Warren Gatland is set to leave his role in charge of Wales (Image: Getty)
Adam Jones had backed Warren Gatland to reverse his fortunes in charge of , but the 61-year-old has left the iconic prop red-faced with . Gatland’s team suffered their against Italy in Rome last weekend as their campaign dwindles.
The Kiwi, who coached the from 2013 until 2021, was long hailed as Wales’ coach during his initial 12-year stint before he stepped down in 2019 after the . He returned three years ago .
It was during his first stint with Wales and on tour with the Lions that Gatland fell out with Jones after dropping him on the back of a poor game against in 2014. This all but ended Jones’ Wales career and left the two on poor terms. However, Jones was welcomed back as a scrum consultant in January and backed Gatland to turn the tough times around – to no avail.
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“We have kissed and made up,” Jones said last month. “It got twisted a little bit when I finished. Anyone who finishes their career is going to be upset. But what he did for me as a player was huge.”
Jones saw his international career put to bed by Gatland 12 years ago and revealed in his 2015 autobiography that he ‘sobbed uncontrollably’’ after the spat.
“I wouldn’t have gotten 95 caps, won Grand Slams, and gone on British and Irish Lions tours if he hadn’t come in at that time and pushed me in the right direction,” added Jones. “He had a certain way of doing things with me. I’m happy to work for him because he had such a massive influence on my career.”
With the rift between Jones and Gatland healed the former prop threw his weight behind the 61-year-old, backing him to make right for the dismal performances his side were offering up.
Jones predicted that Gatland would revive his failing tenure (Image: Getty)
“It has been hard to see what has happened in the last couple of years, but the boys and the coaches are working hard to put things right,” Jones added. “What he (Gatland) is good at, and certainly was when I was a player, was that backs-to-the-wall narrative.
“He brings players and teams together in a very short space of time and gets results out of them. He is exceptional at that. I am backing him to pull it round.”
Yet, Gatland simply hasn’t turned things around. After 20 losses in 26 tests, with a win ratio of 23%, the 22-15 loss against Italy in Rome was the final nail in the coffin, and it was announced on Tuesday that Gatland would leave earlier than the Six Nations’ end. Wales are now reportedly searching for an interim boss for the final three games remaining.