Wales will go in search of a first win in seven games in the tournament when they run out at Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Friday night (10 March). The Italians were 27-10 victors in Colwyn Bay as they produced their third win of the 2022 campaign.
Yet when the two teams met in the Six Nations Summer Series last summer, Joe Hawkins side won 23-20 to maintain their unbeaten run against the young Azzurri on Italian soil. Four of that side, Hawkins himself, Mason Grady, Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza have played in the senior Six Nations in recent weeks.
“We’re in a good position after a fallow week. The players have had plenty of time to recover and we’ve picked a strong and competitive team,” said Everett.
“We know what’s coming, although this is a different group to the one we met in Italy last summer. We know Italy have a very experienced pack with a strong scrum and a line-out that has already bagged five driving line-out tries.
“It’s going to bee exciting to see how we do against them. Yes, we had Dafydd and Christ last summer, and it’s great to see where they are now, but we have good enough boys in our group now, like Jonny Green and Ryan Woodman, who can step up to the challenge, manipulate their line-out and stop it.
“There are always areas in which you need to get better, but this Six Nations campaign we have been on the wrong side of the bounce of the ball. We were really competitive in the opening two games, but we didn’t really turn up and give our best performance against England.
“You can’t just be driven by results, the boys have to learn. We have to give the players the chance to express themselves and there have been patches in all games where we’ve looked very dangerous and threatening.”
Massimo Brunello’s team opened their account with a single points 28-27 home defeat against France before going down 32-25 to England. They then lost 44-27 at home to the Irish, although they edged the second half 19-17
“Wales are undoubtedly a less physically and technically gifted team compared to the three we have already met,” said Brunello.
“But they are still a team that knows how to play rugby, and against us they will certainly have a lot of motivation. They are still with zero victories, and because last year we went to their home and won.
“We have to try to build the match with clarity of mind but also with the right aggressiveness from the first minute. Managing the pressure that comes with us being somehow favourites is crucial.
“After three good performances, five bonus points and many plaudits, we don’t want to hide – we know that we can win, and we have prepared to do it.”
