.
The former Wales outside-half Dan Biggar described the Six Nations fixture in Rome as Welsh rugby’s biggest game for the “last 15-20 years” after an opening 43-0 thrashing to France left Gatland’s side surveying a record-breaking 13th consecutive defeat.
A 14th at the Stadio Olimpico would leave Wales with the very real prospect of a second winless Six Nations campaign and championship wooden spoon and put Gatland in almost an untenable position.
“We’ve been in some close games and unfortunately we haven’t been able to get across the line,” said Gatland, who won grandslam deciders and steered Wales into World Cup semi-finals during his first spell in charge.
“We know we are in a bit of a rebuilding phase so it’s definitely not the biggest game in Wales for the last 20 years. I’ve been saying for a while we knew the situation we were in with the amount of experience we’ve lost.
“It’s an important game for us and we’re well aware that we’ve some other tough games in this competition. We’re desperate to get a win, that’s the most important thing.
“A win would get the monkey off the back and build some confidence for players to put their shoulders back and stand a little taller.”
Gatland has made two changes to the side dismantled in Paris, with a return for the veteran No8 Taulupe Faletau and a first Test start for centre Eddie James. Faletau makes his 105th appearance – becoming the fifth most capped Welshman in his own right in doing so – to end a 16-month absence from Test rugby.
The 34-year-old British and Irish Lion has not featured for Wales since suffering a broken arm during a 2023 World Cup pool victory over Georgia, with a string of fitness issues including a fractured shoulder sustained playing for Cardiff.
Gatland said: “He …
Read More
