No ‘ifs or buts’ for Wales in Six Nations wooden spoon battle with Italy
Wales second-row Adam Beard.
Wales second-row Adam Beard insists there can be no “ifs or buts” for his team when they take on Italy in their Six Nations wooden spoon showdown in Cardiff on Saturday.
Warren Gatland’s troops are in a last chance saloon as they languish at the bottom of the Championship’s standings after losing all four of their previous matches, against Scotland, England, Ireland and France, only having three bonus points to show for their efforts.
They are four points adrift of the Azzurri, who have shown considerable improvement under new head coach Gonzalo Quesada. Despite losses to England and Ireland, Italy have drawn against France before beating Scotland at the weekend in a solid effort thus far.
Disappointing campaign
Wales are just one loss away from their worst Six Nations campaign since 2003 when they suffered five defeats.
It’s unfamiliar territory for Beard, who was part of Six Nations title-winning sides in 2019 – when Wales also clinched a Grand Slam – and 2021, but he is determined to help his country finish their 2024 campaign on a high.
“We’ve got to deal with it, there are no ifs or buts now,” said the 28-year-old. “We have got to deal with it, and we’ve got to deal with it pretty quickly. Hopefully, when it comes to it, we will be right on point and we will deal with that pressure well and get the win.
“It’s huge. There is nothing we can do but win that game, otherwise you know what is going to happen.
“It is a must-win game, so we are going to be hungry and willing to go to the well for 80 minutes.”
Italy’s win over Scotland was a momentous one as it was their first Six Nations triumph on home soil for 11 years. The Azzurri’s confidence will be boosted as they beat Wales in Cardiff two years ago courtesy of a Edoardo Padovani try which was converted by Paolo Garbisi with the game’s final kick.
There’s also been improvement at club level in the Italian game with Benetton giving a good account of themselves in the United Rugby Championship where they are still in the hunt for a play-off spot after losing just three matches this season.
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“It was an unbelievable win for them (against Scotland), and they are probably going to be on a massive high coming to the Principality Stadium,” added Beard.
“Over the last (number of) years I have played against them, it has been a tough Test match every single time.
“Their game-management, how structured they are – it is not a loose game from them any more – and they have got exciting players.
“They have got a very good team on paper and they are putting in some good performances, and we have got to be on point to get the win.
“Hopefully, everyone who is watching Welsh rugby can see that (while) we haven’t got a win yet, there are lots of positives that have come out of these games and we are not far off being an unbelievable side.
Desperately need a win
“We like to pride ourselves on being a tough team to beat. We want to get those results and we want them now.
“We are not happy with just being a young side getting good exposure, we do want to get those wins now. International rugby is about winning, so it would be nice to put in an 80-minute performance next Saturday.
“Look, we can’t put too much pressure on ourselves because sometimes that goes the other way then, and it might spiral backwards.
“If we get our stuff right and put in that 80-minute performance, I have no doubt this squad will get the win.”