The Japan Times - Williams wants Six Nations strugglers Wales to follow Italy's lead

Wales finish this year's edition at home to the Azzurri on Saturday and will kick off on a sequence of 15 successive defeats in the tournament, a run stretching back 1,099 days since their last Championship win, against Italy in Rome on March 11, 2023.

The Welsh will likely finish bottom of the table regardless of Saturday's result against a resurgent Italy, who are bidding to win three games in the same Six Nations season for the first time following victories over both Scotland and England.

Italy, however, lost 36 consecutive Six Nations games between 2015 and 2022, and were beaten in all five matches as recently as three years ago.

"They've obviously improved in recent years and are really competitive, especially this campaign," Wales scrum-half Williams told a pre-match press conference on Friday.

"They've got some class players and have a good game plan that suits them and they've all bought into."

The Gloucester and British and Irish Lions No 9 added: "From game to game or campaign to campaign it doesn't take much (to turn things around).

“Momentum swings and confidence is a huge thing. They look confident at the moment, they back themselves and know what they're doing.

Wales are hoping coach Steve Tandy can oversee an improvement similar to that managed by Italy during their two years under former Argentina fly-half Gonzalo Quesada.

Saturday's clash in Cardiff will be Tandy's ninth match in charge and the wales boss has named an unchanged side for the first time following an encouraging 27-17 defeat in Ireland.

Wales remained within one score of their hosts at Dublin's Lansdowne Road until four minutes from time, building on an improved showing against Scotland following outright thrashings by England and France in the opening two rounds.

"The last two performances have been a lot better," said Williams, 31.

"We'd have liked the results as well, but there’s plenty of positives and we're heading in the right direction.

"It's going to take a while for coaches to realise what boys are good at and what their strengths are. How boys react to stuff and want to play.

"You're always going to build it towards the end of a campaign and get a little bit better, but our target is to start strong in campaigns as well."

M.Yamazaki--JT