Ange Capuozzo enjoyed a rather captivating international debut against Scotland, taking his two scores with a trademark blend of impish footwork and deceptive strength to make the most of a sliver of space. The rumour is that the Grenoble full-back may be Toulouse-bound come the close season, which seems a slightly strange move for the player, who could be behind France’s top two full-backs (Melvyn Jaminet and Thomas Ramos) in the club pecking order, but shows how well regarded the 22-year-old is in the

Wales will give the youngster a proper test under the high ball, you’d think, but they will have to kick accurately – Capuozzo will be a real threat on return. Edoardo Padovani should provide a steadying influence, too.

It’s the second milestone of the tournament for Wales fly-half Dan Biggar, who having achieved 100 international caps earlier in the campaign now hits a century for the Welsh national team. Despite the return of Alun Wyn Jones, Biggar retains the captaincy, a reward for a strong personal tournament even as his side have at times struggled.

Biggar was outstanding and totally in control in Cardiff last Friday, even in defeat. There are still those who accuse him of not offering quite enough in an attacking sense but with Callum Sheedy’s stock just dipping a touch, and Gareth Anscombe still finding his footing after that dreadful injury, the starting ten shirt is as firmly in Biggar’s grip as ever. This is as good an opportunity as any to display his attacking wares with a backline full of open-field dangers who may favour a fast show.

It may have been another tough campaign for Italy results-wise, but Kieran Crowley will be pleased with how his young side have performed and grown. Michele Lamaro has certainly led from the front, making 19 more tackles than anyone else in the competition and getting through a Herculean amount of work otherwise.

Italy probably deserved at least a bonus point against Scotland, but there were some really encouraging bits and pieces of creativity in attack that may again be employed against a Welsh backline that has been tweaked.

Of today’s match, Lamaro said: “Against Scotland we were not fully satisfied with the defensive work: we made a few individual mistakes too many. This aspect remains a very important focus against a very physical team like Wales.

“It will be a new opportunity for us that we want to try to seize. This Six Nations has left us a little more experience and a united group. We have started a very specific path. We have grown in some phases of the game and in others we still have to show progress.”

“I’d like to think it puts extra bums on seats and I would like to think we get a sell-out crowd to recognise Dan’s achievement and Alun Wyn’s achievement, which nobody else on the planet has done.

"To have two guys achieve those milestones on the same day is something special. It’s a rugby decision, that’s what we have decided, and we are very comfortable with the decision.

"He’s been with us a few weeks and we’ve monitored him. He’s trained very well, ticked all the boxes. To be playing 150 Test matches, something no one else on the planet has ever done, just shows he’s a special person.”

We shouldn’t be surprised, really, that Alun Wyn Jones has once again shown extraordinary powers of recovery to be back for Wales’ Six Nations send-off. But the parachuting back in of the 36-year-old has not been hugely popular, with Will Rowlands cruelly dropped to the bench after a fine tournament, and Ben Carter, for whom today would have been a great opportunity, not even in the squad.

Indeed, after the disappointing Friday night crowd for the France game, there were even suggestions that the return of Jones was a ploy to boost sales. Lost, a little, in all of that chatter is just how incredible an achievement it is to reach 150 caps, particularly having spent every one of them toiling in the engine room, and Jones deserves a day in the Welsh sun to celebrate the landmark having become the most-capped player of all-time behind closed doors during the pandemic.

Italy make just two alterations to the starting team that went well against Scotland. One comes as no surprise, with Ange Capuozzo rewarded for a carbonated cameo with a start at full-back; Edoardo Padovani will make a new abode on the right wing and aid the first-capper on debut.

The other change is in the second row, where Marco Fuser’s experience may be valuable against Wales as the Newcastle lock makes a first start of the tournament. Kieran Crowley maintains his favoured 6:2 bench split, with Filippo Alongi set for a debut at tighthead having been a late replacement for Tiziano Pasquali.

Italy XV (1-15): Fischetti, Nicotera, Ceccarelli; Fuser, Ruzza; Pettinelli, Lamaro, Halafihi; Braley, Garbisi; Ioane, Marin, Brex, Padovani; Capuozzo.

Replacements: Bigi, Traore, Alongi, Sisi, Cannone, Steyn; Fusco, Zanon.

There has been plenty of focus on the Welsh selection this week, with some feeling that Wayne Pivac may have overly rotated, and the head coach accused of taking Italy lightly during an early Tuesday team announcement press conference. There are a number of changes, including two in the front row, with Dewi Lake handed a first start.

The obvious headline is the return of Alun Wyn Jones, ahead of schedule after shoulder surgery – he wins cap number 150, a tally no other man has reached before, with Will Rowlands dropping to the bench after an excellent, breakthrough tournament.

Behind the scrum lie a backline with plenty of potential potency. Uiliisi Halaholo’s flashing feet and creativity should be valuable in the centres and in Josh Adams, Louis Rees-Zammit and Johnny McNicholl, Wales have back-three pace to burn.

Wales XV (1-15): Thomas, Lake, Lewis; Beard, AW Jones; S Davies, Navidi, Faletau; G Davies, Biggar; Adams, Halaholo, Watkin, Rees-Zammit; McNicholl

Replacements: Roberts, W Jones, Brown, Rowlands, Moriarty; Hardy, Sheedy, Tompkins.

Right, there’s about an hour to go until Super Saturday gets underway, so let’s take a close look at the Welsh and Italian sides picked to finish the tournament.