The desperate search for Wales of a victory that would end his losing career of 13 tests has taken a great blow after Liam Williams emerged as a significant doubt to face Italy.
The full-back, which is one of the most experienced players in what is now a youth team, the training session of the Warren Gatland team in Rome today was lost today.
Williams, 33, is struggling with a knee problem and, although he has not yet been completely discarded from the confrontation of the Olympic stadium, Wales will give him all the opportunities to demonstrate his physical state given its importance to the side. He is likely to be chief gatland coach will have to make a late change.
In the career of the Captain of Wales today, Blair Murray was running in the backing position of Williams, so it is likely to be promoted from the bank to begin in no 15.
Such a scenario would mean that Josh Hathaway from Gloucester would join the 23rd day as a replacement. If Williams will be absent, he would represent a great blow to Wales.
Gatland described his players as 'desperate' for the victory given their record sequence without a victory, although he also said that the Italian party was not the greatest in the history of Wales during the last 15 years. That is despite the fact that many believe that Gatland will be fired as a boss at the end of these six nations if his team loses in Rome. Even a victory may not be enough to save it.
Liam Williams lost the training session of the eve of Wales in Rome today with a knee problem
Although it has not yet been completely discarded from the clash against Italy, since Wales will give you all the opportunities to demonstrate its physical condition, Warren Gatland is likely to have to make a late change
'It's huge for us. I think a victory is very delayed. We are doing everything inside and outside the field to make the right mistakes, '' said Wales Lock Dafydd Jenkins.
'We know that it will not be easy against the Italians. Obtaining that initial result would be huge in terms of morals, in addition to getting that monkey from the back.
'By growing and seeing how good the Welsh team was against Italy, it was a certain game. It is no longer that. 100 percent is not.
After Gatland lost a series of superstar players before and after the 2023 World Cup, Wales has collapsed alarmingly and to the point where traditional children who hit the children Italy are likely likely to win tomorrow. Williams' injury will not help reverse those numbers. Rome is alive with Wales fans this weekend enjoying the European climate.
But the truth is that his team is now not close to the quality of the side that six years ago the number 1 was classified in the world classification of Rugby, even if it is only briefly.
Wales has lost two of his last three meetings with Italy.
But perhaps they can be encouraged by the fact that Azzurri has never won a clash of the six nations of the Round and that his last victory in the championship arrived in Rome in 2023.
Even with the expected absence of Williams and all evils in Welsh Rugby, Gatland players are able to win.
Italy has never won a clash of the six nations in the round, giving Wales the hope of a positive result
Many believe that Gatland will be fired as Chief of Wales at the end of the six -nations campaign.
This game is very close to the hammer 43-0 of France in the opening weekend.
“Obviously we know that there is great pressure on us,” said Jenkins, who was captain of Wales for the six nations of 2024, but the autumn campaign was lost without victories due to an injury.
'But that will not help anyone if you are playing under that pressure. We need to play freely to give us the best opportunity to win.
'It is one thing to lose and be part of that, but it is another defenseless being and see children losing too. You really can't have an impact on the team.
In players like Jenkins, the current pattern Jac Morgan and Scrum-Half Tomas Williams, Wales undoubtedly has talent. Even for all the current struggles of their team, those three players have a good opportunity to tour Australia with the British and Irish lions this summer. He also does Hooker Dewi Lake, currently injured.
But with more pressure, the problem of Wales and Gatland is that, as a collective, it is likely to be very little to suggest a seismic change.
Losing in Rome on Saturday and a second six consecutive nations is in the letters.
In such a stage, the career without victories of Wales would be 17 games in mid -March. Clearly, that would be unacceptable. It is the opinion of this writer that, although Wales is not a side of Grand Slam on the waiting, they should not be in a position as bad as they are currently.
If Wales loses in Rome, a second six successive nations could be in the letters
If Wales is defeated by Italy, and Georgia, as expected, triumphs over the Netherlands in Rugby Europe, then Gatland's side will fall from 11 to 12 in the classification.
