BILLED as the wooden spoon decider, tomorrow’s visit to Rome probably represents Wales best chance to avoid bottom place in the Six Nations.

But a resurgent Italy have played some wonderful rugby in this year’s competition and gave both France and Ireland a scare.

Azzurri head coach Kieran Crowley was targeting two wins, but their best chance for a victory is against Wales. 

His side are also looking to beat a Six Nations rival two seasons in a row for the first time after a narrow one-point victory over Wales at the Millennium stadium, last year.

Italy are also chasing a first Six Nations win in Rome since 2013.

Harlequins fly-half Tommy Allan will start at full-back and replaces Ange Capuozzo, who injured his left shoulder during his side’s defeat by Ireland.

Crowley makes one enforced change but otherwise it is the same team that faced Ireland.

Crowley is Italy’s latest Kiwi coach and a first-ever victory over Australia last autumn showed last season’s win over Wales was no flash in the pan.

Italy came within five points against France and put in a fine performance against Ireland.

Italy’s young team caused France and Ireland problems with an expansive style of rugby where they attack from all areas of the pitch.

The Azzurri scored two tries against Ireland through Stephen Varney and Pierre Bruno, with returning fly-half Paolo Garbisi kicking 10 points.

When Warren Gatland returned to take up head coach duties again, after the disastrous losing run under follow Kiwi Wayne Pivac, Welsh fans breathed a sigh of relief.

When Gatland took charge of Wales first time around his opening season saw an ailing Wales rejuvenated and win a Grand Slam.

But he has not managed to wave a magic wand this time and has seen his side lose three times.

Gatland has used the Six Nations so far to experiment with his team selection and for this game has made six changes to the Wales starting line-up.

Winger Louis Rees-Zammit, full-back Leigh Halfpenny, lock Alun Wyn Jones and flanker Christ Tshiunza are among those omitted following the 20-10 loss to England.

Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb will make a first Test start since October 2020, while Rio Dyer is preferred to Rees-Zammit and Liam Williams returns to full back.

Prop Wyn Jones, lock Dafydd Jenkins and flanker Jac Morgan also feature, but there is no place in the match squad for fly-half Dan Biggar.

Rees-Zammit will be on the bench, where he will be joined by George North, Rhys Davies and Tommy Reffell.

Owen Williams keeps the number 10 role.

“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 and make sure that when the opportunities are on we shift the ball,” Gatland said.

The off-the-pitch turmoil affecting Welsh rugby continues with players now facing wage cuts in the latest contract negotiations.

Along with issues like Wales’s former 60-cap selection rule and fixed-variable contracts, off-field problems led to the threat of a players’ strike before last month’s clash against England.

“The situation we are in at the moment is not great for anyone involved,” said Cardiff number eight Taulupe Faletau, who is set to win his 99th cap against Italy.

In a World Cup year Wales are running out of time to find their best side and to play some decent rugby.

The pressure on international coaches never diminishes but lose again to Italy and Gatland’s job will become even harder as fickle Welsh fans turn on the national team.