ALEX BYWATER: Josh Adams and Wales won a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2019… now, he wants his side to be ruthless against Italy as the threat of finishing BOTTOM for the first time in 21 years hangs over them

Josh Adams won 16 of his first 20 tests for Wales after making his debut in 2018.

He quickly settled into success at international level, winning a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2019 and then becoming the leading try scorer in that year’s World Cup as his team reached the semi-finals.

Adams and Wales are now on a four-match losing streak into 2024. Warren Gatland’s side have lost 11 of their last 12 Six Nations games.

Unless they defeat Italy, they will finish last in the championship table for the first time since 2003.

‘Sometimes you learn better from your losses, but there is only learning if you show improvement the following week. Otherwise it’s pointless,” Adams said.

‘I won my first Test at home against Scotland, lost away against England at Twickenham and didn’t lose for nine Tests after that.

“I was on a team that didn’t know how to lose. That’s the kind of place we’re going to have to get to now: where it becomes second nature and we understand how to close games. It’s a big week for us. It would be really nice to finish with “A victory. We want it and need it desperately. Of course you don’t want a wooden spoon. It’s a new experience for a new team.”

When Adams first arrived on the international scene, Wales were a winning machine. They briefly rose to number one in the official World Rugby rankings.

Things are very different today. Gatland has a team of rookies at his disposal. These are difficult times in Welsh football. And Italy won 22-21 on their last visit to the Principality Stadium in 2022.

In the past, Wales were used to competing for a Grand Slam and the Six Nations title on ‘Super Saturday’. In 2024, the pressure will increase again, but for a different reason.

“The pressure when you’re in a game to win something feels a little different,” Adams, 28, said.

‘There is something at the end, while this is a situation where we cannot afford to lose. International rugby is a cut-throat business and you need to perform at your best every week.

‘We have to have the mentality that international rugby is about winning. We haven’t been able to do that yet. We are desperate to win. Italy has improved very well.

“I have been in a Premiership relegation battle with Worcester. We lost our first seven games of the season and were miles behind. It all came down to a match against London Irish where practically whoever won would stay on top. This is similar in a way.

‘You have to accept it. Don’t shy away. We need the mindset to deal with this and end up with what we feel we deserve, which is a good win.