas, Ospreys man Gareth Thomas did a decent job in the scrum and will need a strong showing again given the strength of the Italian pack. He also gets through lots of work around the park.
Replacements: 16 Elliott Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Eddie James, 23 Blair Murray
The bench should have a fairy similar look to it this time around. Front-row replacements Elliott Dee, Nicky Smith and Keiron Assiratti gave a good account of themselves upon their entry last time out, particularly in the scrum, and will look to make the same impact again this time around. The only major change will come in the back division, with Eddie James coming in following Dan Edwards moving into the starting line-up.
