Wales v Italy
Wales v Italy - Preview
Martyn Thomas
September 4, 2015
Dominic Day has been given another chance to impress at lock © Getty Images
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Teams: Italy | Wales

Wales' final warm-up game before their Rugby World Cup campaign kicks off on Sep. 20 sees them take on Italy at the Millennium Stadium. Head coach Warren Gatland is able to welcome back captain Sam Warburton into an experienced team, but there is also a chance for a couple of fringe players to impress. The anxiety ahead of last Monday's final squad announcement has lifted and Gatland will be looking for an impressive home performance to carry forward the momentum gained in Dublin last weekend. Italy limp into the game on the back of a 48-7 hammering in Scotland and could be there for the taking.

Team news
Skipper Warburton returns for his first appearance in the warm-up schedule and is one of five changes to the starting XV that beat Ireland 16-10. Four are in the forwards - where Jake Ball, Dominic Day and James King also start - while Cory Allen is given a chance to impress at outside-centre, with Jamie Roberts rested and Scott Williams moved inside. Matthew Morgan is on the bench and is joined by two players - Kristian Dacey and Ross Moriarty - who were left out of the 31-man World Cup squad.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel is also able to welcome back his captain and talisman Sergio Parisse as one of seven changes to the XV that lost so convincingly in Scotland. Michele Rizzo, Quintin Geldenhuys and Andrea Masi are promoted from the bench last Saturday to start, while experienced scrum-half Edoardo Gori partners No.10 Tomasso Allan at half-back.

Key head-to-head
There are a few interesting battles in the forwards, but it is the front row where Italy might target Wales. The Azzurri were given a torrid afternoon at the scrum in Edinburgh last week, but with veteran Tigers loose-head Michele Rizzo up against the inexperienced Wales tight-head Tomas Francis, the Leicester prop will want to prove he can shore things up. Francis was steady on his Test debut last week but with Samson Lee's fitness still questionable Gatland will want to see a strong performance from his No.3 in Cardiff.

Key stats
* The 61 points Wales rattled up against Italy on the final day of the Six Nations in Rome was their biggest points total against the Azzurri.

* The hosts' biggest home victory over Italy was a 47-8 win in February 2008.

* Italy have never won in 11 attempts when playing Wales in Cardiff, coming closest with an 18-18 draw in 2006.

Odds
Unsurprisingly given the pair's record in Cardiff, Unibet have priced Wales at 1/34 to win the match, while offering odds of 9/1 for an Italy victory.

Weather
The forecast for Cardiff predicts a cloudy but sunny 16 degrees for kick off, meaning there should be little reason to close the roof. Other than to intimidate the Italians.

Prediction
Wales come into this game buoyed by the return of their captain, a hard-fought victory in Ireland last weekend and with a desire to put on a show in front of their home fans before the action proper starts. Yes, Italy have Parisse back but are no match for their hosts and will not be able to prevent a comfortable defeat.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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