One Cherry and Whites man will be watching from the bench while another earns himself a fourth consecutive start.

Authority is on show in the England camp, a starting XV mainstay has been pushed to the perimeter of the matchday squad.

This weekend is match week four of the 2023 Six Nations competition, from crucial individuals being dropped to player position rivalries – there is plenty to watch out for…

Wales

The most surprising alternation in the Wales starting XV, Gloucester’s Louis Rees-Zammit has been dropped to the bench for their Rome-antic date with Italy in the capital.

His replacement, now fierce rival for the spot on the flank, Rio Dyer is up for his sixth Wales cap.

Following the decision to drop Gloucester’s star-boy, Gatland said, “He still hasn’t played a lot of rugby in terms of coming back from a relatively long injury with his ankle.

“We just felt with the way the game’s going to be and the pace of the game, that him coming off the bench and the impact he can have could be pretty important.”

Meanwhile Dafydd Jenkins, Jac Morgan, Liam Williams and prop Wyn Jones have all been added to the starting lineup.

Alongside Rees-Zammit, Gareth Thomas drops to the bench. Meanwhile, Alun Wyn Jones, Christ Tshiunza, Leigh Halfpenny miss out.

England

Before the squad announcement, former World Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward expressed that Steve Borthwick must make big decisions sooner rather than later in his career.

“We’ve all dropped big players, you have got to make those calls. It’s still early days for Steve and, if you are going to make these big calls to try to find out your best starting team, you need to make them early in your career.

Clearly, Borthwick is stamping his authority onto the squad. Farrell finds himself on the bench as Harlequins’ Marcus Smith fills in the 10.

Following his aid in the Quins victory over Exeter, Smith has made a sensational return and nudges Farrell out of the starting XV.

England’s hopes of lifting the Six Nations title are slim, but not null, they currently sit third in the table just five points behind the leaders, Ireland.

Borthwick added, “Marcus played very well in that game – but this is not his first start this Six Nations. Having players of such ability and talent to select from is a real privilege for me.

“I’m constantly watching the players – in every game they play. Marcus played and trained really well.”

Italy

Gloucester’s Stephen Varney gets another start for the Azzurri for their ‘wooden spoon decider’ against Wales, the Italians head into this as favourites whilst Gatland’s Wales are enduring a miserable run.

Ange Capuozzo is out of the squad and tournament, his shoulder blow picked up in the 34-20 defeat to Ireland. Undoubtedly the biggest problem for coach Kieran Crowley’s campaign.

Varney, who has started all of Italy’s games, will look to record the first result of the tournament – Wales could be their biggest opportunity to do so.

This weekend’s fixtures can be seen on the Six Nations official website.