By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-12-22 11:53:33 | Updated at 2024-12-22 17:46:56
6 hours ago
Warren Gatland has been given the Christmas present of staying on as Wales head coach for the 2025 Six Nations.
Gatland's position has been under intense scrutiny after a dire autumn consisting of defeats to Fiji, Australia and South Africa extended Wales' losing run to a record 12 Test matches.
It is the first time since 1937 that the national men's team have gone an entire calendar year without winning a Test, slumping to 11 losses and occupying their lowest ever world ranking position of 11th.
Gatland is contracted until the 2027 World Cup but has a success rate of only 25% for his second spell in charge.
Following a review, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has decided to stick with the New Zealander but WRU chief executive Abi Tierney warned Gatland that he must start delivering results after his job "had been on the line".
It will be a decision debated by many during the festive period before Wales come together for the Six Nations opening match against France in Paris on 31 January.
But is it the right choice made by Tierney? Scrum V pundits have been discussing the issue and there are differing opinions.
Former Wales scrum-half Richie Rees says he was not sure whether it was the right decision and believes an alteration was needed.
"Can we afford not to make a change?" said Rees
"Attendances are down in Wales, the performance of the Wales team is down. They key thing for me, whether you are a player or coach, is you want to be improving every day.
"You speak to the players, officially or unofficially, and are you getting these improvements? That's the difficulty.
"Change is probably needed for me but it's a big call because we have three weeks until the Six Nations squad is announced.
"So the hierarchy have probably said 'let's just get through this Six Nations and then we will reassess'."
Ex-Wales captain Ken Owens believes the decision will provide some short-term certainty with the Six Nations squad being named in mid-January.
"They [the WRU] have obviously done a comprehensive review and a decision has been made," said Owens.
"At least there is a bit of stability now going into the Six Nations. Everyone knows where they are at."
Owens believes the problem lies deeper than the Wales coach.
"Until we look at the whole structure and system in Welsh rugby we are probably going to be in a similar sort of position," added Owens.
Tierney said Gatland's position will be reviewed after the Six Nations but refused to state what his performance targets were.
Former Ospreys head coach Shaun Holley was happy to outline what he expected by saying Wales should be targeting three wins in next year's tournament.
"Abi Tierney has mentioned data a lot," said Holley.
"You can talk about as much data as you want but it's winning that matters.
"For me, three wins [would be success] - two at home and nick an away win.
"You can't be happy just to nick a win against Italy."
