Six Nations 2019: Italy vs Wales score prediction, line-ups, odds, live stream, TV, h2h

Italy vs Wales

Six Nations 2019

Venue: Stadio Olimpico

Kick-off: 16.45 GMT, Saturday February 9

Wales have probably "forgotten how to lose" said Warren Gatland after watching his side overturn a 16-0 half-time deficit to secure a remarkable 24-19 comeback victory over the self-sabotaging French in a wet Paris on Six Nations opening night.

While George North ruthlessly capitalised on blunders from Yoann Huget and Sebastien Vahaamahina to secure a 10th successive victory, there was a huge element of luck involved and the outgoing head coach cannot have been happy with his side's error-strewn first-half display.

A trip to Rome nevertheless offers Wales the chance to build up some serious momentum before the visit of England to Cardiff after the first break on February 23.

70 minutes of their 18th straight competition loss to Scotland was a familiar tale of woe for Italy, but Conor O'Shea will have drawn encouragement from the ruthless manner in which the Azzurri took advantage of their brief numerical advantage and ran in three late tries.

However, there will no doubt be a nagging feeling that their best chance to end that dismal losing run has already passed amid ongoing questions from some over their continued participation in the tournament.

We can see by Benetton's impressive performances in the Pro 14 - they currently sit second behind Leinster in Conference B - and international wins over the similarly-ranked Fiji, Japan and Georgia that there is some progress being made in Italian rugby, but that will surely need to translate onto the Six Nations stage sooner rather than later.

Team news and line-ups

Italy will show two changes from the team beaten in Scotland, with Nicola Quaglio replacing Andrea Lovotti (flu) at loosehead.

Michele Campagnaro shifts back inside as Edoardo Padovani comes onto the right wing and Tommaso Castello drops out of the matchday squad altogether.

Guglielmo Palazzani retains his place at scrum-half as Tito Tebaldi continues to struggle with a back problem that led to his withdrawal before kick-off at Murrayfield.

Italy XV: Hayward; Padovani, Campagnaro, Morisi, Esposito; Allan, Palazzani; Quaglio, Ghiraldini, Ferrari; Sisi, Budd; Negri, Steyn, Parisse (c)

Replacements: Bigi, Traore, Pasquali, Ruzza, Barbini, Gori, McKinley, Benvenuti

Gatland has made 10 changes to his starting lineup, with Jonathan Davies handed the captain's armband for his 70th cap as regular skipper Alun Wyn Jones heads to the bench.

Liam Williams, Josh Adams, Adam Beard and Josh Navidi are the only other players to retain their starting berths from Paris, with the latter moving from the blindside to No8.

Thomas Young, Aaron Wainwright and Jonah Holmes all make their first Six Nations starts.

Wales XV: L Williams; Holmes, J Davies (c), Watkin, Adams; Biggar, A Davies; N Smith, Dee, Lee; Ball, Beard; Wainwright, Young, Navidi

Replacements: Elias, W Jones, D Lewis, A Wyn Jones, Moriarty, G Davies, Anscombe, Amos

Score prediction: Italy 14-40 Wales

Italy can never be accused of lacking commitment and will be keen to put on a performance at home, though their display for most of the clash with Scotland suggests they are very unlikely to spring any major shocks between now and the end of the Six Nations.

Wales' starting XV features several fresh second-string players eager to stake their respective claims ahead of the visits of England and Ireland to Cardiff, which are sandwiched between a tricky outing to Murrayfield.

A Welsh win feels inevitable, but the question is by how many.

Betting tips via Betfair | UK users only | Subject to change

Match odds

• Italy to win: 11/1

• Draw: 45/1

• Wales to win: 1/20

Click here to find the latest match odds and place a bet.

TV channel and live stream, and online coverage

ITV and the BBC are sharing broadcasting rights for the Six Nations for the third successive year, with ITV hosting Italy v Wales on its main free-to-air channel and via the ITV Player.

You can also follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog.

Head to Head record and history (h2h)

Wales have won 23 of 26 matches between the two countries, with one hard-fought 18-18 draw coming at the Millennium Stadium in 2006.

The first of Italy's two victories over the Welsh came back in 2003, while they also won 23-20 in Rome four years later courtesy of Mauro Bergamasco's 77th-minute try.

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