Iain Bruce Naylor:, external Oh, Esposito.. on his debut, as well!

Natasha Oldham:, external Italy going down already!

Matt McMahon:, external Now that was sloppy! That Italian dude must have been watching England play cricket...

Robert Jones
Former Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Good driving play from the Wales forwards and one thing Wales will do is kick the ball but keep it on the park. It was kicked through and poor defensive play, you have to say. But you have to chase and put pressure on the opposition, and good to see the wingers involved early on."

Image source, Getty Images

Wales opt for touch and it's a steady line-out which sets the backs in motion, but it's awful defending which leads to Alex Cuthbert's try. Angelo Esposito fails to gather Rhys Priestland's kick ahead and Cuthbert pounces for a simple touchdown. Leigh Halfpenny does what he usually does, and that's bisecting the posts.

Robert Jones
Former Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Good work by Italy in terms of ball retention. But they became slightly isolated as Wales regained possession by getting the penalty. But a strong start by Italy and they've recycled the ball well."

The Italians probing but the home supporters respond by yelling "Wales! Wales! Wales!" 10th phase... 11th phase... but eventually the Italians crumble, with centre Alberto Agarbi conceding possession by holding on on the floor.

We're off and captain Alun Wyn Jones collects the ball safely before the hosts kick away possession and prepare themselves for an Italian attack.

Alun Wyn Jones is barging into a poor replacement to ensure he is ready for battle. The clock is ticking. Battle is about to commence. We're seconds away. Deep breaths...

Welsh Ruby Union on Twitter:, external Leigh Halfpenny (344 points) needs to score just 3 more points to overtake James Hook to become Wales' third highest points scorer.

An impeccably observed minute's silence before the national anthems are sung with gusto. Warren Gatland and Rob Howley, standing side-by-side, add their voices to the spine-tingling Welsh National anthem.

Image source, @rbs_6_nations

Alex Halpin:, external The Millennium Stadium is buzzing!

Rhys Evans:, external Come on Wales! Let's get this show on the road for a hat-trick of titles! Cymru am byth!

Gillian Jeffery:, external Wales will make it three in a row.

Italy and Newcastle lock Carlo Del Fava believes 20-year-old fly-half Tommaso Allan, a former Scotland youth international, can make a real impact during the 2014 Six Nations campaign.

"He is willing to kick and he is willing to run," he tells BBC One. "The coach is looking to mould him into a weapon for the future."

Image source, @RBS_6_NATIONS

Alun Wyn Jones leads his team into a wall of sound with fireworks and flames adding a touch of showbiz to proceedings. Here's a reminder of the players who made the cut:

Wales: 15-Leigh Halfpenny, 14-Alex Cuthbert, 13-Scott Williams, 12-Jamie Roberts, 11-George North, 10-Rhys Priestland, 9-Mike Phillips; 1-Paul James, 2-Richard Hibbard, 3-Adam Jones, 4-Luke Charteris, 5-Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 6-Dan Lydiate, 7-Justin Tipuric, 8-Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements : 16-Ken Owens, 17-Ryan Bevington, 18-Rhodri Jones, 19-Andrew Coombs, 20-Sam Warburton, 21-Rhys Webb, 22-James Hook, 23-Liam Williams

Italy: 15-Luke McLean, 14-Angelo Esposito, 13-Michele Campagnaro, 12-Alberto Sgarbi, 11-Leonardo Sarto, 10-Tommaso Allan, 9-Edoardo Gori; 1-Michele Rizzo, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 4-Quintin Geldenhuys, 5-Marco Bortolami, 6-Alessandro Zanni, 7-Mauro Bergamasco, 8-Sergio Parisse (capt).

Replacements :16-Davide Giazzon, 17-Alberto De Marchi, 18-Lorenzo Cittadini, 19-Joshua Furno, 20-Francesco Minto, 21-Tobias Botes, 22-Luciano Orquera, 23-Tommaso Iannon

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Wales' Sam Warburton on 5 live sports extra: "We've come into the camp and it feels very different. This is the Wales team, not the regions. We remain unaffected, everything goes to one side and the primary focus is to be successful in these Six Nations."

Wales head coach Warren Gatland on BBC One: "We have a chance to create history. Three straight Six Nations Championship victories has never been done before and it is nice to have something to focus on coming into the Championship."

Jeremy Guscott
Former England centre on BBC One

"Year after year the Six Nations is becoming more and more competitive. Who would have thought France would have finished bottom last year. You have to fancy the three teams with the three home games - Wales, France and Ireland. It's a really tough start for England. I think they'd rather be in Wales' position facing Italy. Stuart [Lancaster] has got the squad behaving well and the squad looked in good shape when I saw them in training in midweek."

Wales and Ospreys player Ryan Jones, who is out with a hamstring injury, tells BBC One: "I believe the team can make it three in a row. We've had a wonderful preparation and not had too many injuries. The squad is littered with world class individuals and is boosted by last year's win."

Robert Jones
Former Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"The Six Nations has become a great rugby event. It's grown in stature and it's become bigger and better, a tournament that everyone wants to play in and everyone wants to watch. With the chaos that has surrounded the Welsh game over the last few months it's nice not to focus on that and instead look at something positive."

For those of you who like voting, and who doesn't, you can take part in today's vote. The question is: who will win the Six Nations.

You can cast your vote on our new voting page., external Choose wisely, but remember - it's just for fun.

Erin Carey:, external Nothing beats the Six Nations!

Matthew Quanstrom:, external If Italy win this I'll buy everyone in Italy a pint...

Anwar Kherral:, external Even though I support England, I think Wales will win the championship.

Image source, @rbs_6_nations

Spectators are gradually filtering out of the hostelries and into the Millennium Stadium. There's a sprinkling of yellow around the stadium, with giant daffodil hats remaining de rigueur in the Welsh capital, the Italian team have formed a huddle on the pitch for one final rallying cry and the choir is singing Delilah. Marvellous.