Wales Team to Face Italy: Taulupe Faletau Returns After 16 Months
Wales is gearing up for a crucial clash against Italy as Taulupe Faletau makes his long-awaited return to the national team after 16 months. Head coach Warren Gatland announced the team lineup in Nice ahead of their match at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
Faletau, who last played for Wales in October 2023 before suffering a broken arm, missed the recent defeat to France due to a knee injury. However, the experienced No. 8 has been training in Nice and is poised to make his comeback against Italy.
In addition to Faletau’s return, Eddie James is set to replace the injured Owen Watkin in the starting lineup. James, who will earn his first Test start, joins the team after making several appearances off the bench in the past year.
Gatland has made a total of two changes to the starting XV from the previous match, with Henry Thomas and Evan Lloyd retaining their spots following a solid performance in Paris. The Wales coach has emphasized the importance of accuracy and discipline ahead of the Italy match, acknowledging the challenge posed by the physical Italian side.
The upcoming game holds significant importance for Wales, as they seek to end a 13-Test losing streak and secure their first Six Nations victory in two years. A loss against Italy could potentially spell the end of Gatland’s tenure as the national team coach.
On the bench, Aaron Wainwright returns after recovering from a facial injury sustained in the last match. With Faletau back in the lineup, Wainwright will provide cover in the back row, while Dan Edwards retains his spot in the matchday squad.
Gatland expressed his excitement for the upcoming challenge, highlighting the hard work put in by the team during training. The coach stressed the importance of execution and game management against a quality Italian side.
The full Wales team to face Italy is as follows:
– Liam Williams
– Tom Rogers
– Nick Tompkins
– Eddie James
– Josh Adams
– Ben Thomas
– Tomos Williams
– Gareth Thomas
– Evan Lloyd
– Henry Thomas
– Will Rowlands
– Dafydd Jenkins
– James Botham
– Jac Morgan (captain)
– Taulupe Faletau
Replacements:
– Elliot Dee
– Nicky Smith
– Keiron Assiratti
– Freddie Thomas
– Aaron Wainwright
– Rhodri Williams
– Dan Edwards
– Blair Murray
As Wales prepares to take on Italy, the focus is on ending their losing streak and securing a crucial victory in the Six Nations tournament. The team will be looking to Faletau’s experience and leadership to make a difference on the field as they face a determined Italian side.