Shaken Wales bid to rebound with Italian job in Rome

ACCURACY and precision will be top of Wales’ agenda when they look to revive their RBS 6 Nations title bid in Rome on Saturday.

That is the message from scrum-half Mike Phillips following his rapid recall as replacement for hamstring injury victim Dwayne Peel.

Phillips is set for an eighth start in nine Six Nations Tests during Wales boss Warren Gatland’s coaching reign.

And the Ospreys star will arrive in Rome shaken from a new experience — a Six Nations defeat under Gatland.

Wales’ 21-16 reversal against France almost a fortnight ago was their first in the tournament since Italy beat them at Stadio Flaminio two years ago.

Gatland’s team now make the return journey with just four survivors in their starting XV from that miserable March afternoon – Mark Jones, Shane Williams, James Hook and Alun-Wyn Jones – Jones captaining his country for the first time this weekend.

Jones leads a side showing nine changes and one positional switch from Paris, where Wales were battered in the second half after building a 13-3 lead.

But victory over the Azzurri would set up a probable title decider against Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday week, with Wales chasing their third Six Nations crown in five seasons.

Wales’ four previous Six Nations trips to the Eternal City have produced a mixed bag of two wins and two defeats.

And despite Italy conceding 100 points and 12 tries in losing their first three games this year, Phillips said: “We know it is going to be tough.

“We know we have to back our fitness and our skill and just be more precise and accurate when we have the ball. Then we can put up some points in the second half.”

Wales, whose points difference is currently 23 worse than Ireland’s, know they must win with something to spare. A repeat of their 38-8 triumph in the fixture four years ago would fit the bill.

Phillips added: “We are aware of the need for points, but first we have to win the game. That is the most important thing for us.

“Italy haven’t had a very good tournament and they will be looking for a big performance.

“We are the current champions but we are expecting a big 20 minutes from them. They will be fired up and full of energy.

“Their main asset is their physicality. They are very proud people who love their country and wearing the jersey.

“Hopefully, we can survive that and get some points on the board after that.”

Phillips has yet to recapture the heights of his Six Nations exploits last season, when he was among Wales’ most influential game-breakers.

But he is only three Tests into an international comeback from a major knee injury that meant almost nine months on the sidelines.

It is a case of taking one step at a time and Phillips will always put team success before individual glory.

“I know I haven’t made any 40-yard breaks and if I don’t do that people seem to think I am not playing very well,” he said.

“My main concern though, is to fill my role in the team and make sure the people around me have a good game.