Wales suffered a disappointing 22-15 defeat to Italy in Rome, extending their losing streak to 14 matches and putting their chances of avoiding a second wooden spoon in a row at risk. Despite scoring more tries than Italy, courtesy of Aaron Wainwright and a penalty try, Warren Gatland’s team struggled throughout the game. The future looks uncertain for Gatland as head coach following this defeat. Let’s take a look at the player ratings from this challenging match.
Blair Murray (7/10): Stepped in as a replacement for Liam Williams and put in a solid performance, showing his skills under the high ball and making an impressive break.
Tom Rogers (5/10): Decent under the high ball and in defense but had limited opportunities to showcase his abilities in attack.
Nick Tompkins (4/10): Showed energy but made a crucial forward pass that hindered Wales’ attack.
Eddie James (6/10): Despite receiving poor quality ball, he managed a few decent carries and handling moments.
Josh Adams (4/10): Missed two try-scoring opportunities and received a yellow card for a high tackle, struggling in difficult conditions.
Ben Thomas (4/10): Faced challenges with kicking and orchestrating the attack, leading to his substitution in the 48th minute.
Tomos Williams (6/10): Among the better players, but missed opportunities should have resulted in tries for Wales.
Gareth Thomas (5/10): Worked hard, especially in defense, but the scrum faced difficulties. Continuing…
Evan Lloyd (4/10): Struggled initially in the lineout but showed potential as a carrier.
Henry Thomas (4/10): Conceded scrum penalties and had a tough time in the scrum, leading to his early substitution.
Will Rowlands (4/10): Had trouble winning collisions and spilled the ball in contact, struggling to reach past form.
Freddie Thomas (6/10): Worked diligently, with notable tackles and efforts in the lineout, nearly scoring his first Test try.
James Botham (5/10): Managed a crucial turnover but faced challenges with the game’s physicality.
Jac Morgan (7/10): Stood out as a leader, making tackles and carries, providing a solid performance for Wales.
Taulupe Faletau (7/10): Impressive work rate and top carrier for Wales, performing well in both attack and defense.
Among the replacements, Elliot Dee (6/10) improved the lineout, Nicky Smith (7/10) made an impact in the scrum, and Aaron Wainwright (7/10) added physicality and scored Wales’ solitary try. Rhodri Williams (6/10) provided a solid performance, while Dan Edwards (6/10) added structure to Wales’ attack.
The defeat in Rome highlights the challenges Wales face in the Six Nations, raising questions about the team’s future performances. Gatland’s selection decisions are under scrutiny, with changes needed to reverse Wales’ losing streak. The players will need to regroup and focus on their upcoming matches to salvage their Six Nations campaign.