GATLAND: WE WERE DIVIDED OVER STRIKING

WARREN GATLAND yesterday admitted that a ‘significant split’ in his Wales squad over whether to strike or not had affected his side’s form. Wales threatened to pull out of their clash with England two weeks ago over a financial and contractual dispute. A compromise was eventually reached, but Wales face Italy in Rome tomorrow still in search of their first Six Nations win. ‘There was a significant split in the group over (whether to strike). That caused tensions within the group for a couple of weeks. Time was the healer. It was definitely quite fractious. Things have settled down. ‘There were big moments in the England game where we didn’t celebrate. That’s a reflection of where we were.’ Gatland has made six changes for Rome, with Owen Williams at No 10 and Rhys Webb starting as scrum-half. Louis Rees-Zammit is on the bench.