Wales’ Wainwright and Faletau could be fit for Italy

Men’s Six Nations: Italy v Wales

Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Date: Saturday, 8 February Kick-off: 14: 15 GMT

Aaron Wainwright and Taulupe Faletau, the number eight duo, are not expected to play for Wales in Rome on Saturday for the Six Nations.

Wales remain in France after their opening-game record 43-0 defeat in Paris, with both back rowers participating in training in Nice.

Wainwright, 27, took a blow to his head in the fourth minute at the Stade de France, but he was unharmed. Neither he nor he suffered a concussion or facial fracture.

Faletau, 34, was unavailable to face France because of a knee issue.

“We are still monitoring them and optimistic,” said Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys. “We can make a definite decision on that in the next kind of 24 hours,” Humphreys said.

On Thursday, Wales’ head coach Warren Gatland will name his side.

Wainwright, the eighth Dragons player, avoided a rumored broken cheekbone with a nasty gash.

“The main issue was a fracture”, said Humphreys.

“He doesn’t have that fracture, so we are pretty hopeful he will be available.

” He had an unbelievable gash. That’s the thing for us. He’s a tough kid and he’s like ‘ I’ll be all right, they can just stitch me back up’, but it’s a pretty bad gash.

“He’s got eight days to turn around]between games] so we are hopeful, especially since he’s desperate to play”.

While James Botham switched from flanker to number eight for the game in Paris, Scarlets back row Taine Plumtree has been transferred to the squad.

Since winning a Test match at the World Cup against Georgia in October 2023, Wales has won the last two games without playing an international.

Gatland’s side have since suffered 13 successive international defeats, including seven Six Nations losses on the bounce.