By Country / Italy

Wales haven't beaten Italy for three years but Warren Gatland's brand of rugby matches up well to what Nick Mallett's men will throw at them up front with a tirade of front-row ball-carriers boshing it around the fringes.

It could be a perfect match-up where we could see a blood bath of clashing heads, huge hits and surging runs from Martyn Williams and Ryan Jones in red and Sergio Parrisse and Santiago Dellape in blue.

It's Wales' to lose and if Stephen Jones can get enough ball to give Mark Jones, Shane Williams and Gavin Henson room to manoeuvre out wide then the Welsh transformation from one-dimensional juggernauts into multitasking wizards will be complete.

Italy need to organise their line-out properly and if they can utilise their possession to good effect, then they will have a platform upon which to test the Welsh.

In Mauro Bergamasco they have one of the best in the business at reaping havoc at the breakdown and chasing lost causes in defence, but he's coming up against the form back-row trio.

Prediction: The forecast isn't for sunshine perfect for running rugby so it could be closer than the whole of Wales are expecting. Gatland and Shaun Edwards will have done their homework so for this reason, Wales to win by 10 points.

Date: Saturday, February 23

Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Kick-off: 15:00

Gloucester’s Marco Bortolami must settle for a spot on the bench after Nick Mallet made four changes to Italy’s line-up against Wales.

Andrea Marcato and Alberto Sgarbi come in for David Bortolussi and Kaine Robertson respectively in the back-three whilst scrum-half, Simon Picone, who brought the Azzurri within a whisker of upsetting England, replaces Pietro Travagli.

Andrea Lo Cicero has been culled from the front-row so Salvatore Perugini is brought in to add some mobility and muscle.

Team: 15 Andrea Marcato, 14 Alberto Sgarbi, 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Mirco Bergamasco, 11 Ezio Galon, 10 Andrea Masi, 9 Simon Picone, 8 Sergio Parisse (captain), 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Josh Sole, 5 Carlo Antonio Del Fava, 4 Santiago Dellapé, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Salvatore Perugini.

Replacements: 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Andrea Lo Cicero, 18 Marco Bortolami, 19 Alessandro Zanni, 20 Pietro Travagli, 21 Paolo Buso, 22 Enrico Patrizio.

Italy's hopes of getting off the mark in the RBS 6 Nations have been given a boost with the news that former captain, Marco Bortolami, could be fit for the Azzurri's clash against Wales on February 23.

Nick Mallett has named a 24-man squad with Bortolami, who has recovered from a fractured eye socket, the only change from the side that lost to England.

Squad: Mauro Bergamasco, Mirco Bergamasco, Marco Bortolami, David Bortolussi, Gonzalo Canale, Martin Castrogiovanni, Carlo Antonio Del Fava, Santiago Dellape, Carlo Festuccia, Ezio Galon, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lo Cicero, Andrea Marcato, Andrea Masi, Carlos Nieto, Sergio Parisse (captain), Enrico Patrizio, Salvatore Perugini, Simon Picone, Kaine Robertson, Alberto Sgarbi, Josh Sole, Pietro Travagli, Alessandro Zanni

"For God's sake stopping kicking the ball away" I quote Brian Moore, summed up England's disjointed and very much scappy victory.

Yet again, if it hadn't been for Jonny Wilkinson... Let's not even think what might have happened, but Brian Ashton & his coaching guru's clearly haven't got a game plan - well apart from kicking away possession and substituting your only leader with the opposition camped inside the England half.

England began at a canter with Wilkinson orchestrating a sumptuous run-in for Paul Sackey with a delicate chip and followed it with a deft off-load for Toby Flood to dive in the corner.

If the first half saw a controlled English marauder, Italy moved at a racehorse's pace. If only Italy could've thrown three accurate line-outs then Nick Mallet's men would've walked away with a richly-deserved triumph.

Sergio Parisse's unbelievable talismanic effort should've been rewarded and had Italy got 3 or 4 more Sergio's they could be one hell of a side!

Ultimately, England were toilet and Italy, under Mallet, look a rapidly improved side.

Match Details

England: Tries: P Sackey, T Flood Cons: J Wilkinson (2) Pens: J Wilkinson (3)
Italy: Tries: S Picone; Cons: D Bortolussi; Pens: D Bortolussi (4)

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: Joël Jutge (France), Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan)
Television match official: Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Assessor: Paul Bridgman (England)

Two contrasting World Cups - two differing performance's last weekend - same result.

You would've bet your house on England beating Italy before the opening round of 2008 fixtures but the Azzurri moved forward despite their loss to Ireland whereas England still look uninspired.

Italy have nothing out wide to worry England but Brian Ashton's boys don't know what to do with the ball once it moves outside Jonny Wilkinson, so everything surely points towards two sets of soldiers fighting a territorial battle.

Andrew Sheridan's absence couldn't have come at a worse time - Martin Castrogiovanni's in town and he doesn't take any prisoners.

England need a convincing performance, most notably from their fly-half, and their defence. Gomarsall and Balshaw are surely one game away from the international scrap heap, so both need big games.

If Italy can get amongst England and spoil enough ball at the breakdown then it could be another afternoon of stop-start rugby.

Wales proved that by frustrating England, anything is possible, but any such embarrassment would be unacceptable. Lesley Vainikolo's a key man but England need to give him a platform from which to run riot.

Prediction: England to win by 14 points.

Sunday 10th February KO:  2:30pm live on BBC Sport