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Aug 20, 2023 · Gatland appointed a 22-year-old Sam Warburton as his World Cup skipper in 2011, and Morgan is of a similar mould, a performer who has huge respect from playing peers and coaches alike....
- Six Nations 2024: Wales 26-27 Scotland
Warren Gatland says Wales' first-half performance in the Six...
- Six Nations 2024: Wales 26-27 Scotland
Feb 3, 2024 · Warren Gatland says Wales' first-half performance in the Six Nations defeat by Scotland was one of the worst halves of his 30-year coaching career. Wales were 20-0 down at half-time and...
- Gareth Griffiths
Mar 16, 2024 · Warren Gatland won three Grand Slams during his first stint as Wales head coach and was appointed for a second spell in December 2022. When the system is so flawed, how much pressure should be...
- Gareth Griffiths
Oct 5, 2023 · Head coach Warren Gatland says there is no secret to Wales' World Cup consistency as they build towards a fourth successive quarter-final appearance under him. Wales need just a point from their...
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Wales have seen a host of experienced players retire, several key men pick up injuries, and largely poor form for over two years now. What can we expect from Warren Gatland's side in 2024?
Three of Wales' last four Six Nations campaigns have seen them finish fifth. In 2023, Wales were heavily beaten at home to Ireland, away to Scotland and France, and lost at home to England too. At the Rugby World Cup in the autumn, they lost to a weak Argentina side in the quarters.
An ageing squad has largely retired, but Wales' young players severely lack Test experience and are unproven as to whether they are good enough for the top level of rugby union. A certain star has chosen to defect to NFL too.
Gatland, Wales head coach for 12 years between 2007 and 2019, returned last year but has struggled to have an impact, chopping and changing a side which has been outplayed by so many over the last few seasons.
•Six Nations 2024 in focus: A new era for hurt Ireland post-Johnny Sexton
•Six Nations 2024 in focus: Are Owen Farrell-less England in a mess?
•Scotland - Principality Stadium - Saturday, February 3 - 4.45pm (GMT)
•England - Twickenham - Saturday, February 10 - 4.45pm (GMT)
•Ireland - Aviva Stadium - Saturday, February 24 - 2.15pm (GMT)
•France - Principality Stadium - Sunday, March 10 - 3pm (GMT)
The headline change in Wales camp came only this month, when star wing Louis Rees-Zammit shocked the world of rugby by announcing he was leaving the sport to chase his dream of a career in NFL.
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Louis Rees-Zammit opened up on his decision to join the NFL's international player pathway programme
Gatland later revealed he only found out about Rees-Zammit's decision an hour before he was set to name his Wales squad for the Six Nations, while the player himself had only been invited to the NFL's international player pathway programme in Florida two days earlier.
Looking at things as a whole, the omens don't appear too kind for Wales heading into this championship.
Gatland and Wales have known this period of transition from vast experience to severe-lack-thereof has been coming for some time, and the 60-year-old head coach has chosen to see the merits of such a situation as opposed to its pitfalls.
"It is incredibly exciting. If you look at the squad we have got some talent, we've got some experience there from players we had with us at the World Cup.
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"We have lost a lot of experience, but it is a new cycle for us to go through. We probably need a little bit of time and a little bit of patience from the Welsh public.
It's difficult to look past the Rees-Zammit news in this particular section, whose announcement came firmly out of the blue.
The 22-year-old wing scored five tries in five fixtures for Wales at the Rugby World Cup, and played for club Gloucester as recently as January 13, scoring a try, with no imminent link to the dramatic career change until the player's announcement.
Image: Gatland's Wales head into the championship with few giving them a chance of success
Rees-Zammit has been a pivotal performer for Wales since breaking into the side in 2020 - scoring 14 tries in 31 Tests and touring with the British and Irish Lions in 2021. His out-and-out pace and ability to finish chances marked him out as an exceptional backline talent and threat.
The exciting back had also scored 38 tries in 69 appearances for Premiership side Gloucester, and his sudden departure will have shocked and rocked Wales' coaching set-up.
In addition to numerous retirements, Wales also have a number of injuries at present.
Six Nations since 2000: Six-time winners (2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021)
Overall: 28 titles outright (1893, 1900, 1902, 1905, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1922, 1931, 1936, 1950, 1952, 1956, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1994, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021)
- Michael Cantillon
Aug 2, 2023 · Warren Gatland’s Wales get their Summer Nations Series campaign underway on Saturday afternoon as England visit the Principality Stadium. By the time the first whistle sounds in Cardiff, there will be just 36 days until Wales’s first match of Rugby World Cup 2023. Taking on Steve Borthwick’s England for consecutive weeks to start their ...
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Mar 14, 2024 · Warren Gatland says he is loving the pressure of trying to avoid his first Wooden Spoon with Wales in the Six Nations finale against Italy.
