11:28am Thursday 18th March 2010
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.
“We are very frustrated we have not played better in this championship.”
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 early in the week and I assume it is going to be tough all week, but rightly so,” added Williams.
“If you look at the players in the squad, it’s possibly the strongest one I’ve been involved in, and we are more frustrated than anyone.
“We know, potentially, we can be world-beaters, it’s just getting it right on the day.
“We need to get it all clicking again, get the confidence back and go out and enjoy ourselves. We seem to play better when we are playing with a smile on our face, but that just hasn’t been the case in our last couple of games.
“It’s massive for all of us on Saturday. We have been very frustrated with the way the Six Nations has gone.
“A lot of the guys feel maybe they haven’t played as well as they would have liked.
“And collectively, we haven’t played as well as we wanted to either. There have been a lot of mistakes, a lot of discipline issues.”
Wales leaked try doubles against England and Ireland when they had players sin-binned, while defensive lapses contributed towards 10 touchdowns being conceded in this season’s tournament.
And while annual Six Nations strugglers Italy at home is hardly a fixture to set the pulse racing, Williams knows Wales must deliver an overdue performance.
“We are a very proud bunch, and we want a massive performance on Saturday,” he said. “We hate losing. It’s important now that we have a big win and get the confidence back in the guys. Wales is a tough place sometimes when things aren’t going right and you are not playing well. I am as big a Welsh fan as anyone. I want Wales to do well and win, whether I am playing or not.”
His wing partner on Saturday is teenager Tom Prydie, who was just seven years old when Williams first played for Wales as a replacement against France in 2000.
As with 21-year-old Cardiff Blues flanker Sam Warburton’s selection this weekend, Gatland is casting an eye towards the 2011 World Cup and aiming to develop strength in depth.
Williams though, while thrilled at Prydie’s call-up, is not ready to leave Test rugby’s fast lane for the hard shoulder quite yet.
“I am still enjoying it,” he continued. “I am still walking around with a spring in my step, enjoying my rugby and my training.
“There is nothing worse than having to go to a job you don’t enjoy doing. I am still loving it.
“I’ve only played alongside Tom once - for the Ospreys against the Dragons - and he showed glimpses in that game of what kind of gas he’s got.
“He is not frightened to show his opinions off the field either, which is great. At that age (18), I would have been hiding in a corner somewhere not wanting to say anything.
“But these boys are coming through now and telling us older boys what to do, and that’s great. It shows the confidence.
“He is one of these players who works very hard on and off the field. Hopefully, I can put him in for a couple of tries on Saturday.’’
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