First the good news – Wales are chasing a ninth consecutive win in Rome and Italy have only once made it back-to-back home wins in the Six Nations. Then comes the bad news.

Warren Gatland is banking on Taulupe’s 100+ cap experience providing his young Welsh side with a real boost in confidence as they seek to beat Italy in Rome in Round 2 of the Guinness Six Nations championship. The 34-year-old Cardiff Rugby No 8 has returned from his latest injury misery to pick up his 105th cap at Stadio Olimpico at the weekend in a vital clash for both nations.

Jonny Clayton produced an inspired comeback to threaten Luke Humphries but it was not quite enough to claim the World Masters title. Welsh star Clayton rallied from 5-2 down but eventually lost 6-5 victory in a dramatic last-leg decider in Milton Keynes.

The back garden of the Emanuel household used to resemble “a war zone” when their sons Ioan and Steff were growing up. Straight and hard running was always the requirement when the two boys, who are only 18 months apart in age, played “one-on-one” rugby matches.

It looks like things are getting to get even worse before they get any better for Warren Gatland’s Wales after they were blown away by France in a 43-0 humiliation in Paris. As an opening gambit in a Six Nations championship, it was a pretty dire scoreline – the first time Wales had failed to score in a Five or Six Nations game since France won 51-0 at Wembley back in 1998.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson accused his team of lacking “fight and determination” in their 3-2 defeat at home to Stevenage. The hosts had gone 22 matches unbeaten on their own turf before this encounter, with their previous loss dating back to March against Tranmere.

Antoine Dupont can’t wait to get back into action in the Guinness Six Nations and he will return to captain Les Bleus against Wales on Friday 31 January. The Toulouse scrum half missed the 2024 tournament to concentrate on playing Sevens rugby for France at the Olympic Games.

Richard Whiffin has made 10 changes to his Wales U20 starting line-up for their second clash with the Reginal Academies XV at Llandovery’s Church Bank ground on Friday 17 January (kick-off 7.30pm). Bristol Bears wing Aidan Boshoff, Bath prop Ioan Emanuel, Bristol Bears lock Kenzie Jenkins, Bath back five man Arthur Moore (Bath) and Dragons No 8 Evan Minto are the only survivors from the side that won the first game 42-21 at the Arms Park last week. Drafted in for round two, and hoping to make an impact ahead of the U20 Six Nations opener against France in Vannes on Saturday 1 February are Ospreys full back Lewis Edwards and wing Ieuan Cornelius, Sale Sharks centre Osian Roberts and scrum half Carwyn Edwards, Scarlets centre Elis Price and hooker Harry Thomas, and Dragons forward duo Nick Thomas and Ryan Jones.

Cardiff City’s reward for beating Sheffield United is another away trip for the fourth round of the FA Cup – to Stoke City. The Bluebirds – the only Welsh club left in the tournament after Swansea City lost 3-0 at Southampton – overcame Championship high-fliers Sheffield United last Thursday night and then had to wait until Sunday evening to learn of their opponents in the next round.

Teddy Williams is hoping to round off a great week by picking up his first win on French soil when he leads Cardiff into their third-round clash in the EPCR Challenge Cup against Perpignan. The 24-year-old Welsh international second row confirmed on Thursday that he had signed an extension to his contract with the Arms Park club and was immediately made captain for the trip to France.

The Welsh Academies U23 XV promised to give the Wales U20 side a run for their money in the first of two clashes ahead of the U20 Six Nations and they did exactly that at the Arms Park. In front of a very healthy crowd, Richard Whiffin’s U20 team were forced to tough it out against their older and heavier counterparts in what should prove to be a very useful warm-up to the opening championship game against France in Vannes on Saturday 1 February.

Richard Whiffin’s Wales U20 side will continue their build up to the U20 Six Nations Championship with two games against a Regional Academies XV over the next two weeks. Having used more than 50 players in two developmental fixtures against Scotland – they won the first at home 31-7 and went down 45-43 in Edinburgh – the Welsh youngsters will face two physical tests against an Under 23 team selected from the senior academies at the four regions.