Gatland questioning feedback was 'poor' - Jenkins

Former Wales flanker Ellis Jenkins feels Warren Gatland's decision to question the lack of winning experience of many involved in the recent independent review into Welsh rugby was "poor".

Following a record 12 successive Test defeats, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) conducted a post-Autumn Nations Series review in a bid to improve all aspects of the game in the country.

But speaking of the review at his squad announcement for the 2025 Six Nations, Gatland said: "The questions I ask sometimes, of the players that have given feedback and stuff, what has their experience been in a professional winning environment?"

The Wales head coach added: "Even with regards to the people doing the reviews or being part of the process, those are the questions I asked myself. What is their experience or involvement in high-level professional sport winning environments?"

Ex-Wales back-row Jenkins feels Gatland was wrong to question the validity of some of the feedback given as part of the review.

"I was really surprised with his answer," Jenkins told Scrum V: The Warm Up.

"To question the players and the validity of their feedback just because they haven't been involved in an international winning environment is poor in my view.

"If you're going to do a review, you don't have to action all of the feedback, but you at least take it on board.

"Just because they haven't been involved in a winning campaign, which realistically there's not many players in Wales that have been part of a successful international campaign in the last couple of years, it doesn't invalidate their feedback.

"The way it's worded and to question the process and the people involved doesn't sit well with me at all."

Autumn defeats against Fiji, Australia and South Africa capped off a wretched 2024 for Wales - whose men's side are without a Test victory since beating Georgia 43-19 in the group stage of the 2023 World Cup in France.

Nigel Walker left his role as the WRU's executive director of rugby just before Christmas, little more than a month after Ioan Cunningham resigned as Wales women head coach.

However, following the pre-Christmas review - conducted by an external company - WRU chief executive Abi Tierney confirmed that Gatland would continue as head coach of the men's side into the Six Nations.

Gatland has conceded all levels of Welsh rugby are not up to standard at present, saying this week of the national men's team: "The sad thing at the moment is we're probably a reflection of what Welsh rugby is like."

Amid the ongoing struggles, former Wales and British and Irish Lions centre Jonathan Davies stressed that players must be allowed to voice their opinions on matters.

"Gats obviously doesn't seem very happy with what's been fed back from the review," said the 36-year-old.

"I wouldn't have done it publicly if he wasn't happy with what's come out of the review. You do it behind closed doors and keep it in house."

He added: "From the outside looking in, it seems a few feathers have been ruffled.

"You've got to give opportunity for players to have their voice. I know in campaigns, senior players would have been piping up if they weren't happy with certain things. Gethin Jenkins was the first one to complain about something."

Ellis Jenkins agreed that allowing players to offer feedback can only help to improve Wales' chances of ending their current slump.

"Players are not complaining for the sake of complaining. Everyone who gets to that level is used to working hard, everyone wants to put the work in to get better," added former flanker Jenkins.

"But sometimes, from a player's point of view, there are things that perhaps you don't agree with or perhaps you've got suggestions that could be different, and that needs to be met in a way that's productive and can improve the team.

"Coaches will have a way and you're not going to keep all of the players happy all of the time.

"The coaches sometimes will override those messages, but they have to be heard and acknowledged because that's how you get better as a team.

"It just seems that that's not the message being portrayed in the interview [by Gatland]."

Watch Scrum V: The Warm Up live on BBC Two Wales at 19:00 GMT on Thursday, 16 January.