Wales is on the brink of potentially avoiding the Six Nations wooden spoon today, despite not securing a single victory in the tournament so far. Their journey has been fraught with 16 successive Test match defeats, dating back to the 2023 World Cup quarter-finals. Facing the prospect of a second consecutive wooden spoon, Wales hopes to outmaneuver Italy to escape the bottom spot on Super Saturday.
With Wales and Italy in contention for the dreaded accolade, the remaining four sides – France, England, Ireland, and Scotland – are safe from the threat of finishing last. The situation is critical for Wales, as Italy currently holds four points compared to Wales’ three. However, Italy’s points have been garnered through a single victory over Wales in the second round of fixtures in Rome. To steer clear of the wooden spoon, Wales needs to secure at least one more match point than Italy and improve their points difference.
The ideal scenario for Welsh supporters would involve a resounding victory over England on Super Saturday, which could simultaneously break their losing streak and elevate them from the bottom spot. A win with a bonus point would significantly strengthen their position. However, the outcome is contingent on Italy’s performance against Ireland earlier in the day. If Italy secures a surprise bonus point victory, Wales would face a more challenging path to avoiding the wooden spoon.
In the event that neither Wales nor Italy secures a win in their final match, the determination may come down to losing bonus points. As Wales currently trails Italy by just one point, they would need Italy to earn one or fewer losing bonus points before facing England. A win against England with four tries and losing within seven points could tip the scales in Wales’ favour, potentially securing a fifth-place finish.
The points difference may serve as the deciding factor, should Italy fall to Ireland in Rome. Even without a tournament victory, Wales could edge past Italy if they maintain a superior points difference. Heading into the final weekend, Wales and Italy are closely matched on points difference, with Wales slightly leading at -65 compared to Italy’s -77.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Wales has the opportunity to evade the wooden spoon through strategic gameplay and a possible Italian defeat. The fans’ hopes are pinned on a successful showdown with England and favourable outcomes in the other matches on Super Saturday. As the Six Nations tournament reaches its climax, the stakes are high for Wales to avoid repeating history and secure a commendable finish.