Gatland future in doubt after Wales leave Rome in ruins

Even in the Eternal City, time may be running out for Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

This was supposedly the game targeted to halt the record losing run but a dismal display and a 14th Test defeat in a row has only intensified pressure.

There was no sacking of Rome and Gatland has vowed to limp on through the Six Nations.

The 61-year-old will not fall on his sword, he never has nor has he ever needed to before.

But there is a feeling that we are witnessing the final weeks of a once mighty empire.

At the Stadio Olimpico, where Wales had never previously lost, one could picture the Welsh Rugby Union bosses in the crowd getting ready to give the thumbs down.

The Triple Crown remains available but the Wooden Spoon is looming.

Gatland continues to divide opinion, even among his former players.

He did not make the 15 handling errors, compared to Italy's four, or hand the hosts eight penalty kicks or fumble the ball over the Italian try line.

Gatland insisted those errors are easily fixed but time is ticking.

Wales have also been beset by injuries - losing key players Liam Williams and Dafydd Jenkins on Friday night - and the pool of talent appears shallow.

But some of Gatland's selections have been curious with the likes of experienced props Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis and Tomas Francis, fly-halves Gareth Anscombe and Jarod Evans and in-form centre Max Llewellyn, as well as Rio Dyer, all left back home.

Former Wales stars Jamie Roberts and Dan Biggar described the performance in Rome as among the worst by Wales over the last two years.

"Everyone was expecting a kick-back from the disappointing night in Paris [but] our kicking game at times was schoolboy," said Roberts.

Asked if Gatland should go, ex-fly-half Biggar replied: "I don't think anything is off the table at the moment, it can't be. It can't carry on.

"It is such a shame because there are so many good people there who have had success previously but clearly what is happening in the week is not working no the pitch."

Questions are still being asked of the tactics of Rob Howley since he took over the attack when he was re-called by Gatland.

"The boys gave everything but the game-plan is extremely limited against teams more powerful," former Wales captain Gwyn Jones told the Scrum V podcast.

"There were times [against Italy] when we were so passive and looked like we didn't know how to change what we were doing.

"Gatland has never had a plan B. Plan B has always been to just do plan A better.

"Against Italy it's as if we were just walking to the gallows without a plan to get out of the way and we're just waiting for Gatland to go because he cannot stay, regardless of the other problems in Welsh rugby."

Welsh rugby may have an unhealthy obsession with the red number 10 jersey but debate over Gatland's selection rages on.

He described Ben Thomas earlier this season as the best back in Wales but that was playing centre for Cardiff - who refuse to hand him the 10 shirt.

Gatland's choice of outside-half came under even greater scrutiny in Rome having set out his stall that Wales would kick more, especially in such wet conditions.

"I feel so sorry for Ben Thomas," former Wales fly-half James Hook told the Scrum V podcast.

"We're asking a 12 to do a job at international rugby at 10 in tough conditions.

"That's not where I see his future and there has to be a change for the next game and play a 10 at 10. That has been confirmed, for me, over the last two weeks."

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) boasted on Friday that an agreement had been reached with the four regions over the future of the game.

Were they anticipating what was coming when they timed the announcement for the eve of the Italy match?

And, tellingly, the deal has still not yet been signed and there was little detail included in the announcement.

WRU chief executive Abi Tierney and chairman Richard Collier-Keywood were in the Rome crowd on Saturday and are also facing criticism for the state of the national game.

Former Wales captain Ken Owens said: "After the review, they didn't do anything. They didn't say they have a plan and it's going to take time, but they didn't back Warren either. It's like they will see how it goes in the Six Nations and have another review.

"It's going to take five to ten years to sort out the shambles we're in at the moment, at least.

"That's what Italy have done. When they were losing every game in the Six Nations, they went to the academy, to the under-18s and under-20s and built from there."

Ex-Wales lock Andrew Coombes added: "It's the CEO of the business that has to make the decisions and Abi Tierney was not doing her job when Warren Gatland offered to resign [following the last defeat to Italy in March 2024] and give his contract back to the WRU.

"Abi Tierney said 'no, we're right behind you' but there's no CEO in the world that does that."

Wales are now down to their lowest ever position in the world rankings.

They slipped to 12th place and for the first time fell below Georgia, on the same day Los Lelos clinched their place at the 2027 World Cup.

The significance of the rankings switch will not be lost on those in Tblisi who have been crying out for a chance to join the Six Nations.

Gatland said: "It's disappointing [but] that's where we are at the moment. We will continue to work hard to try and rectify that and to give these players some confidence and self-belief to execute the things we've been working hard on."

For years it was Italy who had to field questions over their future in the Six Nations but head coach Gonzalo Quesada refused to be dragged into the relegation and promotion debate after a third win in four games against Wales.

"Those kind of questions are out of my area. If there's one value which defines me and this Italian team it is humility and not get carried away after a good win."