Gatland warns Wales of Italy’s threat in potential wooden spoon decider

Wales know they must stall Italy’s “coast to coast” attacking game in their quest for an overdue Six Nations victory on Saturday.

The only countries without a Six Nations win this season go head to head at Stadio Olimpico in Rome. It is 20 years since Wales finished bottom of the pile and were wooden spoon recipients, but that scenario could now easily unfold.

Successive defeats against Ireland, Scotland and England have left Wales scrambling around the Six Nations basement, yet to break their points duck and scoring only three tries in more than four hours of rugby.

Italy are one point above them, courtesy of a losing bonus collected against France, but six tries in losses to Les Bleus, England and Ireland showcased an adventurous approach.

“They are definitely the most athletic [Italy] side that we’ve seen,” the Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, said. “They try to play a wide-wide game. They have had some success in the tournament, but they have also been squeezed.

“England knocked them back and put them under pressure, and Ireland changed defensively after being caught narrow and put them under pressure as they got more width in the second half.

Wales team: L Williams (Cardiff); J Adams (Cardiff), M Grady (Cardiff), J Hawkins (Ospreys), R Dyer (Dragons); O Williams (Ospreys), R Webb (Ospreys); W Jones (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets, capt), T Francis (Ospreys), A Beard (Ospreys), D Jenkins (Exeter), J Morgan (Ospreys), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Cardiff)

Replacements: S Baldwin (Ospreys), G Thomas (Ospreys), D Lewis (Cardiff), R Davies (Ospreys), T Reffell (Leicester), T Williams (Cardiff), G North (Ospreys), L Rees-Zammit (Gloucester)

Italy team: T Allan (Harlequins); E Padovani (Benetton), J Brex (Benetton), T