The first action in Round 2 of the Six Nations comes from Rome on Saturday where Italy start as the bookmakers favourites for their clash with Wales
Italy v Wales, Saturday 8th February, Rome, KO 16:15 (South African time)
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZR), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
Weather Forecast: Rome
Italy
Italy were given around 17.5 points start on the bookmakers main handicap line for their Round 1 clash with Scotland at Murrayfield and Scotland came out on top 31-19.
Italy started badly in Edinburgh, conceding 2 tries in the first 10 minutes and although they steadied the ship they were 10 points down at half time. Early in the second half Ignacio Brex scored Italy’s only try and they restored parity at 19-19 before Scotland scored 2 further tires (and 5 in total) to put the game to bed.
In the 2024 Six Nations Italy finished fifth on the log, winning 2, drawing 1 and losing 2 of their matches including victory in Wales (24-21).
In the outright betting markets with WSB Italy are currently 1.85/1 to finish bottom of the standings
Fixtures & Results: R1 Scotland (a) lost 31-19, R2 Wales (h), R3 France (h), R4 England (a), R5 Ireland (h)
Wales
Wales were given around 27.5 points start on the handicap for their Round 1 clash with France in Paris but it proved nowhere near enough as they crashed and burned 43-0, conceding all of 7 tries in the most one sided of contests.
That was the first time that Wales had failed to score in a Six Nations game and their losing streak is now 13 test matches which includes all of last years Six Nations matches.
In the outright betting markets with WSB Wales are currently 11/20 favourites to finish with the wooden spoon
Fixtures & Results: R1 France (a) lost 43-0, R2 Italy (a), R3 Ireland (h), R4 Scotland (a), R5 England (h)
Team News
Italy: 15 Tommaso Allan, 14 Ange Capuozzo, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Dino Lamb, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Ross Vintcent, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Jacopo Trulla
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Eddie James, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Ben Thomas, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Jac Morgan (captain), 6 James Botham, 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Dan Edwards, 23 Blair Murray
Head to Head (6 Nations Only)
2024 6N Cardiff Wales 21-24 Italy
2023 6N Rome Italy 17-29 Wales
2022 6N Cardiff Wales 21-22 Italy #
2021 6N Rome Italy 7-48 Wales
2020 6N Cardiff Wales 42–0 Italy
2019 6N Rome Italy 15-26 Wales
2018 6N Cardiff Wales 38–14 Italy
2017 6N Rome Italy 7-33 Wales
The Betting
Updated 7 Feb 22h03
Italy -6.5 points
Wales +6.5 points
Note, odds quoted are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 6 Feb 07h18
After some early money for Italy the market has steadied and there may even be some support for Wales at +6.5 levels.
Total points is 46.5 and has been stable all week.
Posted 7 Feb 22h06
The handicap has edged back out to Italy -6.5 and the points line is in to 43.5 from 46.5 with some rain about.
My main play will probably be on the points and I will be back with my main bet closer to kick off.
For now though an interest in a win for Italy in a tight match.
BET: 2 units Italy win by 1-12 points inclusive at 6/4 at Sportingbet
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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