Wales wing Adams prepares for 'huge' Italy match

Men's Six Nations: Italy v Wales

Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Date: Saturday, 8 February Kick-off: 14:15 GMT

Coverage: Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales & BBC Radio Cymru; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app; watch on ITV1 and S4C.

Wing Josh Adams has labelled the Six Nations match against Italy in Rome as a huge game with Wales already being tipped for a second successive Wooden Spoon.

Defeat for Wales in Rome would send them tumbling towards another sixth place finish given their opponents after Italy are Ireland, Scotland and England.

The statistics make for grim reading, with Wales' 43-0 drubbing by France being their 13th successive Test match defeat, including seven Six Nations losses on the bounce.

They have not won a Six Nations game since beating Italy at Stadio Olimpico in March 2023 although Wales are unbeaten in Rome since 2007.

"It's huge, isn't it? We said that in the changing rooms after the (France) game," said Adams.

"We understand the run we've been on. It's 13 (losses) now. We want that to stop, obviously, and we are working tirelessly to do that.

"It is a big game for us, and we understand that. Not many people have given us any hope in this campaign, and we are going to try and use that to our advantage."

It is a bleak picture, particularly for head coach Warren Gatland, whose record since returning for a second stint as Wales boss shows just six Test wins from 25 starts.

Gatland and his players are now in Nice, where preparations will continue for Italy, with an early focus being on injured players Owen Watkin and Aaron Wainwright.

Centre Watkin suffered a suspected serious knee injury against France, and number eight Wainwright also departed during the first half after taking a blow to his head that possibly caused cheekbone damage.

Watkin looks set for a long lay-off, while Wainwright's fellow number eight Taulupe Faletau was unavailable to face France because of a knee issue.

Italy are on the back of a 31-19 defeat against Scotland, but they have toppled Wales twice in their last three Six Nations meetings, although it is 18 years since they achieved it on home soil.

"We can make a clear improvement on things - they are not massive fixes," said Adams.

"They are things we need to bring to the front of our minds and make a real focus point for the week.

"We have got to be a lot better in certain areas. Italy are a very good side, they have got nice continuity, and teams probably don't give them credit for how physical they are.

"I think Nice will be a really good opportunity for us to stay tight and try to motivate us to put in a big performance for the country next weekend."

Adams reiterated how much playing for Wales meant to the squad.

"I can never question anyone's commitment to this team," he said.

"Whoever puts the jersey on I know will give their right arm or right leg for this side. I would as well.

"I go out there and give nothing but my best every single time and I try and do what's best for the team."