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Six Nations: Can Wales and Warren Gatland dodge successive last-placed finishes?

Wales face arguably their biggest challenge in Six Nations history this season as they go into the tournament following 12 successive Test defeats and with a head coach under huge pressure.

Warren Gatland's team are not expected to feature at the competition's business end and it is easy to see why, having not won a Test match since beating Georgia during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Although he was given the green light to continue after an autumn campaign that produced landslide losses against Australia and South Africa and defeat to Fiji, Gatland's future as Wales boss remains a subject of debate.

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Wales ended up with the Six Nations wooden spoon last season, losing all five games for the first time since 2003, and their quest to avoid a repeat starts with a daunting opener against France in Paris before a trip to Rome.

With Ireland, Scotland and England to follow, performances and results across those first two games look crucial in determining the direction Wales' campaign heads.

Six Nations 2025 fixtures: Wales

  • January 31: France (a)
  • February 8: Italy (a)
  • February 22: Ireland (h)
  • March 8: Scotland (a)
  • March 15: England (h)

Gatland: Early momentum key for Wales

"We know it is about performances and results. Those first two games are really important for us. That game in Paris will be tough, then it's the Italy game. It is about momentum," Gatland said

"You get some good results and you never know what can happen in this tournament. Everyone is talking about it being challenging but for us, we definitely need to show an improvement in performance.

"The autumn was tough because we were playing against teams that had been together for three months and had campaigns behind them.

"We are not looking further than the first two games. We've got to go to France, who will be tough and physical and have a huge amount of strength in depth, and then the game in Italy is going to be important as well."

What's changed?

Gatland's Six Nations squad features two uncapped players in Scarlets wing Ellis Mee and Ospreys fly-half Dan Edwards, but it is arguably more about the players who are not there.

While Gatland has welcomed back experienced trio Liam Williams, Josh Adams and Taulupe Faletau - who have 255 caps between them - injuries have ruled out players like Dewi Lake, Ryan Elias, Adam Beard, Archie Griffin and Mason Grady.

There were also some surprises regarding players who missed the selection cut, with Gareth Anscombe, Cameron Winnett, Max Llewellyn, Rio Dyer and Taine Plumtree heading that contingent.

Lions watch - Tomos Williams

Unless Wales orchestrate a dramatic revival over the next two months, they are likely to be poorly represented on the Lions tour, but in Tomos Williams they possess a talent capable of winning a place in the Test 23.

The livewire scrum-half has been outstanding for Gloucester this season and emerged as one of the few members of Warren Gatland's squad to enhance his reputation during the team's dismal 2024.

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Wales' Six Nations squad

Forwards: K Assiratti (Cardiff), J Botham (Cardiff), E Dee (Dragons), T Faletau (Cardiff), D Jenkins (Exeter), W John (Sale Sharks), E Lloyd (Cardiff), K Mathias (Scarlets), J Morgan (Ospreys, capt), S Parry (Ospreys), T Reffell (Leicester), W Rowlands (Racing 92), N Smith (Leicester), G Thomas (Ospreys), F Thomas (Gloucester), H Thomas (Scarlets), C Tshiunza (Exeter), A Wainwright (Dragons), T Williams (Cardiff).

Backs: J Adams (Cardiff), E Bevan (Cardiff), D Edwards (Ospreys), J Hathaway (Gloucester), E James (Scarlets), E Mee (Scarlets), B Murray (Scarlets), J Roberts (Scarlets), T Rogers (Scarlets), B Thomas (Cardiff), N Tompkins (Saracens), O Watkin (Ospreys), L Williams (Saracens), R Williams (Dragons), T Williams (Gloucester).

Championship record

Outright titles - 28 (Six Nations in bold)

1893, 1900, 1902, 1905, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1922, 1931, 1936, 1950, 1952, 1956, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1994, 2005, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021.

(c) Sky Sports 2025: Six Nations: Can Wales and Warren Gatland dodge successive last-placed finishes?

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