The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) boasted on Friday that an agreement had been reached with the four regions over the future of the game.
Were they anticipating what was coming when they timed the announcement for the eve of the Italy match?
And, tellingly, the deal has still not yet been signed and there was little detail included in the announcement.
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney and chairman Richard Collier-Keywood were in the Rome crowd on Saturday and are also facing criticism for the state of the national game.
Former Wales captain Ken Owens said: “After the review, they didn’t do anything. They didn’t say they have a plan and it’s going to take time, but they didn’t back Warren either. It’s like they will see how it goes in the Six Nations and have another review.
“It’s going to take five to 10 years to sort out the shambles we’re in at the moment, at least.
“That’s what Italy have done. When they were losing every game in the Six Nations, they went to the academy, to the under-18s and under-20s and built from there.”
Ex-Wales lock Andrew Coombs added: “It’s the CEO of the business that has to make the decisions and Abi Tierney was not doing her job when Warren Gatland offered to resign [following the last defeat by Italy in March 2024] and give his contract back to the WRU.
“Abi Tierney said ‘no, we’re right behind you’ but there’s no CEO in the world that does that.”
