Wales warned by Parisse after Gatland gamble
Italy aim to end 18-game Six Nations losing streak Much-changed side can equal winning record
The height of optimism or the definition of insanity? In truth, Sergio Parisse probably felt he was honour-bound to declare he was “really confident” of Italy beating Wales today.
After all, when you have been captain of a side who have set a Six Nations record by losing 18 matches in succession, you probably get used to going through the motions, even when you happen to be a legend like the 35-year-old No8.
“I am really confident because I have seen a lot of great work from the team during training,” Parisse said, after his team’s final session at the Stadio Olimpico. “We go into the game with belief. It is time to end the run.”
Jonathan Davies was rather more prosaic in his rallying call, as he spoke about another streak. Should Wales prevail, this would take their winning sequence to 11, equalling the Welsh record set by the Grand Slam originals back in 1910. Davies, the Lions centre, wins his 70th cap and in the absence of Alun Wyn Jones, takes the captaincy for the first time.
“I am hugely proud and there is added responsibility,” Davies said. “I am very fortunate with the players we have – they know the standards needed.
“Looking at last year [in the 38-14 win against Italy], there was a similar amount of changes, and so there is that responsibility of the group who will play here to make sure we deliver again.”
Pressure? Warren Gatland wallows in the stuff, even though he likes to deny its existence. When naming a team with 10 changes on Thursday, the Wales coach said: “I’ve never been a person who has worried about external influences – people can say, write or imply whatever they like.”
Yet the Kiwi is only too aware that should the Dragons lose for the first against the Azzurri in his tenure – at the 13th time of asking – the volume will reach deafeningly accusatory levels.
It may be a World Cup year and no doubt the experts and public are delighted the Welsh squad are displaying unprecedented depths of quality.
But the critics and public are looking no further forward than England in Cardiff in two weeks’ time. If the significance of that collision – with the outright record run pending and a potential Grand Slam bubbling – happened to be downplayed at all, it would be impossible to forgive a backfiring gamble.
Gwyn Jones, the former captain and much respected analyst has posed the notion that Gatland is “protecting the key men” with a view to the visit of Eddie Jones’s team, even though there would still be a fortnight to recover.
And, after a week in warmweather training camp in Nice, Gatland is obviously using it as a chance to use this as, in his own words, “a mini World Cup” and see Aled Davies starting at scrum-half, and Aaron Wainwright and Thomas Young in the back row, with Jonah Holmes on the wing.
Yet, whatever the reasons, however wise the decision, a defeat would be inexcusable and haul Wales back to the darks days of those two Six Nations losses to Italy – as well as a draw. Just when Gatland could do without it.
However, it is a huge stretch to envisage anything other than headlines declaring history this evening and expect it to follow the usual narrative.
Italy to press strongly for the first half, maybe even lead, but then, as the juice runs out and the mistakes creep in, the visitors to impress their supremely greater creativity, attacking edge and, just as pertinently, stamina and run away in the last 30.
With the likes of Jones and Ross Moriarty on the bench, Gatland has a safety net. But he is beyond thinking in such confines. He demands so many streaks to continue.