Joe Marler stunned on TV by Sam Warburton's 'absolutely shocking' info on Wales
England duo Joe Marler and Chris Ashton were taken aback after Sam Warburton revealed a damning statistic from the Italy v Wales game.
Wales were beaten 22-15 by Italy in Rome, with the result meaning they have lost 14 international matches in a row. It marks the Azzurri's third win over Wales since 2022.
Speaking on the latest episode of Six Nations Rugby Special on BBC, Warburton said he believes the Welsh players are trying their hardest, but the talent pool in Wales isn't as good as the other five nations, and touched on how the team is being coached.
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"The message to kick more compared to round one was better, but I don't think the execution was very good. But to your point, the actual coaching piece, I believe Wales had 13 first phase carries in the first half and made one metre. If you can't make it through physicality then you need to manufacture it through shape, skill and deception."
Host Ugo Monye then asked Marler what's next for Gatland after the loss to Italy following Warburton's comments.
"I don't know if I want to get involved in this one," began Marler. "I haven't got many fans in Wales as it is! I don't know - have they not got the players? Is it the coaching that's not working? That stat that Sam's come out with - 13 first phase carries and only making one metre - that's phenomenal, isn't it? That is shockingly bad.
"I don't know if they've got the personnel, if they haven't, are they playing the right way? I think there does need to be a bit of a change up, but what do you change it up to?"
"They have got the personnel," added Ashton. "But it's not necessarily playing in the right order, which is confusing for any Welsh fans, or even us. They could have (Gareth) Anscombe at 10, Ben Thomas, who is a 12 for Cardiff, he should be playing 12. Max Llewellyn at Gloucester should be there. That should be the 10, 12, 13. But it's not.
"He's deciding to play a 12 at fly-half and then pull him off, when you've made the decision to back him at fly-half. So no one understands that messaging. You're doing a job out of position but then you're getting whipped off. As part of the backline: 'What if I'm next to come off?'
"There's no continuity, no confidence in who's playing where. It's never going to be a recipe for success."
When Ashton was explaining the Ben Thomas situation, Marler simply smiled and facepalmed in shock, with Ashton clearly at a loss with the decision.
Wales have three more matches this Six Nations, which will be played against the three other home nations. There is a fallow week now, and then Gatland will face the task of reigning champions Ireland in Cardiff on February 22.
