Wales dealt huge blow as Liam Williams emerges as major doubt to face Italy – with Warren Gatland’s side looking to end torrid 13-Test losing run

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Wales’ desperate search for a win which would end their 13-Test losing run has been dealt a huge blow after Liam Williams emerged as a significant doubt to face Italy.
The full-back, who is one of the most experienced players in what is now a youthful squad, missed Warren Gatland’s side’s eve-of-match training session in Rome today.
Williams, 33, is struggling with a knee issue and although he hasn’t yet been fully ruled out of the Stadio Olimpico clash – Wales will give him every chance to prove his fitness given his importance to the side – it is likely head coach Gatland will have to make a late change.
In Wales’ captain’s run today, Blair Murray was running in Williams’ full-back position, so it is likely he would be promoted from the bench to start at No 15.
Such a scenario would mean Gloucester’s Josh Hathaway joining the matchday 23 as a replacement. If Williams is to be absent, it would represent a huge blow to Wales.
Gatland described his players as ‘desperate’ for victory given their record sequence without a win, although he also said the Italy match was not the biggest in Welsh history for the last 15 years. That’s despite the fact many believe Gatland will be sacked as boss at the end of this Six Nations if his team loses in Rome. Even a win might not be enough to save him.

Liam Williams missed Wales’ eve-of-match training session in Rome today with a knee issue

Although he hasn’t yet been fully ruled out of the clash against Italy as Wales will give him every chance to prove his fitness, it is likely Warren Gatland will have to make a late change
‘It’s huge for us. I think a win is a long time overdue. We’re doing everything on and off the pitch to make the wrongs right,’ said Wales lock Dafydd Jenkins.
‘We know it’s not going to be easy against the Italians. Getting that initial result would be huge in terms of morale as well as getting that monkey off our back.
‘Growing up and seeing how good the Welsh team was against Italy, it was a given game. It’s not that anymore. 100 per cent it’s not.’
After Gatland lost a string of superstar players both pre and post the 2023 World Cup, Wales have plummeted alarmingly and to the point at which traditional Six Nations whipping boys Italy are odds on favourites to win tomorrow. Williams’ injury won’t help reverse those numbers. Rome is alive with Wales fans this weekend enjoying the European weather.
But the truth is their team is now nowhere near the quality of the side that as recently as six years ago was ranked No 1 in World Rugby’s rankings, even if only briefly.
Wales have lost two of their last three meetings with Italy.
But they can perhaps take heart from the fact the Azzurri have never won a round-two Six Nations clash and that their last Championship victory came in Rome in 2023.
Even with Williams’ expected absence and all the ills in Welsh rugby, Gatland’s players are capable of winning.

Italy have never won a round-two Six Nations clash, giving Wales hope of a positive result

Many believe Gatland will be sacked as Wales boss at the end of the Six Nations campaign
This game is set to be far closer than Wales’ 43-0 hammering by France on the opening weekend.
‘We obviously know externally there is big pressure on us,’ said Jenkins, who was captain of Wales for the 2024 Six Nations but missed the winless autumn campaign due to injury.
‘But that won’t help anyone if you’re playing under that pressure. We need to play freely to give ourselves the best chance of winning.
‘It’s one thing losing and being a part of it, but it’s another being helpless and seeing the boys losing as well. You can’t really have an impact on the team.’
In players such as Jenkins, current skipper Jac Morgan and scrum-half Tomos Williams, Wales do undoubtedly have talent. Even for all their team’s current struggles, those three players stand a good chance of touring Australia with the British & Irish Lions this summer. So too does hooker Dewi Lake, currently out injured.
But more pressingly, Wales’ and Gatland’s problem is that as a collective, there is simply very little to suggest a seismic turnaround is likely.
Lose in Rome on Saturday and a second consecutive winless Six Nations is on the cards.
In such a scenario, Wales’ winless run would then be at 17 matches by mid-March. Clearly, that would be unacceptable. It is this writer’s opinion that while Wales are not a Grand Slam side in waiting, they should not be in as bad a position as they are currently.

