Wales 7-12 Italy rugby LIVE SCORE: Stream free, TV channel
WALES are welcoming captain Alun Wyn Jones back ahead of schedule as they take on whipping boys Italy in their final Six Nations match.
The lock dislocated his shoulder during the Autumn International defeat to New Zealand and had been thought likely to miss the entire tournament.
Wales’ title defence has not gone to plan so far as they have been beset by injuries and lost three of the four games they have played.
However, they did show signs of improvement last week as they pushed Grand Slam chasers France all the way.
And they will be expected to claim a second win of the campaign against the Italians.
Italy have not won a Six Nations match since 2015 and have yet to claim even a losing bonus point this year.
- Kick-off time: 2.15pm
- TV channel: BBC One/S4C
- Free live stream: BBC iPlayer
- Wales: 15-McNicholl, 14-Rees-Zammit, 13- Watkin, 12-Halaholo, 11-Adams, 10-Biggar (capt), 9-G Davies; 1-G Thomas, 2-Lake, 3-Lewis, 4-Beard, 5-A W Jones, 6-S Davies, 7-Navidi, 8-Faletau
Replacements: 16-Roberts, 17-W Jones, 18-Brown, 19-Rowlands, 20-Moriarty, 21-Hardy, 22-Sheedy, 23-Tompkins - Italy: 15-Capuozzo, 14-Padovani, 13-Brex, 12-Marin, 11-Ioane, 10-Garbisi, 9-Braley; 1-Fischetti, 2-Nicotera, 3-Ceccarelli, 4-Fuser, 5-Ruzza, 6-Pettinelli, 7-Lamaro (capt), 8-Halafihi
Replacements: 16-Bigi, 17-Traore, 18-Pasquali, 19-Sisi, 20-Cannone, 21-Steyn, 22-Fusco, 23-Zanon
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Wales 7-12 Italy
36. With only four minutes to go until half time, Italy will want to defend their lead.
A deep kick back into Welsh territory.
Wales drive into the Italian half.
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Wales 7-12 Italy
34. Italy are taking their chances so far today.
Both sides have given away too many penalties in these early stages but while Wales look to run the ball the Italians kick.
Points on the board working for the visitors currently.
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Penalty – Padovani (Italy)
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Wales 7-9 Italy
32. Italy hold Wales up well and win another penalty.
Despite conceding the try to Wales, Italy are not giving up on this game.
Padovani is going to go for goal.
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Penalty – Garbisi (Italy)
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Wales 7-6 Italy
30. Italy are awarded a penalty.
With Garbisi down on the ground injured, the visitors are not sure what to do.
Garbisi gets up and points to the posts.
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Wales 7-6 Italy
28. Italy let their guard down for a moment and are penalised.
Rees-Zammit heavily involved in the break that turned defence into attack for Wales.
The ball is switched to the other flank and Watkin receives the ball seeing space to capitalise on.
He sidesteps a few Italians and runs the ball in for a try.
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Wales 0-6 Italy
25. Alun Wyn Jones is penalised for offside as Garbisi clears.
Italy look for touch with the kick.
Giving the Italians a chance to try and find a hole in this Welsh defence.
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Wales 0-6 Italy
23. That isn’t something you see everyday.
Wales looked to take the quick tap penalty but the player didn’t tap the ball.
As a result the scrum put in is awarded to Italy who clear their lines.
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Wales 0-6 Italy
21. The fact that they have faced three five metre scums and not conceded will give Italy some confidence.
Rees-Zammit breaks through the lines towards the Italy corner.
Wales work the ball back inside but poor handling costs them again.
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Wales 0-6 Italy
19. The Italians are giving away a lot of penalties in their defence currently.
Wales not opting for the points, going for touch again.
The home side are looking for a try but the ball to Rees-Zammit is poor and the player knocks it on.
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Wales 0-6 Italy
17. Solid start by the Italians.
Italy penalised for taking the player off their feet.
Biggar opts for touch for the Welsh lineout close to the Italy line.
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Penalty – Padovani (Italy)
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Wales 0-3 Italy
15. Wales give away another penalty.
Looks like Italy fancy a go from distance here.
Padovani given the ball.
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Wales 0-3 Italy
13. Well the visitors haven’t read the script for today.
This is not the way the Welsh fans were expecting to celebrate their two milestone players today.
Italy really testing McNicholl in these early stages.
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Penalty – Garbisi (Italy)
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Wales 0-0 Italy
11. Italy will be happy with the start they have made so far.
No threats on their own try line from Wales.
Meanwhile, they are pinning Wales back deep in their own half.
Penalty to Italy.
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Wales 0-0 Italy
9. Italy are penalised for not releasing the ball.
Penalty to Wales.
Biggar finds touch towards the Italy try line.
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Wales 0-0 Italy
7. Both sides are trying to find chinks in their opponent’s armour.
Italy are kicking a lot to relieve the pressure defensively.
Wales receive the ball and look to drive back against the Italians.
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Wales 0-0 Italy
5. Italy under pressure in their own twenty-two.
Garbisi does well not to take the ball into touch.
Neither side seems to be finding touch with their kicking so far.
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Wales 0-0 Italy
3. The home fans are surprisingly quiet here as Italy dominate the early stages.
The visitors are going through phase after phase of play, testing Wales with their tactical kicks.
On this occasion it is too deep and Wales take the mark.
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Wales 0-0 Italy
1. First scrummage of the game on the halfway line.
Italy with the put in after holding up the Welsh drive and not allowing them to go to ground.
The ball is kicked deep into Welsh territory.
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Kick-off: Wales vs Italy
It’s a perfect day for some rugby.
In the spring sunshine Wales get the game underway.
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Sun-kissed Cardiff awaits
As Italy sing their national anthem, a packed Principality Stadium awaits.
They were in fine voice when Dan Biggar and Alun Wyn Jones took to the pitch for their 100th and 150th caps respectively.
The stadium will not erupt for the Welsh national anthem.
