Six Nations: Aaron Wainwright embodies pain and hope of Welsh rugby

Wainwright may find himself at the foot of the Six Nations and United Rugby Championship but his commitment is resolute.

His try against Italy was his fifth this season, already his best return in senior rugby after just 11 games, and offered a glimmer of hope in the Roman rain.

It also came just a week after the studs of Antoine Dupont left him with an awful facial injury in Paris.

Ireland are now lining up to put the boot into Wales next, but Wainwright has made a career of picking himself back up. Wales hope to do so as well.

“Matt has made a big point about changing the mindset and players enjoying being in the Wales set up,” he said.

“A massive thing is about sticking together as a player group because we’re the only ones that can change things over the next couple of weeks.

“It’s a massive challenge against Ireland, one of the best teams in the world. They’re incredibly detailed in whatever they do and all the little things that they can get away with.

“So we have to be right on our game and enjoying the challenge. I’m sure the fans will get a sense of that.”