Jonathan Davies: Rome provides chance for Wales to build momentum

As if Wales didn't already face an uphill struggle in the Six Nations, they've found themselves hit by injuries in the vital positions of outside-half and hooker, among others. But, although it's hard to be optimistic, I do see grounds for hope.

Playing Italy in Rome in the opening match on Saturday is one of them. I'm not saying that it is a particularly easy match, and they would be wrong to take it lightly, but it does offer them a good chance to start the tournament with a win.

Wales have started badly in recent seasons simply because they have struggled to cope with the intensity of play in the Six Nations. Due to the gradual drop in standards in domestic Welsh rugby, they have taken longer than their rivals to adjust to a higher grade.

The pattern of their results shows that after doing badly in early matches they've picked up form towards the end of the championship once they have become more accustomed to the pace at which games are played at this level.

The experience of the autumn internationals – in which they more than held their own against New Zealand for 70 minutes before running out of steam – and the opportunity to use the Italian game as a springboard to the tougher challenges ahead will be a much better preparation than they have had in the past few seasons.

It is not a question of fitness and the effort they put into training. You can be as fit and as strong as you like, but if you are not accustomed to that sort of intensity nothing can prepare you for it.

They must go to Rome with the intention of winning by a 20-point margin and establishing the priorities of play that they are going to rely on in the other four matches. They must play a quick game with solid set-pieces that allow them to utilise their pace in the backs and encourage their forwards to become more mobile.

Italy will see this as their best chance of a win, so it will be a good test of a Welsh team on which changes have been forced by injury.

The loss of outside-half Stephen Jones with a broken thumb robs them of a very steady and experienced hand at the centre of operations. Had he played, I was torn between Iestyn Harris and Leigh Davies at inside-centre. Both would have answered the demands of good defence and quick distribution.

Now they can do it together and we'll still have two footballers at 10 and 12. Harris will relish the chance at the position he prefers and he and Leigh can offer a powerful partnership who can play flat, hold the opposing defence and release the speed merchants Rhys Williams, Mark Jones and Craig Williams.

Setting their pacemen alight must be turned into a big plus by Wales. Bashing up the middle, especially when there are so many forwards in the defensive line, is not a tactic to be relied upon any more and Wales are better suited than most to bring more subtlety and speed into action.

The loss of hookers Robin McBryde and Barry Williams is another blow. I have no doubts that Pontypridd's Mefin Davies will do a great job but you need plenty of cover. Wales are fortunate to be able to call on veteran Jonathan Humphreys, who has been doing well for Bath, and young players like Gareth Williams of Bridgend.

There have been some doubts cast on the form of captain Colin Charvis, the Swansea back-row man. Swansea have been having a bad time this season and it is felt that he should be left out and the captaincy handed to Martyn Williams of Cardiff.

Williams is having a fine season, but I believe that you should judge a player on his international performances, and Charvis has done nothing wrong when he's been leading Wales. How they organise the back row remains to be seen, but I'd play Charvis at No 8 with Williams and Dafydd Jones either side of him.

Wales are obviously going to be up against it when they play England the week after next, but they have in them to make a fight of it as long as they establish a pattern against Italy. There aren't any easy games and Rome will be all the harder because of the work Wales must do to prepare themselves for the bigger battles ahead.