Six Nations: Warren Gatland vows to carry on as Wales head coach

Despite the Welsh rugby team's historic losing streak, head coach Warren Gatland has stated that he will continue to coach. After a 15-22 loss to Italy, Wales' world ranking has fallen to a record low of 12th place. This challenging situation requires a strong commitment to overcome.

This loss marks Wales' 14th consecutive defeat, their first loss in Rome in 18 years, and ties their worst record in the tournament's history. However, Gatland insists that he sees enough progress and spirit in the team to continue taking on the responsibility. When asked if he wanted to continue coaching, he responded, "It's not easy at the moment, but you have to be strong." His dedication reflects a long-term vision for the team.

Gatland admitted: "There's no doubt it's challenging. You do question yourself about whether you are capable of turning things around. We talked (after the game) about continuing to work hard and keeping the team tight. Everyone is incredibly frustrated, the players, the staff and the coaches. No one is more disappointed than us. We will review it and find out where we can do better, and that goes for me personally as well." The commitment to self-reflection is crucial for improvement.

After a winless 2024, Gatland's position was threatened in December, and he was required to show progress in this year's Six Nations Championship. But following last week's 0-43 thrashing in Paris, Gatland highlighted Wales' poor performance at the Stadio Olimpico due to handling errors, disciplinary breaches, and missed opportunities. His first stint as Wales coach saw a record of 14 consecutive wins, which has now been matched by the number of consecutive losses during his second tenure. The contrast highlights the current challenges.

Wales will play two of their remaining three Six Nations matches at home, starting with a game against reigning champions Ireland in two weeks. Gatland said: "I've made it clear before that I understand professional sport, and (Test) rugby is about performance and winning. We have to focus on the next three games, which are hugely important. We knew today was vital for us, and we are disappointed and frustrated with our performance." Focusing on the upcoming games is essential for regaining momentum.

Wales is now highly likely to receive the "Wooden Spoon" (symbolizing last place in the Six Nations Championship) for the second year running, which would mark a new milestone for Italy in avoiding this unwanted award for two consecutive years. Italy knows the taste of losing streaks, having lost 36 consecutive Six Nations matches before their success in Cardiff in 2022. But their captain, Michele Lamaro, had no sympathy for his opponents' plight. He said: "That's sport. I'm not feeling sorry for them, to be honest. We all have struggling moments. Most of our players were there when we were not performing. But nobody gave us anything for free. Absolutely nothing. Everyone we face is like playing the All Blacks. So I'm not feeling sorry for them, but they are a young team with a strong (rugby) culture and good momentum, and they will probably bounce back soon." This perspective underscores the competitive nature of the sport.