Rob Howley insists he’s happy for Wales to be left as outsiders for this year’s RBS Six Nations.
The Wales coach believes his team can repeat their last title triumph of 2013, but is content for the bookies and pundits to install defending Grand Slam champions England and Ireland as favourites. Wales are a distant 8-1 behind England (4-5) and Ireland (9-4).
Both those countries have to visit Cardiff this year and Howley is relaxed about his team’s home form after victories over Japan, Argentina and South Africa last November.
“It is good that no-one is talking about Wales,” said Howley, whose side open their campaign in Italy on February 5.
“I spoke about our home form in the autumn and it is nice to have England and Ireland at home.
“We back ourselves at the Principality Stadium and have a very good record in the Six Nations, in particular at home, and we do not have a bad record away.
“The challenge for us from a selection point of view is the first two games (against Italy and England) with a six-day turnaround. That is a challenge.
“Italy, first up, will be hugely competitive and they have a new coaching team. They came up short against Tonga in the autumn but had a fantastic win over South Africa.
“They will be a big challenge but we have been to Italy before and we have a lot of experience, which we will count on. We have young talent as well and it is about getting a blend.
“We have talked a little bit in selection about the teams we put out against Italy and England. It will be exciting in the build-up to see how the young talent performs against experienced players in training.
“The dynamics of the squad with the new captain and new talent will create an edge we want.”
Howley and his players took plenty of flak after their opening autumn defeat to Australia, but he believes their response underlines they have both resilience and an improving ruthless streak.
We’ve come through a difficult autumn when we won three out of four games,” he said. “Welsh sides over the last couple of years have been criticised for coming up short, but in three out of those four games we’ve got over the line. That can give us confidence coming into the Six Nations.
“It’s important that we start well. That’s something we will speak about. Momentum is key in that first game.
“Italy have a fantastic captain in Sergio Parisse capable of doing fantastic things on the pitch, to make things happen around him. He has a real X factor.
“They will have a spring in their step from the autumn [victory over the Springboks]. Any side that’s coached by Conor O’Shea and has Mike Catt involved, both intelligent coaches who know the game inside out and are experienced in the Six Nations, they’re going to be well prepared.
“But it’s 80 per cent about us and 20 per cent about the opposition. It has to be about ourselves.”