The subsequent result would be an impact on its sowing for the 2027 World Cup and another year of Poor Six Nations Awards.
It is difficult to escape from Gatland's feeling position it would be unsustainable if Wales collected a second consecutive championship wooden spoon.
Since Gatland returned to Welsh Rugby at the end of 2022, he has fought for cohesion. Part of that has been reduced to the retirement of some previous legendary players.
But his selection and tactics of his team have also been questioned. It is clear that Wales lacks the brutal physical ball bearers to compete with sides such as Ireland and France.
That was obvious in Paris, since they failed to score a point for the first time since 2007.
“Wales has just been discharged,” said the former scrum of England, Ben Youngs, to his rugby podcast. 'I couldn't believe what its form is guided. It was just rinse and repeat. 'They have no ball carriers. If you are going to play like this, the form must be much more strict. You need small passes.
Wales had a 50 percent possession against France. They made the most passes (231) but also the least number of kicks (24) of any team in the first round.
Gatland's team failed to score a point against France, he did it for the first time since 2007
Wales made as many passes from any team in the first round, but also recorded the least amount of kicks
Gatland admitted that his team had exaggerated in Paris and the result is that there will be a much greater emphasis on putting a boot in the ball in Rome.
While Liam Williams is more than the probable thing is a late withdrawal, the other two scheduled changes for Italy of Gatland are the Eddie James center and the veteran no 8 Taulupe Faletau.
James replaces the injured Owen Watkin. The upper rugby statistic Russ Petty pointed out the 10-12-13 Wales axis for Italy of Ben Thomas, James and Nick Tompkins is the tenth different combination that Gatland has used in that field area in 13 tests since the beginning of 2024.
On the contrary, Italy has used Paolo Garbisi, Tommaso Menoncello, the 2024 player of the six nations, and Juan Ignacio Brex in those positions in 12 of his 13 games at the same time.
The three men begin to the Azzurri again against Wales tomorrow.
Italy has improved significantly under the guidance of Gonzalo Quesada and his focus now marries a dangerous attack with a more strategic and defensive game.
Wales is ready to make your work reduce. The presence of the true world -class Faletau is a source of optimism and so is that of Aaron Wainwright in the bank after he recovered from an unpleasant facial cut that ended his France game early. Gatland expects some 'X' Factor of Faletau.
But after two years of misery of injuries, it is an unfair touch to wait too much from him, as good as he. Rome will be his first international from the victory in the 2023 World Cup pool stage over Georgia. It is probably not a coincidence that it was the last test in which Wales tried success. Tomorrow marks 490 days from the Georgia game.
Gatland expects some 'X' factor of the veteran no 8 Taulupe Faletau, which begins for Wales
The presence of Faletau is a source of optimism, as well as that of Aaron Wainwright in the bank
So what are the possibilities of a very necessary victory for Gatland and its players?
Rome undoubtedly presents the best opportunity for some time. Wales has a good cry. But the boss says that Italy should have too much, even if it is only with the benefit of the advantage of the home in the eternal city. Such scenario would leave Gatland surely feeling that misery must also be eternal.
Italy: Tommaso Allan; Ange Capuzzo, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Martin Page-Realo; Danilo Fiscrti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (Capt), Lorenzo Cannone
ReplacementsGianmarco Lucchesi, Luca Rizzoli, Luca Rizzoli, Lamb, Manuel Zuliani, Ross Vintage Barroche Girles, Jacas Torullo
Welsh: Liam Williams / Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Nick Tompkins, Eddie James, Josh Adams; Ben Thomas, Tomas Williams; Gareth Thomas, Evan Lloyd, Henry Thomas, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, James Botham, Jac Morgan (Capt), Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Keiron Assireti, Freddie Thomas, Aaron Wainwright, Rhodri Williams, Dan Edwards, Blair Murray / Josh Hathaway
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Kick off: 2.15pm tomorrow. Olympic stadium, Rome
TV: ITVV