Wales near a perfect year but success must follow
THE WELSH train keeps chugging along. Win today and, before the England match in a fortnight, a year will have passed since Warren Gatland’s men last lost.
The victory is not in doubt, despite 10 changes from last week and a new captain, Jonathan Davies. Italy have not won a tournament match here for six years.
After this it will be full steam ahead for Wales to the old enemy at the Principality Stadium and what could be a Six Nations decider at the end of the month.
For now, Davies (below) skippers for the first time on the occasion of his 70th cap, and is out to etch his mark in history, equalling the Welsh record for consecutive wins.
‘It is a huge honour,’ said the 30-year-old centre.
‘But any time you put on the red jersey of Wales it is an honour in itself. There is added responsibility but it’s something I am looking forward to. I like to think I won’t be shouting or raving, but if it is needed it is needed.’
Of course, there have been some friendly digs from Davies’s teammates. Full-back Liam Williams joked: ‘I’ve been calling him craptain all week!’ He then paid tribute to his fellow Lion. ‘I like Foxy a lot off the pitch, as well as on it. He’ll be a good captain. He’ll step up to the mark to replace Alun Wyn Jones. ‘He speaks very well in team meetings and he’s a good leader on the pitch.
‘I can’t see it being a problem, him being captain.’
Davies wants to gift his father the perfect birthday present with a win as skipper.
‘My dad was 60 on Tuesday, so my parents went from Paris through Switzerland on the Glacier Express,’ he explained.
‘I think they’ve had a great week, mum and dad! They’ve been a huge part of where I am today, so to have my family out here is great.’ Family is something of a theme out here, as Thomas Young becomes the fourth son of a Six Nations-playing father to run out in the tournament. After Owen and Andy Farrell, Romain and Emile Ntamack and Damian and Alain Penaud, Thomas follows his dad, Wasps director of rugby Dai, into the Wales shirt.
And this week the coaches have been emphasising to him, along with Aaron Wainwright, Jonah Holmes and Aled Davies — all on their first Six Nations starts — to seize their opportunity, with the World Cup looming.
Gatland said: ‘When you pick a squad, there are always two or three players considered to be unlucky to miss out.
‘We picked Thomas because we wanted to assess where he was and give him that chance.
‘We haven’t spoken about expectation for him, it’s about making an impression and enjoying himself.
‘Hopefully he takes his opportnity with both hands.’