Wales are so bad they are closer to Brazil and Belgium in rugby’s world rankings, than to South Africa and New Zealand!
Warren Gatland’s whipping boys slumped to a record low of 12th in the rankings with their 22-15 defeat to Italy, with second tier Georgia climbing above them after a 40-7 win over Holland.
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The margin of defeat in Rome flattered Wales. They bagged two late tries when Italy were thinking more about their lap of honour than seeing the game out.
And the sad truth is that a record-extending 14th defeat in a row means the points gap between the Welsh and top dogs South Africa is bigger than the one that separates them from 27th placed Brazil.
With a second successive Six Nations whitewash on the cards, many people believe Wales, and not Georgia, should be playing the likes of Holland, Belgium and Switzerland.
Sam Warburton, who captained Wales and the Lions under Gatland, is one of many pundits who believe the worst team in the Six Nations should play a promotion and relegation decider with the top side from the European Rugby Championship.
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Georgia are undefeated in that competition in the last eight years.
Even though they were the last team Wales beat – with the Dragons clinching a 43-19 victory in the pool stages of the 2023 World Cup – Georgia claimed a famous 13-12 victory in Cardiff a few months earlier. And Wales are much weaker now.
Since surrendering a half time lead against Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals, Wales have hardly had a sniff of victory.
Gatland has now been in charge of Wales’ worst and best ever runs. They actually won 14 in a row in 2017-19 and briefly topped the world rankings.
If they lose their next three matches, they will equal the worst ever run by a Home Unions team, the 17 successive defeats suffered by Scotland in the 1950s.
And with Ireland and England to come in Cardiff, sandwiched around a trip to Scotland, even the most passionate Welsh supporter expects a second wooden spoon with Gatland’s name on it.
After guiding Wales to three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals in his first term, Gatland’s second coming has been nothing short of disastrous.
They have won just six of his 26 matches in charge, and former Wales captain Gwyn Jones was one of many ex-players to deliver a savage verdict on the coach’s efforts.
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Jones commented: “There were times against Italy when we were so passive, and it looked like we didn’t know how to change what we were doing. Gatland has never had a Plan B – the only option has been to do Plan A better.
“It was as if we were just walking to the gallows without a plan to get out of the way. We’re just waiting for Gatland to go because he cannot stay, regardless of the other problems in Welsh rugby.”
Wales will not axe Gatland before their last Six Nations match against England. But that will definitely be his final act in charge, even if his players manage to end their horrendous losing run.