If you cannot have a stock-take against a side that have lost their last 15 matches in the Six Nations, when can you? The Italy head coach, Conor O'Shea, does not take Wales's remodelling as an insult. There is a sense of Gatland asserting his authority in selection. O'Shea, who confined himself to one change from Marseille, will use Wales' selection as a spur for his players but they will need to control possession and snare their opponents between desire and reality. Two years ago Wales recorded the mother of all victories over the Azzurri, piling up 67 points in the match before O'Shea's takeover.

Source: Irish Independent March 11, 2018 02:35 UTC