KEN OWENS

"I don't think Gats realised how bad it was when he came back'

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WARREN GATLAND’S time as Wales coach may have officially come to an end by ‘mutual agreement’, but I think that was just the union trying to save face and it was Warren’s call.

It is sad. What he brought to Welsh rugby you can’t argue with. The fans are still full of admiration for Warren and thankful for all the success he brought.

We are also impatient and expect results, but that in turn is only down to the success he brought first time around. Before he left, there was still support for him as the majority of rugby people get the situation that Wales are in. There were also other people with their own views and agendas, which was tough. After it was announced he was leaving, there was an outpouring of support, which says a lot about how he is regarded in Wales.

After the review of the Autumn Nations Series, no real decision was made by the WRU. A sticking plaster was put over it. If the union fully believed that Gats had a plan – which he obviously did – and they backed that plan then they should have publicly backed him.