Brad Johnstone takes charge of Italy tomorrow for what will probably be the last time after an eventful 18 months.
Johnstone - a former New Zealand prop - has never endeared himself to his employers at the Italian Rugby Federation with his insistence on All Black-style organisation rather than French flair.
Johnstone has never compromised his principles despite considerable and public pressure from the FIR and there have been signs this year that he has wearied of the battle, regarding the end of his contract later this year as a welcome release.
Italy have hardened up considerably this year and, though they are guaranteed to finish with the wooden spoon, having lost their opening four matches, they have shown enough in each of them to justify the FIR renewing Johnstone's contract and there are signs that the players are coming round to his methods.
"There is no way that the coach should go," said the flanker Mauro Bergamasco.
Wales have won only one of their last four matches but George Henry's position is secure and he will be in charge of the Lions in Australia this summer. Defeat tomorrow would undermine his reputation rather than his job security.
Wales will not lack for support with some 10,000 fans flying out to the Eternal City, optimists on their continued quest for the holy grail.
Wales should win but a contest between two fickle sides is never a foregone conclusion.
ITALY SQUAD: Backs - D Dallan (Treviso), M Dallan (Treviso), D Dominguez (Stade Francais), L Martin (Northampton), M Mazzantini (Treviso), M Perziano (Treviso), C Pilat (Treviso), J-M Queirolo (Viadana), G Raineri (Roma), A Scanavacca (Narbonne), C Stoica (Narbonne). Forwards - M Bergamasco (Treviso), C Caione (Roma), C Checchinato (Treviso), G De Carli (Stade Francais), A Gritti (Treviso), A Lo Cicero (Roma), A Moscardi (Treviso, capt), A Muraro (Padova), A Persico (Viadana), S Perugini (L'Aquila), F Properzi-Curti (Treviso), W Visser (Treviso), M Zaffiri (L'Aquila).
WALES: R Williams (Cardiff); G Thomas (Cardiff), M Taylor (Swansea), S Gibbs (Swansea), D James (Llanelli); N Jenkins (Cardiff), R Howley (Cardiff); D Morris (Swansea), R McBryde (Llanelli), D Young (Cardiff, capt), I Gough (Newport), A Moore (Swansea), C Charvis (Swansea), M Williams (Cardiff), S Quinnell (Llanelli). Replacements: A Lewis (Cardiff), C Anthony (Swansea), C Quinnell (Cardiff), G Thomas (Bath), G Cooper (Bath), S Jones (Llanelli), A Bateman (Northampton).
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand).
Touch judges: Alan Lewis (Ireland) and Iain Ramage (Scotland).