Author: Daniel Gallan

• Coach ‘understands frustration’ after 14th loss in row
• Gatland says Wales ‘shot ourselves in the foot’

Warren Gatland said he “understands people’s frustration” after his Wales team slumped to a 14th consecutive defeat and a worst‑ever world ranking of 12th, one place below Georgia, losing 22-15 to Italy in Rome.

Speaking to the Welsh language broadcaster S4C, Gatland empathised with his team’s supporters. “I can understand people’s frustration and we are frustrated and disappointed as well because we created opportunities but we have made mistakes and the penalty count was disappointing,” he said. “As a coaching team and players they are not hard fixes but we need to make sure we focus in those key moments.”

• Italy 22-15 Wales
• Tomasso Allan kicks 17 points as home side win in Rome

Another week, another Welsh defeat, another 80 minutes in which those in red gave their best as individuals but proved that it is nowhere near good enough for this level. A 14th straight defeat has dropped them to 12th on World Rugby’s ­rankings, one place below Georgia and the lowest position in their history. In Roman rain, Warren Gatland’s Divine Comedy descended another circle.

Perhaps the most damning point of all is that this never felt like a contest. The losing bonus point, procured at the death with a penalty try after two Italians received yellow cards, felt undeserving and failed to gloss over the preceding dross. Even with so much riding on this result, and even with the weather stifling Italy’s attacking threat, Wales simply failed to manufacture a challenge. Forget about a Plan B, Gatland’s team now appear bereft of any plan at all beyond aimless kicks, toothless carries and unjustified hope.

France cruise to seven-try victory as Wales draw blank in 13th straight loss

There are a bunch of new laws in place for this year’s Six Nations:

Conversions must take place within 60 seconds.

Lineouts to be formed within 30 seconds (same as scrums)

No stoppage for lineouts that aren’t straight if the defending team doesn’t contest.

9s (or players at the base of a ruck, maul or scrum) have more protection from defenders (effectively given more space).

20 minute red card – players can still get sent off, but after 20 minutes they can be replaced by a teammate, which means we can hopefully stop talking about red cards ruining games.

South Africa score seven tries in comfortable win that consigns Wales to a 12th straight defeat.

Tell you what, that was a moving rendention of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

No matter the context, the Welsh know how to back their boys. Tears in the eyes of Lake and Dyer. If they can bring that to the pitch we might have a game.

The record-breaking wins against Wales and England have been built on a bedrock of principles that don’t make the highlights reels

It took less than two minutes for Australia to show their continued progress under Joe Schmidt. Having secured the ball they set about their work with Nic White zipping short passes to narrow runners who charged straight and hard into contact. And again. And again. And again. In no time they’d worked their way to a 13th phase before a spill of the ball handed Wales a scrum on their own 22. The move didn’t yield any points but it offered a glimpse of what is possible under this new regime.

Last week Australia snatched a remarkable victory at Twickenham with true blue Aussie gumption. Lightning hands, down the line, into the corner via tap-ons and sidesteps. It was a remarkable display of razzle-dazzle pulled off by naturally gifted ballers with licence to strut their stuff when the chance is on. But that’s always been there and, as long as 15 blokes show an interest in taking the field for some union footy, they’ll be there whether or not the code recedes from the mainstream. What this group needed was some steel and discipline, a dose of patience to go with their panache. That’s what wins Test matches.

The Wallabies remain unbeaten in 2024 after victory over Wales in Melbourne gave coach Joe Schmidt a second win

“Replicate some of the things we did well and hopefully solve some of the things we didn’t do so well.”

How’s that for some cutting edge rugby insight from Joe Schmidt?