Italy v Wales national media reaction as Welsh 'predictability now coupled with rank ineptitude'

Yahoo

09-02-2025

Italy have heaped the pressure on Wales after the 22-15 defeat at Stadio Olimpico, meaning the team are lurching towards a second successive Six Nations Wooden Spoon. Wales' 14th successive Test match defeat could be the final straw for Warren Gatland's Welsh Rugby Union bosses.
There have been calls in the nationals on Sunday morning for discussions about relegating Wales from the Six Nations as they are described as the "laughing stock of Welsh rugby". One columnist said he had been "passionately watching Wales for 30 years" but added: "This is the worst side I've ever seen wear red."
Another has picked up on Dan Biggar telling ITV that sacking Gatland now must be considered.
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The WRU has promised a detailed review of Wales' Six Nations performances after the tournament and matters are hardly likely to improve given that remaining fixtures are against Ireland, Scotland and England.
It was Gatland's 20th loss in 26 Tests since returning for a second stint at the helm, an eighth Six Nations reversal in a row and the first time Wales have suffered back-to-back defeats against Italy. They also slumped to a new world ranking low of 12th, with Georgia climbing above them following their Rugby Europe Championship victory over the Netherlands in Tbilisi. You can read more about that here.
Rain-swept Rome provided a suitably miserable back-drop for a Wales team undone by Italy wing Ange Capuozzo's first-half try, plus five penalties and a conversion from full-back Tommaso Allan.
Wales managed an Aaron Wainwright try and late penalty try, plus a Ben Thomas penalty as Italy had forwards Marco Riccioni and Dino Lamb yellow-carded during the closing minutes.
There was no reprieve for Wales, though, with only a losing bonus-point collected and the inquest will be long and hard ahead of them resuming Six Nations action against Ireland in Cardiff on February 22.
This is how the national media has reacted to the defeat:
Daily Telegraph
The paper's columnist Gareth Davies has said that it is time to "talk about relegating Wales from the Six Nations". Read what Sam Warburton has to say on the matter here.
Davies said: "For a decade, I agreed with those who questioned if Italy deserved their spot. Wales have fallen so far it's time to ask the same of them."
He went on to say: "So, here we are again then. Thought Wales had hit rock bottom? Not on your nelly, sunshine. We've just lost to Italy. For the third time in four years. The side that, until Welsh rugby imploded, were the laughing stock of European rugby.
"This is Italy's 25th Six Nations. They have 18 wooden spoons, losing every game in 13 of those. Up until 2022, Italy had lost 36 Six Nations games in a row. That's who Wales just lost to, again. There is no doubt who is the better rugby side.
"This was no normal loss to Italy, either. We've been utterly battered by them in the rain, and if they had a kicker it would have been by much more.
"I've been passionately watching Wales for 30 years. This is the worst side I've ever seen wear red.
"For the best part of a decade, like many, I have questioned why Italy should be given a spot in the premier European competition to make up the numbers. 'Relegate them.' 'We'd be better off as the Five Nations.' 'What's the point in Italy?'
"Well, now the shoe is on the other foot, and it's Wales who deserve to have our mere existence questioned. We have fallen so far that it's time to ask – what do Wales bring to the Six Nations?"
Daily Mail
The paper has picked up on what former Wales fly-half and Mail Sport columnist Biggar has to say on ITV that sacking Gatland now must be considered.
"If you look at the games Wales have lost in the last 12 months, today was the poorest display in that run," said Biggar.
"It is hard to say, but it is just not working. This team look short of belief and confidence. The curve has been downward. I don't think anything is off the table. It can't be. It can't carry on."
He added: "We're frustrated as a group of players. There is no one more disappointed than us.
"We knew today was pretty vital for us and we're pretty disappointed and frustrated. I understand about professional sport. Rugby is about performance and winning."
The Guardian
Freelance sports writer Daniel Gallan wrote that Warren Gatland's "Divine Comedy descended another circle".
He wrote: "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."
He added: "Wales changed their entire front row at once. It didn't help – Italy won a scrum penalty that Allan generously drifted wide of the poles. The struggling Ben Thomas – who plays in midfield for Cardiff – was replaced by Dan Edwards at fly-half. It didn't help – the Wales backline was just as disjointed as it had been in the first half, as they seemed incapable of stringing together more than three phases.
"It was all so predictable, which is not inherently a bad thing. After all, most teams know what France and South Africa will do. It's that Wales's predictability is now coupled with rank ineptitude."
Planet Rugby
The rugby website's writers reminded us that "woeful Wales" has fallen to "an all-new low" and said that the team were "simply second best" in every area.
Jared Wright wrote: "They It's been a bleak 12 months for Welsh rugby, but today's loss to Italy was, quite literally, the lowest point they have ever been.
"For the first time since 2003, Wales are now below Georgia in the World Rugby rankings table, and to be honest it doesn't seem like they will climb above them any time soon either, given the way they are playing.
"Wales were simply second-best in every area in the defeat to Italy. Up front, they were monstered in the scrum, lost the lineout duel and found themselves wanting in the breakdown and the carry too, which is a far cry from the Wales side we watched in Gatland's first spell."
Adding: "In the backline too, things just aren't flowing and they are reverting to incredibly simple rugby, and let's face it, it's not a modern Tier 1-level attack.
"Since taking the reins, Gatland made Wales a formidable side that could beat anyone; but now it feels a team have to be at their absolute worst to be beaten by them.
They are, quite literally, at their lowest point, and it seems they will only fall from here too."
They also said that it was time for Warren Gatland to go and that rugby bosses should listen to Georgia who have been banging on the door of the championship for a number of years.