Wales to click against Italy to claim fifth spot

Adam Kyriacou
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The fifth-place play-off between Wales and Italy at Parc y Scarlets is set to bring down the curtain on Saturday’s bumper schedule in the Autumn Nations Cup.

With points tallies of four and five in their respective group – Italy’s due to a cancelled match with Fiji – these two nations enter a game arguably neither wants to be involved in. However, there will be plenty of intensity and determination as Wales look to end 2020 on a high while for Italy any real win is key.

Indeed, it has been another disappointing 12 months for the Azzurri with defeats once again dominating their campaign. Wales haven’t been much better as they have beaten only Italy in February and Georgia in November, which has put pressure on head coach Wayne Pivac to unearth a balance between style and substance.

Strong XV

Caps have therefore not been handed out on a whim by Pivac for this fixture as it’s a strong XV named in Llanelli, with just one player making his first start. The backline is packed full of talent and we are excited to see a back three of Liam Williams, Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit cut loose if they get a chance.

One man looking to maximise that trio’s threat is fly-half Callum Sheedy, who is given another opportunity in the 10 jersey and should relish this situation. His leadership at Bristol Bears should prove invaluable for Wales on Saturday and he has already downplayed their run of results and believes wins are coming.

“We are not a million miles away from it clicking. Performances and results haven’t quite been there yet, but it is going to click soon,” he said confidently.

“It’s not easy when new coaches and players come in, when there is a bit of change. People shouldn’t expect it to happen overnight. We are a work-in-progress.

“We are creating opportunities,” he added. “It’s about being clinical and making sure we take those opportunities when they become available, because in Test rugby you might only get one, two or three opportunities. Test match level is just another level in terms of how quickly the defences put you under pressure.”

Italy may well be the perfect opposition for things to “click” as a tough end-of-year series could well catch up to them, with signs last week in the second half against France that things were beginning to unravel for Franco Smith’s charges. Fresh legs are brought in but one fears for the visitors if Wales find form early on. There’s quality throughout the hosts and they will hope for a similar showing that did for Italy 42-0 in Cardiff this year.

Players to watch:

For Wales: It will be a proud day for Ospreys hooker Sam Parry as he makes his first international start on Saturday. His form at regional level has always impressed and he gets the nod from kick-off this week and will be determined not to let this chance slip through his fingers. Ken Owens isn’t going to be around forever – unfortunately for Welsh supporters – so the hooker shirt is up for grabs and a busy, reliable performance would do Parry no harm at all.

For Italy: What a story it is for Stephen Varney as the Welsh-born scrum-half is handed a first start for Italy against the country of his birth. The script writers have done well here and Varney will now hope to carry his U20 form into the senior arena as he, along with half-back partner Paolo Garbisi, played in the team that beat Wales U20 earlier this year. We have seen that Garbisi can handle pressure at the highest level and expect Varney to do likewise.

Head-to-head: We look to the outside centre battle here as two powerful carriers clash in the shape of George North and Marco Zanon. North has been out of favour recently, having featured just once off the replacements bench in Wales’ matches, which includes their Six Nations finale against the Scots. Therefore the pressure will be on as he returns to the team against the Azzurri and comes up against an in-form operator in Zanon. The Italian has been powerful throughout his side’s recent games and is forming a settled midfield combination with Carlo Canna. Expect sparks to fly in the 13 channel in Llanelli.

Previous results:

2020: Wales won 42-0 in Cardiff
2019: Wales won 26-15 in Rome
2018: Wales won 38-14 in Cardiff
2017: Wales won 33-7 in Rome
2016: Wales won 67-14 in Cardiff
2015: Wales won 23-19 in Cardiff
2015: Wales won 61-20 in Rome
2014: Wales won 23-15 in Cardiff
2013: Wales won 26-9 in Rome
2012: Wales won 24-3 in Cardiff

Prediction: Wales dominated their Six Nations meeting in early 2020 and we just sense another comfortable win is on the cards. Wales by 20 points.

The teams:

Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Josh Adams, 13 George North, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Louis Rees-Zammit, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 James Botham, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Nicky Smith
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Leon Brown, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Jonah Holmes

Italy: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Luca Sperandio, 13 Marco Zanon, 12 Carlo Canna, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Stephen Varney, 8 Braam Steyn, 7 Johan Meyer, 6 Maxime Mbanda, 5 Niccolò Cannone, 4 Marco Lazzaroni, 3 Giosuè Zilocchi, 2 Luca Bigi (c), 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Simone Ferrari, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Cristian Stoian, 20 Michele Lamaro, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Federico Mori

Date: Saturday, December 5
Venue: Parc y Scarlets
Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce, Alex Ruiz
TMO: Pascal Gauzere

 

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