By Paul Jones
Warren Gatland should resign and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) should start looking for a replacement to bring in fresh ideas, according to Sir Clive Woodward.
Wales’ well deserved 22-15 loss to Italy in Rome marked their 14th consecutive defeat, piling even more pressure on Gatland.
Their performance was arguably the poorest of the losing run, with desperate tactical kicking, errors, and a lack of discipline, leaving former World Cup-winning coach Woodward convinced that Gatland has reached the end of the road.
“There comes a moment as an international coach when you know you can do no more and that your time is up. Gatland has reached that moment with Wales,” said Woodward in his column for the Daily Mail.
“And I think deep down, he will acknowledge that to be the case. Gatland is a truly great coach and his first spell with Wales was littered with trophies.”
Sir Clive Woodward on and Warren Gatland:
‘There comes a moment as an international coach when you know you can do no more and that your time is up.
‘Gatland has reached that moment.’
Full story on @MailSport: https://t.co/am7dhXhviR
— Alex Bywater (@_AlexBywater) February 10, 2025
Gatland has stayed loyal to Wales, says the former England chief, but Woodward believes even he must now realise that the team needs a new leader.
“Gatland’s loyalty to Wales is evident in how he is sticking to the project. But he will know now it’s time for a fresh face and new voice to try and take the team forward at the end of this Six Nations.
“There is a case too for there to be a coaching change now because Wales were even worse in their defeat by Italy than they were in their 43-0 hammering by France.”
Despite failing to win a game in 2024, Gatland kept his job after a WRU review earlier this season.
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney had urged him to turn things around, but that hasn’t happened.
Former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar called the defeat to Italy the worst of the 14-match losing streak and suggested the WRU should consider parting ways with £600,000-a-year Gatland immediately.
With home games against Ireland and England and an away fixture in Scotland still to come, it’s hard to see where Wales can pick up a win.
If they lose all three, Gatland’s losing streak will extend to 17 matches.
“Gatland clearly doesn’t have the quality of player he did in his first spell,” Woodward added.
“But there also doesn’t appear to be a clear direction of travel in terms of game plan and playing style. Wales plumbed new depths in Rome. And that spells big trouble for Gatland.
“The way things are going, he might not see the Championship’s end.”
