We hurt the most – Roberts (From Western Telegraph)

We hurt the most – Roberts

12:00pm Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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IF the press and public get upset when Wales lose it’s nothing compared to the pain the players and coaches go through, Jamie Roberts claims.

The Newport-born centre said sports stars are constantly being built up only to be knocked down again with the Welsh especially good at turning on their own.

Roberts, 23, partners James Hook in the centre for the fifth successive game against Italy on Saturday.

Talking about Wales’ poor Six Nations campaign, he said the press and fans are quick to jump on the team when the chips are down.

But he said: “No one hurts more than the players and coaches.

“It’s important (the press and public) understand.

It’s hard for them to take…but it’s even harder for us.

“We (the Wales set-up) are all in this together and we are working hard to make sure it won’t happen again.

“We are training our socks off this week.

“Sometimes you have to experience the bad times to appreciate the good.

“You are going to go through tough times.”

When asked about how he felt about being talked up so much, especially after his man of the series award with the Lions in South Africa last year, Roberts said: “I’m not one to get dragged into the hype because people are built up only to be knocked down again in all professional sport.

“It’s especially true in Wales, people are very quick to criticise.”

Roberts, who wins his 21st cap against Italy, said the Azzurri will see victory over Wales as a major upset: “Italy will see us as a scalp. They know we are struggling this championship.

“They have a good tactical kicker in Craig Gower.”

Former Australia rugby league star Gower, 31, is one of the few big names in the Italy side.

The former New South Wales State of Origin and Kangaroos captain made his Italy debut against the Wallabies last summer.

The 31-year-old switched codes in 2007 to link up with the French Top 14 club Bayonne and qualified for the Azzurri thanks to his Italian grandfather.