Recently-retired Wales captain Ken Owens has let rip on the Welsh Rugby Union, insisting it could take a decade to right the wrongs that have left the national team in the gutter.
Owens spoke out on S4C's live coverage of the defeat in Italy, accusing WRU bosses of doing nothing. The legendary hooker was, of course, squad captain in 2023 when players almost took strike action in a row over contracts with the Union.
Sadly, he believes things have got worse since then as he turned his anger on the WRU figures watching in the stands. WRU CEO Abi Tierney and chairman Richard Collier-Keywood are due to reveal full details of their five-year strategy in due course after finally agreeing on the principles of a new financial agreement with the four regions, but Owens believes too little is being done.
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"What disappoints me is that in 2023 in the middle of the strike and everything that happened at that time, I thought we were in the lowest place in Welsh rugby," Owens said.
"In two years I think we are worse than where we were two years ago. There's people sitting upstairs in the stand, what are they doing about it? They are doing nothing at all. Apparently we've got a new board. What are they doing? What is the strategy?
"What is the plan for the game in Wales from the community game, to the regional game, to the national side. Until we sort that problem out what is the point of getting rid of Warren Gatland and the coaches?"
He continued: "We have to actually admit this will take five years to a decade to sort out the shambles we are in at the moment, at least.
"After the review in the autumn they did nothing. They didn't come out and say we are backing Warren, we have a plan and we know what we are going to do. It's going to take time and we are going to back him until the World Cup.
"They didn't do that but they didn't get rid of him either. They said we will see what will happen in the Six Nations and have another review."
He added: "It started with Wayne Pivac a couple of years ago. Getting rid of him and hoping Warren would turn things around.
"It shows the problems we've got can't be solved by getting rid of the coaches. I think if we are going to get rid of Warren they should have done it after the autumn.
"We've had a review and everything. What's going to change within six weeks to change the performance of the national team in the Six Nations."
Wales have lost 14 Test matches in a row after the 22-15 loss in Rome.