If Wales lose in Rome, a second successive winless Six Nations could be on the cards
If Wales are beaten by Italy, and Georgia – as expected – triumph over the Netherlands in Rugby Europe, then Gatland’s side will drop from 11th to 12th in the standings.
The subsequent result would be an impact on their seeding for the 2027 World Cup and another year of poor Six Nations prize money.
It is hard to escape the feeling Gatland’s position would be untenable if Wales picked up a second consecutive Championship wooden spoon.
Since Gatland returned to Welsh rugby in late 2022, he has struggled for cohesion. Part of that has been down to the retirements of some legendary past players.
But his team selection and tactics have also been questioned. It is clear Wales lack the brutal physical ball carriers to compete with sides like Ireland and France.
That much was obvious in Paris as they failed to score a point for the first time since 2007.
‘Wales just had such a lack of dent,’ former England scrum-half Ben Youngs told his Love of Rugby podcast. ‘I couldn’t believe how scripted their shape was. It was just rinse and repeat. ‘They don’t have ball carriers. If you are going to play like that, the shape needs to be so much tighter. You need little passes.’
Wales had 50 per cent possession against France. They made the most passes (231) but also the fewest kicks (24) of any team in round one.

Gatland’s side failed to score a point against France, doing so for the first time since 2007

Wales did make the most passes of any team in round one, but also registered the fewest kicks
Gatland admitted his team had overplayed in Paris and the result is that there is set to be a far bigger emphasis on putting boot to ball in Rome.
While Liam Williams is more-than-likely going to be a late withdrawal, Gatland’s other two slated changes for Italy are centre Eddie James and veteran No 8 Taulupe Faletau.
James replaces the injured Owen Watkin. Top rugby statistician Russ Petty pointed out Wales’ 10-12-13 axis for Italy of Ben Thomas, James and Nick Tompkins is the 10th different combination Gatland has used in that area of the field in 13 Tests since the start of 2024.
By contrast, Italy have used Paolo Garbisi, Tommaso Menoncello – the 2024 player of the Six Nations – and Juan Ignacio Brex in those positions in 12 of their 13 games in the same time.
All three of those men start for the Azzurri again against Wales tomorrow.
Italy have improved significantly under the guidance of Gonzalo Quesada and their approach now marries a dangerous attack with a more strategic kicking and defensive game.
Wales are set to have their work cut out. The presence of the truly world-class Faletau is cause for optimism and so too is that of Aaron Wainwright on the bench after he recovered from a nasty facial cut which ended his France game early. Gatland is hoping for some ‘X Factor’ from Faletau.
But after two years of injury misery, it is a touch unfair to expect too much from him, as good as he is. Rome will be his first international since the 2023 World Cup pool stage win over Georgia. It’s probably no coincidence that was the last Test in which Wales tasted success. Tomorrow marks 490 days since the Georgia game.

Gatland is hoping for some ‘X Factor’ from veteran No 8 Taulupe Faletau, who starts for Wales

Faletau’s presence is a cause for optimism, as is that of Aaron Wainwright on the bench
So, what are the chances of a much-needed victory for Gatland and his players?
Rome undoubtedly presents the best opportunity for some time. Wales have a good shout. But the head says Italy should have too much, if only narrowly with the benefit of home advantage in the Eternal City. Such a scenario would leave Gatland surely feeling like the misery must also be eternal.
Italy: Tommaso Allan; Ange Capuozzo, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (capt), Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Luca Rizzoli, Marco Riccioni, Dino Lamb, Manuel Zuliani, Ross Vintcent, Alessandro Garbisi, Jacopo Trulla
Wales: Liam Williams / Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Nick Tompkins, Eddie James, Josh Adams; Ben Thomas, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Evan Lloyd, Henry Thomas, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, James Botham, Jac Morgan (capt), Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Keiron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas, Aaron Wainwright, Rhodri Williams, Dan Edwards, Blair Murray / Josh Hathaway
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Kick-off: 2.15pm tomorrow. Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: ITV