Wainwright embodies pain and hope of Welsh rugby

Men's Six Nations: Wales v Ireland

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 22 February Kick-off: 14:15 GMT

Coverage: Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC 5 Live; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app; watch on S4C.

No player has experienced the pain across Welsh rugby quite as much as Aaron Wainwright.

And that is not only because of the last of the 11 stitches in his lip and cheek he was having removed on Monday.

The Dragons number eight was part of the Wales team that topped the world rankings in 2019.

But he has won just two of his last 27 games for club and country, against Zebre and Newcastle Falcons who were, at the time, bottom of their respective leagues.

Since Wales' last Test win - against Georgia at the 2023 World Cup - Wainwright has lost 25 of 30 games and seen both his regional and national head coaches depart.

Dai Flanagan left Rodney Parade in November before Warren Gatland - who gave Wainwright his his 2018 Test debut in Argentina - walked away from Wales last week.

"It's hard to miss anything with rumours on social media but until Gats actually addressed the room, we didn't really have a clue," Wainwright recalled.

"He just told the boys he was going to be leaving and wished us all the best for the rest of the campaign. It was pretty sad."

Gatland left after a second spell in charge which brought just six victories in 26 Tests.

During his first 12-year stint the New Zealander had won three Grand Slams, reached two World Cup semi-finals and took Wales briefly to the rop of the world rankings.

"Upon reflection, it's important to realise and appreciate what a massive and positive influence he was for Welsh rugby over the years," said Wainwright.

"I made my test debut under him and most of my international career, so on a personal level it was quite sad that it had come to that.

"But once that meeting happened we had to park it. I suppose that's what we have to do now - just put that to bed and focus on Ireland this week."

Wainwright is an expert at shrugging off disappointment.

During this 14-Test losing run, he was still named Welsh player of the year, picked up his 50th cap and has remained fiercely loyal to Dragons by signing a new contract.

And he has, of course, experienced the other side of the coin having been part of the 2019 Grand Slam and 2021 Six Nations title successes.

"There's no hiding from the fact this is a pretty low point," said the 27-year-old.

"There isn't a lot of positivity around at the moment. You can switch off to some stuff online but you can't get away from everything.

"After some of the things we have seen on social media or read in the press, it just makes you want to go out and prove them wrong. That's definitely a driver for me this weekend."

Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt wants his beleaguered squad to play with a smile on their face.

That may be easier said than done but Wainwright remains a player in love with the game, even with all its flaws in Wales across regional and Test level, and even when approached by fans in supermarkets.

"I always get a lot of fans coming up and asking about what is going on at the Dragons or Wales but I actually love those interactions because people are so passionate," he said.

"They want what's best for the national side or the Dragons and understand this is a low point, but they're are excited about the chance for us to get back to where we were.

"I highlight 2019 as my best year in a Welsh shirt when we won the Six Nations and then reached the World Cup semi-finals. We want to get back there."

Wainwright may find himself at the foot of the Six Nations and United Rugby Championship but his commitment is resolute.

His try against Italy was his fifth this season, already his best return in senior rugby after just 11 games, and offered a glimmer of hope in the Roman rain.

It also came just a week after the studs of Antoine Dupont left him with an awful facial injury in Paris.

Ireland are lining up to put the boot into Wales next but Wainwright has made a career of picking himself back up. Wales hope to do so as well.

"Matt has made a big point about changing the mindset and players enjoying being in the Wales set up," he said.

"A massive thing is about sticking together as a player group because we're the only ones that can change things over the next couple of weeks.

"It's a massive challenge against Ireland, one of the best teams in the world. They're incredibly detailed in whatever they do and all the little things that they can get away with.

"So we have to be right on our game and enjoying the challenge. I'm sure the fans will get a sense of that."