Preview: Italy Women vs Wales Women

Wales will hope to secure third place in the 2023 TikTok Women's Six Nations table when they face Italy at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Super Saturday. 

However, they should be wary of the Azzurre, with Giovanni Raineri's side eager to bounce back from their Round 4 29-21 defeat against Scotland.

A win of any kind or a losing bonus point will be enough for Ioan Cunningham's team to finish third, while Italy can still move up to fourth if they win and Scotland lose.

Wales impressed in the second half of their 39-14 defeat against France last time out.

So, ahead of this crucial Super Saturday clash, let's take a look at the key talking points.

Team news

Giovanni Raineri has made one change from his side’s narrow 29-21 defeat to Scotland, with Sara Barattin returning to captain the side at scrum-half in her final international match.

Meanwhile, Wales head coach Cunningham has made five changes for Wales’ Six Nations finale.

Front row forwards Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu return to the starting XV having come off the bench in Round 4.

The other change in the forwards sees Alex Callender return at flanker, while scrum-half Keira Bevan will start in the backs.

Stat attack

● Italy have lost just one of their last eight TikTok Women’s Six Nations matches against Wales (W6 D1), however, the only two games they have failed to win during that run both came at home – each of the last four Championship games between Italy and Wales have been decided by margins of just seven points or fewer.

● Italy have won just one of their four games so far in this year’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations (L3), however, they have won five of their last seven Round 5 fixtures in the Championship, including last year against Wales (10-8).
● Italy have won two of their last three home games in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations (L1) including their most recent (24-7 v Ireland) after losing three in a row previously – the seven points they conceded in that match was their lowest at home in the Championship since they last hosted Wales (3-3 in 2019).

● Wales have lost each of their last two games in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations after winning their first two of the 2023 campaign, however, they have not won three games in a single Championship since 2009, when they won four (L1).

● Wales have won two of their last four away games in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations (L2) after winning just one in 11 previously (D1L9), however, they have lost on all three previous occasions that they’ve played away from home in Round 5 since Italy joined the competition