Gatland's Wales sink further as road leads to Rome

Men's Six Nations: Italy v Wales

Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome Date: Saturday, 8 February Kick-off: 14:15 GMT

Coverage: Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales & BBC Radio Cymru; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app; watch on ITV1 and S4C.

Where does Welsh rugby go from here after the pointless Six Nations defeat in Paris?

Warren Gatland's squad head to the south of France today to Nice for five days to prepare for the must-win game against Italy in Rome next Saturday - a match that former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar has labelled the most important Welsh rugby game for 15-20 years.

That claim may be a stretch when you consider Wales have been involved in Grand Slam games and World Cup semi-finals in that time but you can understand his sentiment.

His appraisal is valid because Wales desperately need any sort of result after the 43-0 drubbing by France extended the record losing international sequence to 13.

The next test is against an Italian side who tested Scotland before suffering a Murrayfield defeat.

Gatland was given a vote in confidence to continue for the tournament by Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Abi Tierney.

His position will be reviewed after the tournament and events at Stade de France will cast doubt on whether he stays on after March.

The alarming decline has continued with Wales falling deeper into the abyss. When will Wales finally hit rock bottom? Or is yet more misery on the horizon?

Gatland's squad have added unwanted marks to a long list with the record run of losses being extended.

It was the first time Wales had finished pointless since losing 31-0 to Australia in 2007.

In the Six Nations era that began in 2000, it was the first time Wales had not registered a point.

You have to go back to the Five Nations and the 51-0 drubbing handed out by France at Wembley in1998 for when Wales previously did not trouble the scorers in this competition.

Wales also finished only one point short of equalling their all-time heaviest Six Nations margin of defeat of 54-10 against Ireland 23 years ago.

Wales have lost seven successive Six Nations games and the last seven matches in all competitions against France.

This was also a record defeat against France in Paris surpassing the previous 36-3 scoreline in1991.

The feeling leaving the Stade de France was one of "c'est la vie", underlining just where Welsh rugby is. The events that unfolded at Stade de France were disappointing but predictable.

Welsh rugby has been sleep walking into this crisis but there appears to be little urgency in addressing the immediate issues, while the long-term mismanagement of the game in Wales is coming home to roost.

Apathy is rife among Welsh public with ambition and expectations having been driven down. There is is still no completed long-time strategy document published.

It begs the question to WRU bosses of what is acceptable now under this current regime on and off the field? When will the number of defeats become too many and what can prompt change?

From the outside world, there is almost pity. Former Ireland wing Shane Horgan said Welsh rugby was "a basket case of a rugby country at the moment".

French newspaper L'Equipe called this Wales squad the worst of the professional era.

Their France team were operating on a different level to their Welsh opponents and had the luxury of resting players for tougher tests later in the tournament with inspirational captain Antoine Dupont withdrawn after 49 minutes. Imagine the carnage that might have occurred if he had stayed on.

James Hook told the Scrum V podcast France did not even play well and never got out of second gear. The alarm bells are also ringing with two other former Wales fly-halves.

Ex-Wales captain and and former WRU chair Gareth Davies told the BBC Today programme it was the "lowest point he had seen", even compared to the 1990s, when Wales lost 96-13 in 1998 in South Africa.

Biggar added: "Everyone is saying about an agenda, in terms of negativity, but it's difficult to be overly positive because of the defeats and the way Wales are playing at the minute."

Gatland said after the game "he didn't think it was a completely bad night at the office" because there were "parts of that game that were good".

Captain Jac Morgan was a shining light on another dark day for Welsh rugby with 81 metres made in 15 carries and 21 tackles completed.

The flanker was outstanding in attack and defence and will have enhanced his credentials for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia this summer, demonstrating the admirable attribute of standing out in a struggling side.

Wing Tom Rogers followed up his breakthrough international performance against Australia with another encouraging display.

The scrum, under the tutelage now of former Wales prop Adam Jones, stood up to the test of the French pack. Prop Gareth Thomas produced a dogged individual performance.

You can also not question the heart and desire of this Welsh side, even if they were hopelessly outclassed. Character and endeavour, though, do not win you top-level international matches.

Jones' introduction as a scrum consultant was not the only alteration to the backroom staff for this tournament.

Wales have also changed the attack coach with Rob Howley taking over the role instead of Alex King.

Wales failed to register a point for the first time in an international for 18 years as Shaun Edwards' French defence strangled the visitors.

With Wales lacking multiple powerful ball-carriers to set in place an attacking foundation as they were overpowered by their hosts, there was no uplift in the offensive tactics or evidence of a coherent system.

Hook questioned whether there was any attacking improvement and stated it was inaccurate.

Former Wales centre Jamie Roberts thought it "lacked penetration" and at times "looked predictable".

There will be at least one change in the backline next weekend with Owen Watkin missing out after suffering a serious knee injury with Eddie James and Joe Roberts available.

Former England wing Ugo Monye told the Rugby Weekly podcast Wales need to call-up Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn.

Gatland said afterwards Wales had overplayed at times and the players would learn from the experience. Monye believes the coach must take responsibility for his tactics.

"At the end of any game you have to answer one or two questions," said Monye.

"Did the players not deliver on the game plan or was it the coach and tactics provided?

"I think the players delivered the promises on the tactics provided for them. The tactics were poor but you have to be adaptable on the pitch."

Monye stated Gatland also got his selection wrong and should have started experienced fly-half Gareth Anscombe, who has been left out of the squad altogether.

Ben Thomas began the game at fly-half when he is normally a centre, a position to which he switched when Watkin departed, with 21-year-old Dan Edwards coming on at 10 for his first cap.

Gatland says Wales cannot hide away from the importance of the appointment with Italy in Rome next weekend, a city where Wales have not lost since 2007.

Stadio Olimpico was the scene of Wales' previous Six Nations success two years ago but they have been defeated by Italy in Cardiff in 2022 and 2024.

Wales have not tasted an international victory since beating Georgia in October 2023 and Hook concludes the visitors will be underdogs in the Eternal City.

"Those Welsh players can go to Italy and win but on the evidence of what we have seen over the last year, you struggle to see how we are going to beat Italy," said Hook.

"It is not an easy game. They play with such variety and have improved so much, it will be a tough test in Rome. They start as favourites."

A 14th straight Test loss would lead to a new low in Gatland's second era in charge. What the consequences might be in that scenario remain to be seen.