WARREN GATLAND’S selection gamble almost backfired in spectacular fashion before Tom Shanklin saved Welsh blushes in Italy.

Gatland admitted his “nuts were on the block” after making nine changes with his high-risk selection for yesterday’s Six Nations clash in Rome.

And the Wales coach will be steering clear of any sharp objects this week after his second-stringers produced this woeful display. The team looked like strangers as they were out-muscled and out-played by the fired-up Azzurri who were unlucky not to claim another scalp.

Gatland has done wonders since taking charge 16 months ago but he came within eight minutes of joining predecessors Steve Hansen and Gareth Jenkins by losing in Rome.

In the end, the game played out like a scene from the Great Escape, with Shanklin leading the charge over the prison fence.

Shane Williams also darted over and James Hook passed 200 points for Wales with four goals.

But for the first time since taking the helm, questions will be asked about Gatland’s tactics. He said: “There were times when I feared the number of changes was going to backfire. When you’re behind, you go through different scenarios in your head and ask questions.

Jail

“Some individuals didn’t perform as we hoped and the number of changes did have an effect. But while we’re not entirely pleased with the performance, we’re more than happy to score two tries and win. We’ve shown consistency after clinching the title last year by winning three of our four games in this championship, but we haven’t shown the same consistency with our performance.”

The front-row were bullied in the scrums, the back-row offered no control and the half-backs failed to spark the Welsh attack.

Blood Wales spent long periods on the back foot, and the dream team of Gavin Henson and Jamie Roberts had no chance to shine.

Gatland was forced to make a major U-turn after less than an hour, throwing on the cavalry of Ryan Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees and Shanklin to get out of jail.

Italy’s strength up front is well known, yet Gatland effectively handed them the scrums with six changes to his pack. And it almost proved fatal.

John Yapp, Huw Bennett and Rhys Thomas had just four starts in the Six Nations between them and it showed as the Azzurri scrummaging monsters smelled blood.

Talents

Gatland said: “The scrum struggled and conceded six points from two penalties. It didn’t give us a platform and was an area that put us under huge pressure.”

Wales were lucky to be only 9-7 down at the break after the scrum conceded a penalty inside five minutes, handing Italy the perfect start as Stadio Flaminio erupted.

Deficit Hook missed his first shot but within minutes, Williams was over for his 46th Test try, putting him level with All Black great Christian Cullen in the world scoring charts.

Luke Charteris made the break, and Henson scampered from right to left to create an overlap that left Williams with an easy score. But with Wales’ pack struggling, it was a rare chance to see those talents.

Ambitions

Andrea Marcato kicked Italy 9-7 ahead though Wales had Mark Jones to thank that the deficit was not worse. The wing scrambled to deny Alessandro Zanni a try by a matter of inches before following that up with telling tackles on Zanni and Sergio Parisse as Wales held out before half-time.

Gatland rang the changes after Marcato’s fourth penalty and the cavalry reversed the flow, allowing Hook to kick Wales back into the lead, at 13-12, on 65 minutes.

Shanklin was thrown into the fray but handed Italy the lead after he was penalised with his first touch, before making amends with his winner. Hook drew in the defenders before Shanklin used Williams as a decoy to power over to break Italian hearts and save Welsh ambitions.

SCORERS — Italy: pens Marcato 5. Wales: tries S Williams, Shanklin; pens Hook 2; cons Hook 2.
Zrodlo: www.newsoftheworld.co.uk