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Wales v Italy, Autumn Nations Cup 2020 final round: What time is kick-off today, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction?

Wales v Italy, Autumn Nations Cup 2020 final round: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction? - GETTY IMAGES
Wales v Italy, Autumn Nations Cup 2020 final round: What time is kick-off, what TV channel is it on and what is our prediction? - GETTY IMAGES

What is it?

The Autumn Nations Cup fifth-place play-off as Wales host Italy at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli.

When is it?

Saturday, December 5.

What time is kick-off?

4.45pm.

What TV channel is it on?

Amazon Prime and S4C.

Read more: How to watch Autumn Cup games live

What is the latest team news?

Wales

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has made nine changes to his starting line-up.

Flanker Justin Tipuric, who missed the 24-13 loss to England last weekend because of a head knock, returns to the back row alongside James Botham and Taulupe Faletau.

Other switches include a start for George North at outside centre, with Callum Sheedy and Kieran Hardy named as half-backs.

Wing North's last Wales start in the No 13 shirt was against Italy in February, when he helped his side to a 42-0 victory.

Pivac has selected a new front row of Nicky Smith, Sam Parry - who makes his first Test start - and Tomas Francis, with lock Will Rowlands replacing Jake Ball.

Botham retains his place and moves from openside to blindside flanker, accommodating Tipuric's return, with one other change seeing a fit-again Liam Williams returning at full-back instead of Leigh Halfpenny.

Autumn Nations Cup: Wales team to face Italy
Autumn Nations Cup: Wales team to face Italy
 

Italy

Wales-born Stephen Varney will make a first Test start for Italy against the country of his birth.

The Gloucester scrum-half was brought up in Pembrokeshire, but he qualifies for Italy through family connections on his mother's side.

Varney, 19, made appearances off the bench in Italy's Nations Cup games against Scotland and France last month.

But the Scarlets academy product, whose father Adrian played as a flanker for Neath and Aberavon, will now line up from the start against Wales in Llanelli when both countries conclude their autumn fixtures.

Elsewhere, Italy head coach Franco Smith has handed a Test debut to wing Monty Ioane, while Jacopo Trulla moves to full-back.

Autumn Nations Cup: Italy team to face Wales
Autumn Nations Cup: Italy team to face Wales

What are the complete final-round fixtures?

Fixtures: Autumn Nations Cup Finals
Fixtures: Autumn Nations Cup Finals

How did the group stages finish?

What have we said about the match?

What are the odds?

Betting on the match? Get the latest offers and free bets here

  • Wales to win 1/10

  • Italy to win 13/2

  • Draw 35/1

What's our prediction?

Victories over minnows Italy and Georgia are all Wayne Pivac has to show from a woeful first year as Wales head coach. For the New Zealander, 2020 will end as it began with a clash against the Italians, as both countries seek to avoid being the competition's worst-performing Six Nations side.

While a win for the 2019 Grand Slam champions in Llanelli is expected and will do little to assuage mounting pressure, it could provide a springboard for Pivac's misfiring side as they attempt to turn a corner in the new year.

Predicted score: Wales 22 Italy 5