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

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 Stadio Olimpico clash – 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 tomorrow 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.