Wales' losing run at Test level stretched to 14 matches after a miserable 22-15 defeat to Italy in Rome.
The scoreline didn't reflect quite how abject Wales were, with two late scores briefly setting up the chance of a result that Warren Gatland's side didn't deserve in the Italian capital.
Here's everything Gatland had to say after a defeat that moves him closer to the brink of losing his job...
READ MORE: Italy v Wales Live: Warren Gatland oversees 14th consecutive loss
READ MORE: Two Wales players withdrawn from team 90 minutes before Italy Six Nations match
Where did that one get away from you?
"Everyone is pretty frustrated. The players are frustrated. The staff and coaches and are frustrated as well. We’re bitterly disappointed. We created some opportunities that we didn’t finish off.
"Discipline didn’t help us in terms of the penalty count was 14-4 at one point of the game. We got some more in the last 15 minutes. Probably some turnovers in terms of knock-ons in the contact area."
Do you feel your message is getting through to the players?
"I think we created chances. In fairness to Italy, they kept the scoreboard ticking over with the penalty opportunities they got. Josh Hathaway will be disappointed he’s taken a dummy and allowed a kick through that they’ve scored from.
"Apart from that, they didn’t really challenge us from scoring tries. We had some nice opportunities to score. We came down the touchline, but the pass to Jac was forward, but that was another opportunity. We had a couple of kicks behind for Josh, where we got some opportunities.
"It’s frustrating from our point of view in terms of the accuracy and some of the discipline. But the boys spoke well in the changing room at the same time about keeping together and continuing to work hard."
Is there any doubt in your mind that you can turn this around?
"There’s no doubt it’s challenging. You do question yourself in terms of that. As a group, the players are working incredibly hard. We had some good preparation going into the game and were pretty clear on what we wanted to do. With the weather conditions, we knew it would be a tight game.
"It was probably going to be about kicking and taking the opportunities, particularly if you got into their 22. That took us a bit of time to get there. I think, for us, we talked about continuing to work hard and staying tight as a group."
You've said before you've forgotten how to lose, but do you now need to learn to win?
"Absolutely. When you’re under pressure, some of your decision-making goes off-cue. You definitely feel the pressure as a team that hasn’t won for a while. It’s the same when we’ve been on winning streaks.
You can see the composure and the calmness of the team, waiting for those opportunities. That’s just where we are at the moment. We just need the bounce of the ball and a couple of decisions to go our way. Those things can quickly turn around."
Are you happy that you’re seeing growth in your team?
"Look, I thought today was a difficult day from the weather conditions. It was never going to be a spectacular game. It was going to be down to a kicking contest, who was most accurate and gave away the least penalties. Unfortunately, from that aspect, we probably shot ourselves in the foot a little bit.
"We probably made a couple of poor decisions on the field. The first time we got into their 22, we had a lineout and did a peel around the front when it probably wasn’t the right call. We should have gone for a drive as we did a little bit later. Those are part of the learning process this group are going through at the moment. The bounce of the ball didn’t go our way. A couple of them for Josh Adams.
"He scores that and it changes the whole complexion. Even before that, Nick Tompkins is throwing the forward pass and you can see Ben Thomas is coming. If he gets that, it’s a two-on-two with the option to kick behind. Josh would have potentially scored in that situation. We’re just missing some opportunities and we need to make sure we’re more accurate. It’s frustrating losing the ball in contact situations, knocking the ball on. But you’re going to get that in those conditions."
What was behind the decision to bring on Josh Hathaway for Nick Tompkins rather than Dan Edwards?
"We did speak about Josh being the cover for 13 and Dan being the cover for 12, so they would have been happy to move Eddie out to 13. That was something we had planned. Saying that I thought Dan was excellent when he came on for that last period, showed a lot of maturity in that phase of the game."
With this losing run, just how much do you still want to put yourself through this?
"It's not the easiest position to be in but you have to be strong in terms of that, continue to go back as a group of players and look at the review stuff, highlight areas where we can still get better."
But for you personally? You still want this?
"Yeah I think so. Definitely."
What is the message to the Welsh rugby public right now?
"We're frustrated as a group of players, there is no one more disappointed than we are. There was a great contingent of fans, they are incredibly supportive of the players and want them to do well. We're disappointed we could not give them something more to cheer about."
You say you're training well, but things clearly aren't clicking. Can you put your finger on it?
"Which part is not clicking?"
The results?
"We trained well but we just have to make sure that we are a bit more clinical. That's what we're focusing on, some of the turnovers, the soft penalties allowing them easy access out of their 22 or to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
"Those are the things that hopefully are fixable. They are fixable. We just have to keep hammering home how important those parts of the game are in terms of us kicking accurately and to make sure we are better disciplined."
There's clearly some talent in this side. Do you believe this team is better than a 14-game losing run?
"We've been in those games for periods and we knew today's game was going to be an arm wrestle because of the weather conditions. At 3-3 we had done that and Josh will be disappointed with how they've ended up scoring, we've missed a couple of our chances as well.
"You just have to keep working hard and know that at some stage those things are going to come, you are going to get the bounce of the ball, that decision that goes your way.
You were challenged by the Welsh Rugby Union to 'lead Wales to success in this tournament'. After these first two defeats, do you still believe this is possible?
"We have to focus definitely on the next three games, they are important. We knew today was pretty vital for us and we're pretty disappointed and frustrated with aspects of our performance, that we didn't take some of those opportunities.
"I've clearly said before, I understand about professional sport. Rugby is about performance and it's about winning."
This defeat now means Wales are below Georgia in the rankings - how do you reflect on that?
"It's disappointing. That's where we are at the moment. Obviously we will continue to work hard to try and rectify that and to give these players some confidence and self-belief so they can go out there with that calmness in terms of their skills and decision-making process to hopefully execute the things we've been working hard on."
