Wales' dismal performance in the relentless Roman rain has left the team and its fans reeling. The significant gap in quality between them and Italy was stark, and the final scoreline was a testament to the hosts' dominance.
The facts and figures are telling, and they do not make for pleasant reading for Welsh fans. The team's record losing run has now reached 14 Tests, and their world ranking is set to plummet. They will drop to 12th in the world rankings, a position that is even lower than Georgia.
Since Warren Gatland returned at the start of 2023, Wales have played 26 Tests and lost a staggering 20 of them. This is a worrying trend, and one that suggests that the team is in crisis. The coaching staff and players will need to go back to the drawing board and reassess their strategy if they are to turn things around.
The loss to Italy was a particularly galling one, as it highlighted the gap in quality between the two teams. Italy were relentless in their pursuit of victory, and their performance was characterized by a level of intensity and passion that was sadly lacking in the Welsh team.
As the Welsh team struggles to come to terms with their latest defeat, they will need to take a long, hard look at themselves and ask some tough questions. What has gone wrong, and how can they put it right? The answers will not be easy to find, but they are essential if Wales are to recover from this slump and start competing at the highest level once again.
The road to recovery will not be an easy one, but it is a journey that the Welsh team must embark on if they are to restore their pride and their reputation. The fans deserve better, and it is up to the team to deliver. Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust that has been placed in them.