SIX NATIONS 2009 - ITALY v WALES
Venue: Stadio Flaminio Date: Saturday, 14 March Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC ONE Wales and online, full commentary on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and online plus score updates on BBC Radio 5 Live
 Rhys Thomas and his Wales pack partners must take on the Italy eight |
Wales need to cancel Italy's scrum power for the first hour to prosper in next Saturday's RBS Six Nations clash in Rome, according to prop Rhys Thomas. Thomas played 75 minutes of Newport Gwent Dragons' Magners League loss to Munster on Saturday, the first time he has taken the field since January. But Thomas says he is feeling good and is looking forward to starting in Rome. "I think that Italy's scrum is their strength but if you nullify that they seem to struggle," said Thomas. "They're going to come out all guns blazing for the the first 40, 50, 60 minutes and then it's a question of what we can do. "I don't think it'll take us long to gel - we know each other really well and we've trained together almost every day for nearly the last six weeks." Thomas, 26, has had to wait his chance behind the consistent Adam Jones - with his one previous Six Nations appearance among six caps coming against Italy last year. But Wales coach Warren Gatland has given the Dragons player an opportunity in Rome on Saturday as one of a raft of changes made from the side that lost in France. Thomas, the only Welsh-based player in action last weekend, knows he will have to stand out at the Stadio Flaminio to keep Ospreys star Jones out of the Triple Crown and potential championship decider against Ireland on 21 March in Cardiff.  | 606: DEBATE |
"It means a lot to me, it's a big chance so I'll train hard in the week and go for it at the weekend," said Thomas, after the Dragons' 20-9 defeat to Munster. "Adam's playing well so all I can do is concentrate on the game, play really well and see what happens." The South African-born prop has been tantalisingly close to the action so far as Wales' 23rd man - going through match preparations in case of last-minute injuries. "It's frustrating being so close but at least I'm part of the squad and now I've got my chance," Thomas added. After weeks without rugby, Thomas may want to forget an embarrassing moment against Munster on Saturday evening at Rodney Parade, when an off-the-ball tug on Donnacha Ryan cost Dragons scrum-half Wayne Evans a try. But in true prop tradition he was concentrating on the donkey work upfront. "I needed game time, had a lot of scrums which is what we needed, so I'm feeling fairly good about it," he said.
Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Mark Jones (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); James Hook (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); John Yapp (Blues), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Dragons), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (capt, Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Andy Powell (Blues).
Replacements: Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Bradley Davies (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Warren Fury (London Irish), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Blues).
| 
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?