Italy captain Sergio Parisse ‘confident’ ahead of Wales visit

Sergio Parisse says he is ‘really confident’ about his Italy team’s prospects against Wales on Saturday – despite history being stacked against them.

Italy have lost their last 18 Six Nations Tests, going without a win in the tournament since they beat Scotland at Murrayfield four years ago.

The Azzurri have to go even further back – March 2013 – for a Six Nations home victory, while they last toppled Wales in 2007.

Sergio Parisse says he is ‘really confident’ about his Italy team’s prospects against Wales

They will also face a Wales team at Stadio Olimpico that is chasing a record-equalling 11th successive win against all opponents, stretching back to last season’s tournament.

Italy opened their campaign with a 33-20 defeat in Scotland last Saturday, suggesting they could struggle to hold Wales, even if visiting head coach Warren Gatland has made 10 changes following victory over France last time out.

But Italy skipper Parisse, who makes an Italian record 14th appearance against Wales on Saturday, said: ‘I am really confident because I have seen a lot of great work from the team during training in the week.

‘We go into the game with belief, and we are playing with confidence.

History is stacked against Italy as they chase a first Six Nations victory since 2015

‘But the most important thing is the whole 80 minutes against a big, big side in Wales who are (ranked) fourth in the world.

‘They won in France not playing their best rugby. France conceded some very easy tries, but we know Wales are a very dangerous side. For us, we want to be in the game for 80 minutes.’

Parisse dismissed Wales’ mass changes as having any relevance on the game, with Gatland making full use of a 31-man squad that trained during a five-day camp in Nice this week.

‘From the point of view of a player, it is a dangerous mindset to be in if you are more motivated to face a side that has made changes,’ Parisse told reporters at Stadio Olimpico on Friday.

‘That is not a good place to be.

‘For us, it doesn’t matter whether Wales have made 10, 15, 11 or three changes.

‘They are still a very, very strong side, and we will have to be at our best to beat them. We are concentrating on ourselves.’

They have lost their last 18 Tests in the Six Nations and were beaten by Scotland last weekend