Wales ‘going through pain’

RUGBY UNION Neil Jenkins is confident that current pain can become long-term gain for Wales by the time they arrive at this year’s World Cup.

Two years after winning the Guinness Six Nations title and going within touching distance of a Grand Slam, Wales could end up with a first wooden spoon since 2003.

They face Italy in Rome on Saturday, when the losers are likely to finish bottom of this season’s championship.

Wales have lost three successive games since Warren Gatland returned as head coach, while his predecessor Wayne Pivac oversaw just three wins from his last 12 Tests at the helm.

Gatland’s men have five fixtures left before the World Cup – Italy and France away, followed by tournament warm-up appointments with England (twice) and South Africa – before a tricky competition opener against Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10.

With Eddie Jones-led Australia also in their pool, some pundits are already fearing the worst. It is 16 years since Wales failed to reach the World Cup knockout phase.

“The reality is we probably felt there was going to be some pain about us at this moment in time. We are certainly feeling that,” Wales assistant coach Jenkins said.

“But we have until September to get ourselves right, and I believe we can do that.

“I would like to think that by the time that comes around, we will be in good nick conditioning-wise and our game will have evolved an awful lot.

“I would like to think we will be going through the gears from now until then to give us a good chance at a World Cup.”

History suggests a Wales victory on Saturday – they have won seven on the bounce in Rome – but Italy are fully capable of repeating Six Nations successes of 2003 and 2007 at Wales’ expense.

“We are playing a very, very good side and we need to be at full tilt, there is no doubting that, otherwise we could come unstuck,” Jenkins added. “We need to play well.”