Aaron Wainwright was the first player to face the press after Warren Gatland left his role as Wales’ head coach last week, but the 27-year-old stated that won’t affect his side as he wants to ‘prove people wrong’.
They will play their first home game of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations at a sold-out Principality Stadium on Saturday afternoon against Ireland. Wales will also be under new leadership come Saturday’s game as Matt Sherratt will take charge of the national side for the very first time.
He comes into the role on the back of 14 straight Test defeats and many have serious doubt whether Wales can get the win. Some bookmakers have Wales as 22-1 outsiders, but if they were able to cause an upset it would be one of the biggest in recent times.
“Obviously, there is no hiding away from the fact this is a pretty low point. We are on a run of defeats,” began Wainwright.
“I think an important thing for us is that we are going to be playing in a packed-out Principality Stadium, so what a great chance to go out there and put a performance in against one of the best teams in the world and potentially and hopefully come away with a result.
“There isn’t a lot of positivity around at the moment. For some of us, it is about trying to prove people wrong.
“After some of the things we have seen on social media or read in the press, you want to go out and prove them wrong. That is definitely a driver for me.
“There were loads of Welsh fans in Paris and Rome, so we will definitely be thinking about how we can give back to them to get them fully behind us.
“They can sing and shout and put the Irish fans in their place by shouting louder than them. When the crowd gets behind you it literally makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
“That is infectious, drives you on and gives you a boost of energy. The fans do make a massive difference and whoever makes the first big carry or tackle will set the tone,” insisted the back row forward who has represented Wales on 54 occasions.
Wainwright didn’t have the best of starts in this year’s Championship as he was substituted early in Paris after sustaining a cut on his cheek at the Stade de France. “I think I face-planted Antoine Dupont’s boot,” added Wainwright who revealed that he had to have 11 stitches in his cheek despite still being available for the Italy game 8 days after sustaining the injury.
“And, I wasn’t trying to kiss his feet. I’d just got up and there was blood coming from my face, so I thought I must have done something pretty bad.
“When they stitched it up, they said I couldn’t go back on. A few friends and family have said it’ll be a good story to tell after I finish playing.”
If Wales are to lose on Saturday it would pass their previous streak during the period of the 1994-96 Five Nations, as it would mean their ninth straight defeat in the Six Nations. “We don’t go out there to lose,” insisted Wainwright.
“The important thing for us this weekend is that we’re going to be playing in a packed-out Principality Stadium. That gives us a great chance to go out and put in a performance against one of the best teams in the world.
“That’s what we’re all aiming towards and that’s what we’ve been speaking about in training. What a good opportunity this could be to have everyone getting behind us, it will be amazing.
“It could be a real catalyst for us and that’s why you play international rugby, to play in the big pressure moments, big pressure games. I’m definitely excited about getting out there and trying to set things right.
“It’s a massive challenge as Ireland are one of the best teams in the world. They are incredibly well-drilled all the way across the park, so we’ve got to be right on our game.
“Matt has told us he wants us to enjoy these next three days. If we go out there and express ourselves and show that we’ve enjoyed this week then I’m sure the fans will get a sense of that and really get behind us and drive us on.”
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