PRESSURE TO AVOID SPOON STIRS GATLAND

Wales v Italy

Tomorrow, 2.15pm

WARREN GATLAND says he is ‘loving’ the pressure that comes with trying to avoid the most dreaded prize in world rugby – the Six Nations Wooden Spoon.

The Wales head coach (above) knows how to stir his teams to win Grand Slams and British & Irish Lions series, but this weekend the target is to avert a first whitewash in the Championship in 21 years. “I love it. It‘s a challenge,” he said.

“You find out about people in weeks like this, when you are under a bit of pressure. It’s how you respond to that pressure.

“You discover who is going to put their hand up, who is going to accept the responsibility. You find out so much more about individuals when you are under pressure.

“That is what international sport, and professional sport, is all about.”

The last time Wales came into the final round of the 2007 Championship facing a whitewash, James Hook came up with 22 points in a 27-18 win over England at Principality Stadium. They had no such luck in 2003, when Steve Hansen’s side were beaten 33-5 in Paris.

“We just talk about the game - that’s exactly what you do with Grand Slams. You don’t talk about Grand Slams, you talk about the outcome and preparing properly for the game,” added Gatland.

“That’s exactly what we’ll be doing for this game. We’re all aware it’s an important game for us, an we’re at home.”

A spirited fightback in the opening game against Scotland wasn’t enough to get a win and that one-point defeat was followed by a two-point loss against England at Twickenham.