Today's rugby news as Woodward calls for Gatland to go now and Hook 'feels so sorry' for Wales player
These are your rugby headlines on Monday, February 10
Woodward calls for Gatland to go now
Former England coach Clive Woodward says Warren Gatland's "time is up" after Wales fell to yet another defeat against Italy.
After a 43-0 thumping by France on the opening weekend, many Welsh fans expected a big response from Gatland's men in Rome. But another limp, aimless display condemned them to a 14th straight Test match defeat with Wales already staring down the barrel at second successive wooden spoon and potentially another Six Nations whitewash.
READ MORE: Six Nations news LIVE as WRU consider Warren Gatland's future
READ MORE: Joe Marler stunned on TV by Sam Warburton's 'absolutely shocking' info on Wales
The last 18 months or so have seen plenty of lows in Welsh rugby but after the latest embarrassment, Gatland's future as head coach is now hanging by a thread with the man himself admitting he had questioned himself as the losses continue to pile up.
Now, Woodward, who resigned from his job with England less than a year after winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup, has said Gatland must now go. While he praised him as being a "truly great coach" who has had a lot of past success, he said the New Zealander will know himself that it is "time for a fresh face".
"There comes a moment as an international coach when you know you can do no more and that your time is up," Woodward wrote in his column for MailOnline. "Gatland has reached that moment with Wales and I think deep down, he will acknowledge that to be the case.
"Gatland is a truly great coach and his first spell with Wales was littered with trophies. Gatland’s loyalty to Wales is evident in how he is sticking to the project. But he will know now it’s time for a fresh face and new voice to try and take the team forward at the end of this Six Nations."
Woodward went on to say that a mid-tournament change of head coach should certainly be considered, with Wales "plumbing new depths" in Rome with no clear game plan or playing style identifiable.
"There is a case too for there to be a coaching change now," he said. "Because Wales were even worse in their defeat by Italy than they were in their 43-0 hammering by France. Gatland clearly doesn’t have the quality of player he did in his first spell. But there also doesn’t appear to be a clear direction of travel in terms of game plan and playing style.
"Wales plumbed new depths in Rome. And that spells big trouble for Gatland. The way things are going, he might not see the Championship’s end."
Hook 'feels so sorry' for one Wales player
Former Wales star James Hook says he "feels so sorry" for Ben Thomas as he urged for the Cardiff star to be moved from the fly-half position.
The 26-year-old plays at inside centre for his club side, featuring in the No.10 shirt for them just once in the past two seasons. But he was named by Warren Gatland as one of only two outside-half options for the Six Nations, with then-uncapped Ospreys youngster Dan Edwards filling the other spot.
Thomas has struggled in the position in the opening two games of the tournament and was replaced by Edwards after 48 minutes against Italy on Saturday, with Gatland's decision to keep him at fly-half looking like a big mistake.
And Hook, who knows the weight that the Welsh No.10 jersey carries even at the best of times, feels nothing but sympathy for the Cardiff man as he called for a change to be made.
"I feel so sorry for Ben Thomas," he told the BBC's Scrum V podcast. "We're asking a 12 to do a job at international rugby at 10 in tough conditions.
"That's not where I see his future and there has to be a change for the next game and play a 10 at 10. That has been confirmed, for me, over the last two weeks."
Wales 'walking to the gallows'
Former Wales captain Gwyn Jones has also said that Warren Gatland "cannot stay" on as head coach, as he admitted the team look like they are "walking to the gallows".
Gatland's side looked muddled and lacked any sort of bite as they were beaten by Italy in Rome, with Jones claiming the Wales boss has "never had a plan B" other than to just repeat the same mistakes.
Appearing on the Scrum V podcast, he said the Welsh rugby public was now "just waiting" for the coach to leave his post as he admitted his time was now well and truly up.
“The boys gave everything but the gameplan is extremely limited against teams more powerful," he said following the defeat to the Italians. “There were times when we were so passive and looked like we didn’t know how to change what we were doing.
“Gatland has never had a plan B. Plan B has always been to just do plan A better," Jones added. "Against Italy it’s 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.”
Spain qualify for Rugby World Cup
Spain have qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The Spaniards secured their place at the tournament - which is being expanded from 20 to 24 teams - by reaching the semi-finals of the Rugby Europe Championship, beating Switzerland 43-13 in the quarters.
They previously qualified for the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups, only to be disqualified on each occasion for fielding ineligible players.
Their appearance in 2027 would be the first of the 21st century, having only appeared once before in 1999, when they lost all three of their pool games against Uruguay, South Africa and Scotland.
Joining Spain at the tournament will be Georgia, who have qualified for the World Cup for the seventh straight occasion. Richard Cockerill's side also reached the semi-finals by beating the Netherlands, with that win not only securing their place at the tournament but also lifting them above Wales in the world rankings.
