Wales vs Italy LIVE: Latest score and updates as hosts seek long-awaited Six Nations win against Azzurri – UK Times

Italy are no longer content with being Six Nations underdogs and reflecting on their landmark win over England ‹last weekend, wing Louis Lynagh believes they can soon win the championship.

Saturday’s 23-18 win in Rome was Italy’s first-ever over England. They had beaten every other Six Nations side since joining the competition in 2000 except the English.

Italy also beat Scotland this year in their opening game, a side that can still win the title on the final day and Lynagh sees no reason why his side cannot be in that position too.

They visit bottom team Wales on Saturday in their final game of this year’s edition sitting fourth with nine points and could win three games in a single championship for the first time.

“A lot of our guys believe it,” Lynagh told Reuters.

“I feel this team can win the Six Nations, whether it’s next year or the year after or at some point. We’re no longer just a one-off. On our day, we can beat almost any team in the world.

“It’s kind of set a benchmark for ourselves. We’re here to win games and we’re here to really make a mark on every game.”

Wales boss Steve Tandy has challenged his players to “go up another level” after naming an unchanged side for their Six Nations finale against Italy.

Although bottom of the table and still searching for a first win of the tournament, Tandy has given a vote of confidence to the starting XV that pushed Ireland all the way in Dublin last week.

Wales were within one score until the 76th minute before losing 27-17 to Andy Farrell’s side.

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

“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.”

It speaks to the strides Wales are making that Steve Tandy was able to name an unchanged starting side for this game – just a single change to the matchday 23 is a first since the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

A search for a long-awaited success will need Wales to find another level, one feels – but they can count on the passion of a people ready for some better rugby news.

Wales go in search of a first Six Nations success in more than three years as Steve Tandy’s side host Italy in the final round of fixtures on “Super Saturday”. After vastly improved performances against Scotland and Ireland. hope is building that Wales can at last get over the line after 15 successive defeats – but they’ll have to be at their best to beat this history-making Italian side.

Kick off in Cardiff is at 4.40pm GMT.