Warren Gatland said he “understands people’s frustration” after his Wales team slumped to a 14th consecutive defeat and a worst‑ever world ranking of 12th, one place below Georgia, losing 22-15 to Italy in Rome.

Speaking to the Welsh language broadcaster S4C, Gatland empathised with his team’s supporters. “I can understand people’s frustration and we are frustrated and disappointed as well because we created opportunities but we have made mistakes and the penalty count was disappointing,” he said. “As a coaching team and players they are not hard fixes but we need to make sure we focus in those key moments.”

Related: Italy beat the deluge and condemn toothless Wales to 14th defeat in a row

After last year’s 24-21 reverse against Italy in Cardiff, that consigned Wales to a Six Nations wooden spoon, Gatland offered his resignation. This was reportedly rejected by the Welsh Rugby Union’s chief executive, Abi Tierney. Wales have not won a game since.

When asked by the BBC why his team yet again failed to deliver, Gatland cited poor discipline and a lack of potency in attack. “It’s very frustrating,” he said. “We shot ourselves in the foot with the penalty count being 14-4. I know we got a few [penalties] at the end. We missed a couple of opportunities that we created and couldn’t finish off. So yeah, very frustrating.

“I think we’ve been pretty clear on the messaging with the players. But when you look back at the replays and just think, [there were] a couple of soft penalties that were given away, a couple of kick chases were high [in contact], our scrum wasn’t as effective as it needed to be. But we created a few opportunities. We were also unlucky. Josh Adams had a couple of chances. So look, it’s very disappointing.

“I think we’ve just got to be honest with ourselves. Some of the mistakes we made as a group, we have to focus on fixing those things. In a game like tonight, in those weather conditions, you’ve got to be as accurate as you possibly can. That means your discipline becomes really relevant, your kicking game and kicking to compete [become more important]. And then looking to take opportunities. They kept the scoreboard ticking over with the penalties.”

On the future of Welsh rugby, Gatland was more upbeat, saying: “Hopefully there is an agreement with the union and the regions and I think its positive. We talked about the pathways and that is a plan for us going into 2027 and ’29. Hopefully that is implemented as soon as possible.”

Gatland’s position will now be questioned, though there are no obvious solutions. On ITV, the former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar did not rule out a change midway through the tournament. “That is for people on a higher pay grade than me to decide,” Biggar said. “I don’t think anything is off the table at the moment, it can’t be. It can’t carry on.”