Six Nations 2025:  Wales include Taulupe Faletau and Eddie James to face Italy 
2025-02-06
Category: sports

Men's Six Nations: Italy v WalesVenue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Date: Saturday, 8 February Kick-off: 14:15 GMTCoverage: Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales & BBC Radio Cymru; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app; watch on ITV1 and S4C.
Number eight Taulupe Faletau has been passed fit and centre Eddie James will make his first Wales international start in the Six Nations trip to Italy on Saturday.Head coach Warren Gatland has made two changes from the 43-0 drubbing by France in Paris with Faletau coming in for Aaron Wainwright and James replacing the injured Owen Watkin.Wainwright is named as a replacement after recovering from a facial injury suffered at the Stade de France, with Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell dropping out of the 23-man squad.Scarlets centre James, who has made three previous Wales replacement Test appearances, partners Nick Tompkins in another new centre combination with Ben Thomas staying at fly-half. The midfield trio all regularly play at inside centre for their professional sides.Wales will fly from their Nice training base to Rome on Thursday as they bid to avoid a 14th consecutive international defeat.
Faletau and Wainwright fitness boost
Cardiff number eight Faletau was unavailable to face France because of a knee issue.The 34-year-old has not played an international since the World Cup pool victory against Georgia in October 2023 because of a series of injuries.That was the last time Wales won a Test match with Gatland's side having since suffered 13 successive international defeats.Wainwright, 27, left the field in the fourth minute in Paris after taking a blow to his head but suffered no facial fracture or concussion.James, 22, comes in for Watkin who is ruled out of the rest of the tournament because he requires surgery for the serious knee injury suffered in Paris.
'Important week'
Gatland's side face an Italian outfit that were beaten 31-19 by Scotland in Edinburgh in the opening round of matches.Wales have not been beaten in Rome since 2007 and their last Six Nations victory was the away trip to Italy two years ago.This has been followed by seven consecutive defeats in the tournament and defeat this week will leave Gatland's squad contemplating consecutive Wooden Spoons with home matches against Ireland and England and a trip to Scotland to come.Another loss will also probably see Wales drop to a lowest position of 12th in the world rankings."This has been an important week with a lot of hard work put in during training," said Gatland."We want to be accurate and disciplined on Saturday. It's about our execution and how we manage the game."We know Italy are a quality side with physical players and are looking forward to a good contest. We're excited for the challenge on Saturday."Wales: L Williams; Rogers, Tompkins, James, Adams; B Thomas, T Williams; G Thomas, Lloyd, H Thomas, Rowlands, Jenkins, Botham, Morgan (capt), Faletau.Replacements: Dee, Smith, Assiratti, F Thomas, Wainwright, R Williams, Edwards, Murray.