In Wales he will go to Nice on Saturday to spend a week preparing for the Italian test.
“Players have worked hard in the last few weeks, and players are aware of the importance of it next week,” said Gatland.
“Tomorrow we are going to Nice for a week and this will be important for this group.”
Wales also suffered remarkable injuries, losing the eight of Aaron Wainwright and the Owen Watkin Center in the first half.
The bloody Wainwright threw a blow to the head, while Watkin suffered a suspicion of serious knee injury, which would require further assessment.
“They don’t look great,” said Gatland.
“Owen is in a buckle with a knee and it seems that it can be ACL (front cruciate), and Aaron needs another HIA (assessment of head injuries) and has a fairly nasty wound on the face down through the lip.”
