Gatland plays ‘pain game’ with under-achievers

WALES boss Warren Gatland has promised to play the ‘pain game’ with his players this week – and wing Shane Williams claims there can be few complaints.

“Maybe it is the kick up the backside we need,” said Williams, who wins his 73rd cap in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations finale against Millennium Stadium visitors Italy.

Wales head into the Azzurri clash still with an outside chance they could be lumbered with a first wooden spoon since 2003.

Wales, under the coaching direction of Gatland’s fellow New Zealander Steve Hansen, lost all five Six Nations games that season – including a 30-22 defeat against Italy in Rome.

While Wales cannot be whitewashed this time – thanks to a thrilling victory over Scotland – they will finish last if Italy win and Scotland avoid defeat against Triple Crown-chasing Ireland at Croke Park.

The chances are that Wales will end up in fourth spot – the position they occupied in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2009 – but defeats against England, France and latterly Ireland have rendered their current Six Nations campaign a below-par effort.

Gatland pledged the players would experience some tough training sessions this week, and he has already been true to his word.

“We had a tough session on Monday night and I assume it is going to be tough all week, but rightly so,” added Williams.

Meanwhile France centre Mathieu Bastareaud is expecting a hard-fought battle when they play host to England in the final match of the RBS 6 Nations on Saturday.

Lievremont’s men have exceeded expectations this year and are widely expected to clinch the Grand Slam by beating England at the Stade de France.

Les Bleus also have the added motivation of wanting to avenge last year’s hefty 34-10 defeat, while England will want to end on a high note after a disappointing tournament.

Bastareaud insists rivalry between the two camps is not as fierce as it used to be but is still expecting both sides to come out all guns blazing.

“We’re not here to give out hugs on the pitch! It’s a France-England game,” he said. “We’re playing for the tournament, they’ve been badly criticised.

“It’s going to be a match to dig into, we know it, because the English game is very physical. It’s going to sting, it’s going to hurt us from the beginning of the match and we mustn’t give up anything.

“These are two of the biggest nations in the northern hemisphere, but the rivalry has calmed down a bit, it was more tense in the 90s.

“Now, mentalities have developed, we have English players in our clubs, we have French ones who play there. In any case there’s no particular animosity. matches like this make you dream.”