Wales have vowed to let rip against Italy this afternoon in the knowledge that if they suffer their fourth consecutive championship defeat the tumbril will be waiting outside the Millennium Stadium.
One consolation for Wales is that though their leading clubs threaten civil war and the Welsh Rugby Union is under pressure to reform itself after Graham Henry's resignation as national coach last month, Italy arrive in Cardiff in even greater disarray.
Their coach Brad Johnstone, like Henry a New Zealander, reportedly had to fight off a threatened mutiny by some of his squad last week and when Italy's captain Alessandro Moscardi describes today's encounter as a last chance, he had Johnstone in mind rather than the players. Wales have lost five of their past six matches, with their solitary victory coming against Tonga.
Wales caretaker coach Steve Hansen, another Kiwi, is also relying on his players to provide him with job security. His chances of holding on to the job depend in no small measure on today's result.
While France and England play out the title decider in Paris, Cardiff will host the wooden-spoon contest and the ground is likely to be only two-thirds full as the WRU battles against the apathy factor, Italy's strongest card..
REPLACEMENTS: Wales: B Williams (Neath), S John (Cardiff), C Wyatt (Llanelli), B Sinkinson (Neath), D Peel (Llanelli), I Harris (Cardiff), R Williams (Cardiff). Italy: F Pucciariello (Gloucester), A Lo Cicero (Stade Toulousain), A Benatti (Viadana), M Phillips (Viadana), M Mazzantini (Treviso), F Mazzariol (Treviso), G Raineri (Roma)
