Italy vs Wales: Unchanged Squad Aims High

Wales names unchanged starting XV for Italy Six Nations match

Wales rugby team, led by coach Steve Tandy, faces Italy in the Six Nations Championship finale at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

Italy, currently fourth in the Six Nations standings, aims to win three matches in a single campaign for the first time...

Wales coach Steve Tandy has kept faith with his team, naming an unchanged starting lineup for their Six Nations finale against Italy on Saturday. They're looking to break a 15-game losing streak in the competition, and Tandy believes the team's cohesion and consistency, showcased in their recent Ireland match, make them a strong contender.

Wales put up a good fight against Ireland, losing 27-17 in Dublin, and showed improvement from their previous match against Scotland, where they narrowly lost 26-23. Tandy's decision to stick with the same team reflects his confidence in their abilities, and they're eager to capitalize on their home advantage at the Principality Stadium.

Tandy's opted for continuity, sticking with the players who did duty in Ireland as Wales tries to end their barren run on a high. The halfback pairing will be Dan Edwards and Tomos Williams, with Joe Hawkins and Eddie James in midfield. Up front, the back three will feature wings Josh Adams and Ellis Mee, with Louis Rees-Zammit at fullback. 

Captain Dewi Lake leads the pack, flanked by props Rhys Carre and Tomas Francis in the front row. Dafydd Jenkins and Ben Carter form the lock pairing, with a dynamic loose trio of Aaron Wainwright, Alex Mann, and James Botham providing the engine. 

“Having an unchanged team, I think it reflects the cohesion and the consistency in the group ‌and the consistency of performance out in Ireland,” Tandy said.

“This week we need to go up another level. We've had some really good performances. I think there were parts against France, then we built up into the Scotland game where I thought we were very good.

“Against Ireland we stepped up to the plate physically. Now it's putting it all together and creating our best performance this weekend.”

Italy are coming into this match on a high, having won their last two visits to Cardiff and three of their previous four tests against Wales. They're riding a wave of confidence after beating England for the first time ever last weekend. 

Three years on from Wales’ last Six Nations win in Rome — none of the try-scorers from that day will feature against Italy this weekend. ⁰⁰A lot has changed since the 29–17 victory in 2023, with only nine players from that matchday squad still part of the current group. Wales… pic.twitter.com/cDT3M6jedp

— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) March 11, 2026

Wales team 

15-Louis Rees-Zammit; 14-Ellis Mee, 13-Eddie James, 12-Joe Hawkins, 11-Josh Adams; 10-Dan Edwards, 9-Tomos Williams; 1-Rhys Carre, 2-Dewi Lake (captain), 3-Tomas Francis, 4-Dafydd Jenkins, 5-Ben Carter, 6-Alex Mann, 7-James Botham, ⁠8-Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: 16-Ryan Elias, ⁠17-Nicky Smith, 18-Archie Griffin, ‌19-Adam Beard, 20-Olly Cracknell, 21-Kieran Hardy, 22-Jarrod Evans, 23-Blair Murray.