Just one last quick reminder of how the table looks before this afternoon's game kicks off.

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Welsh fans sing loud and proud, there's a decent sea of red in the Italian capital.

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Head-to-head

• Italy haven't beaten Wales at home for 16 years since a 23-20 victory in 2007.
• However, the Azzurri won their last Six Nations match against the Welsh, triumphing 22-21 in Cardiff in March 2022.
• Warren Gatland has won all of his 12 Six Nations Tests against Italy as a head coach - 10 with Wales and two in charge of Ireland.

Italy

• Italy have lost all 24 home games in the Six Nations since beating Ireland in 2013, the longest losing run at home by any team in the championship's history.
• However, the Azzurri have scored 20 or more points in each of their last three Six Nations home games, after failing to do so in any of their past nine before this run.

Wales

• Wales have lost their opening three fixtures of a Six Nations campaign for just the third time.
• They've lost 12 of their past 15 games, including the past six Tests in the Six Nations, their worst run since losing seven in a row between 2002 and 2003.

Italy head coach Kieran Crowley: "We've recovered well since the last game and this week we've been working on the areas where we needed to improve.

"We know the challenge ahead against Wales and look forward to playing and hope to be able to continue to develop the way we want to play."

Wales head coach Warren Gatland: "We've been disappointed with the results so far and for me it's hard to take as it's the first time I've lost three games in the Six Nations with Wales.

'We've had a lot of things going on off the field as well but there are no excuses.

"The message to the players has been that we have to be smart in terms of the way we play but we've also got to be brave."

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The players have emerged from the tunnel and into the Italian sunshine of the Stadio Olimpico.

They line up for the anthems, starting with Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

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Wing legend Shane Williams says this is "a big, big game for Wales" and they are going to "have to play their best rugby so far in the tournament" to come away from Rome victorious.

Williams, Wales' all-time leading try-scorer with 58, believes head coach Warren Gatland has made some "big calls" by recalling scrum-half Rhys Webb, leaving out veteran lock Alun Wyn Jones and retaining centres Mason Grady and Joe Hawkins, who are "very young but tremendously talented".

"There is huge pressure on the team and Gatland today," Williams told BBC Radio Wales. "He has come out in the press and said ‘we are winning on Saturday', which is a gutsy call.

"Italy are playing some lovely rugby, they are capable of scoring tries and are having a real go at teams. They pushed France all the way and tore the Irish defence to shreds at times.

"They are probably favourites for this game - at home, with the sun shining, full of confidence. They're one of the fittest Italian sides I’ve seen. They will play for the full 80 minutes.

"Wales will know that. They are going to have play really well today. It’s going to be interesting, but I'm hoping for a great game."

Gareth Delve
Former Wales international on BBC Radio Wales Extra

The man who is going to have the biggest say on the game today is Rhys Webb, he has the ability to unpick the Italian defence.

Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins says the current Italy side is the best he has ever seen.

Jenkins has come up against the Azzurri as a player and then as a coach for the best part of the last 30 years.

Gareth Thomas
Former Wales captain on ITV

I genuinely believe this is one of the biggest games in Welsh rugby history.

Wales could lose back-to-back games against Italy, you would never had said that before.

You have to tip your hat to how far Italy have come.

But then if Wales lose you have to wonder how Wales have gone backwards so far in such a short space of time.

Philippa Tuttiett
Former Wales international on BBC Radio 5 Live

This was probably one of the most embarrassing games for Wales last year when Italy beat them, players who were involved in that fixture they should be climbing the walls, ready to get out in to this fixture and rip in to Italy.

Wales will be hoping last night's under 20s encounter isn't a sign of things to come.

Wales fell to a 29-25 defeat in Treviso to remain winless in the competition.

Byron Hayward's side head to France next week propping up the table, but they do have three bonus points to their name.

You can read the match report here.

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Brian O'Driscoll
Former Ireland captain on ITV

This is not a five nations plus one, where everyone beats that team [Italy].

You want Italy to be competitive and we've had to wait quite a while.

They are 23 years in the competition and finally they are showing these real green shoots of positivity and potential.

Some things are worth repeating.

Watch former Wales captain Sam Warburton apologise to the Italians live on air last month.

In 2021 he said the Azzuri were not good enough to compete in the Six Nations.

But after strong displays against the world's top two teams - Ireland and France - in this year's tournament - Warburton was left with egg on his face!

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While Wales have dominated the head-to-head meetings with Italy, it's often the defeats that are remembered.

The first in 2003 was marked by an infamous smile from captain Colin Charvis from the replacements bench.

It led to a Welsh newspaper poll ridiculously placing him as the second most-hated man in the world between Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden.

Four years later, Gareth Jenkins' side also fell foul of the Italians.

Referee Chris White blew the final whistle despite telling captain Gareth Thomas and fly-half James Hook seconds beforehand they had time to kick the ball to the corner and attempt a match-winning try.

Will we see more controversy today?

Gareth Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales at Stadio Olimpico

There are more Wales players training in the Rome sunshine than there normally would be ahead of an international.

This is because Warren Gatland has brought a 33-strong squad ahead of away matches in Italy and France.

Wales will travel to Nice tomorrow to train before heading to Paris for the final game of the tournament on 18 March.

It is designed to help prepare for the World Cup in France later this year.

It has been a tough stint for Ken Owens since taking over the captain's armband.

The Scarlets hooker has not only had to deal with poor results on the pitch, but huge turmoil off it.

Players threatened not to play against England in protest at the continued financial uncertainty within Welsh rugby, before deciding to take the field.

Owens continues to be at the heart of discussions with Welsh rugby bosses.

He says it has been an emotional time, but calls on his side to show some pride in Rome today.

Sara Orchard
BBC rugby union commentator

Rightly or wrongly neither Italy or Wales are expected to win their final games so arguably this match is a wooden spoon shootout.

The pressure will hang heavily on Wales who continue to play with the weight of a country's rugby troubles on their shoulders.

While the loss of talisman and attacking inspiration Ange Capuozzo is significant for the Italians, they go into the match as favourites.

They can also end a 24-game run of consecutive home losses in the Six Nations by playing an attractive brand of rugby that hasn't failed to entertain on Roman soil so far this Championship.

Warren Gatland has shuffled his deck more than any other coach during this Six Nations.

He's made a staggering 21 changes so far, with more likely against France next week.

But is he any closer to knowing Wales' best starting XV with just four more selections before the Rugby World Cup?

Read more: Time running out on Warren Gatland's rotations

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