Edwards: we must get basics right

SHAUN EDWARDS has warned Wales cannot run the risk of entering “self-destruct” mode against RBS 6 Nations strugglers Italy on Saturday.

Wales need to win in Rome — and by a healthy margin — to keep the pressure on Grand Slam-chasing Ireland. Ireland, who arrive in Cardiff next week, currently hold a two-point lead at the Six Nations summit.

But their points difference is also superior — 23 better off — to second-placed Wales, helped by a 38-9 victory over Italy at Stadio Flaminio last month.

Apart from defeating Ireland in their final game, hopes of a successful Six Nations title defence for Wales also hinge on them beating the Azzurri with something to spare.

But Wales defence coach Edwards said: “If we start going in thinking we’ve got to win by so many points, it is going to make us self-destruct.

“We’ve just got to make sure we get good lineout ball, we deliver it well to the backs and they get over the advantage line — all the basics of rugby.

“We feel if we do that — and keep our turnover-rate to a minimum and kick well — we can put ourselves in a position to maybe score some tries.

“This is a massive fixture. More often than not, the championship is decided by points difference.

“The less number of points we concede is vital — we don’t want to be chasing a big score against Ireland. Hopefully, we will have a dry ball and we can play some rugby.”

Wales’ four previous Six Nations visits to Rome have produced a mixed bag of two wins and two defeats.

While Italy have so far shipped 100 points and 12 tries in losing their opening three games of this season’s tournament, Edwards believes such statistics do not tell the full story.

He added: “Two interception tries that Italy conceded against Ireland made the scoreline look as though they’d had a hammering, but 14 points came directly from interceptions.

“And if you look at the England game, they nearly ‘won’ the second half. I think they are a bit better than the scorelines have suggested so far.”

Wales will head to the Eternal City tomorrow afternoon without scrum-half Dwayne Peel, whose hopes of a first Test match start since last season’s Six Nations victory over Italy have been dashed by a torn hamstring suffered on duty for his club Sale. He also misses next week’s appointment with Ireland.

Mike Phillips reclaims the number nine shirt he wore in Paris 11 days ago, with London Irish rookie Warren Fury providing bench cover.

Fury, effectively the Exiles’ fourth-choice number nine, who has not played senior rugby since January 24, steps up because two other scrum-half alternatives — Gareth Cooper and Martin Roberts — are injured.

Roberts, though, could be in contention for the Ireland game following further assessment next week on a rib cartilage problem.

Meanwhile Italy coach Nick Mallet has dropped six players from his squad to face Wales.

Out of contention are wingers Andrea Bacchetti and Michele Sepe, back row forward Simone Favaro, second row forwards Tommaso Reato and Jean-Francois Montauriol and fly-half Kristopher Burton.

Mallet names his team tomorrow.