Wales v Italy - Your guide to the Six Nations game

The Six Nations title is on the line in Dublin and Paris on Saturday but the wooden spoon is set to be handed out when Wales host Italy in Cardiff.

Steve Tandy's men look destined to finish bottom of the table but they are desperate to avoid a third successive clean sweep of defeats.

Wales have not won a Six Nations game since beating Italy in March, 2023, a losing streak that stretched to 15 games despite a determined display against Ireland last week.

Italy travel to the Principality Stadium in high spirits after a historic first win against England in Rome last Saturday.

After starting with a win against the Scots, the Azzurri are chasing three wins in a Six Nations for the first time and they are guaranteed to finish above the beleaguered English if they take the spoils in Cardiff.

The match kicks off at 16:40 GMT and there will be live audio commentary on BBC Sounds via BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 3, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.

The commentary will also be available on the BBC Sport website where you can follow blow-by-blow action with our live text commentary.

The match is being televised on BBC One and S4C.

For all the build-up and analysis, follow the rugby union section on the BBC Sport website.

The fixture is sandwiched by the Triple Crown showdown between Ireland and Scotland (14:10 GMT) and France's bid to seal the title against England (20:10 GMT).

Wales will name their team on Thursday morning and Steve Tandy has not named an unchanged XV all tournament.

The head coach must be tempted to go with the same again after a spirited showing against Ireland in Dublin, fitness permitting.

Influential number eight Aaron Wainwright was a doubt ahead of the game against the Irish and was replaced by Olly Cracknell in the second half.

Italy will be forced into at least one change after Benetton tight-head prop Simone Ferrari suffered a neck injury against England.

The 31-year-old has started all four games of the championship, winning man of the match in the win against Scotland, and is set to be replaced by either Muhamed ​Hasa or ⁠Giosue Zilocchi.

English referee Christophe Ridley will be in charge of Friday's game.

The official from Gloucestershire will be joined by England's Matthew Carley and Ireland's Eoghan Cross as his assistants.

Scotland's Mike Adamson is the television match official (TMO) with France's Eric Gauzins is in charge of the foul play review process (FPRO).

Wales' struggles are well documented - 15 Six Nations defeats on the bounce and just two wins against Japan since the last World Cup - but they are on an upward trend.

Tandy's side were abject against England in round one and then had their moments against impressive France.

Wales were agonisingly close to beating Scotland, who did not lead until the 75th minute at the Principality Stadium, and last Friday they made Ireland work hard for a 27-17 victory.

However, a pointless trip to Aviva Stadium means that they are almost certainly set to finish bottom of the table again.

A bonus point victory could see them level with England, but Steve Borthwick's side have a points difference of plus four before they go to Paris while Wales are on minus 96.

Italy started the championship with an 18-15 win against Scotland in the Rome rain and then arguably should have beaten Ireland in Dublin when edged out 20-13.

They were overpowered by France in Lille but responded with a superb 23-18 victory against England at Stadio Olimpico thanks to Leonardo Marin's late try.

The Azzurri, who beat Australia in the autumn, are 10th in the world rankings and the core of their side feature for a Benetton team who are seeded first in their bid for Challenge Cup glory.

Last year's meeting in Rome turned out to be the final game under Warren Gatland, with the head coach leaving in the aftermath of Wales' 22-15 loss.

Italy led 16-3 in challenging conditions and the visitors left it too late to avoid a 14th straight defeat despite Aaron Wainwright crossing and a penalty try, which left the Azzurri finishing with 13 men.

Wales won 29-17 in Rome in 2023 but Italy are hunting a third straight win in Cardiff.

They took the spoils 24-21 in 2024 when the scoreboard flattered Wales thanks to converted tries by Will Rowlands in the 79th minute and Mason Grady with the clock in the red.

The Azzurri stunned Wayne Pivac's Wales in 2022 when Ange Capuozzo - who is out injured this weekend - set up Edoardo Padovani for a last-gasp try that Paolo Garbisi converted.

Italy have won five games against Wales but start as favourites this weekend.

Their largest margin of victory was in 2003 when winning 30-22 at the Stadio Flaminio while their 2024 success is the biggest away from home.