When Warren Gatland took over as Wales manager following the departure of Wayne Pivac in December, expectations in the Welsh public immediately rose.

After all, this was the man who almost solved Wales’ problems overnight when he took over in 2007 after the disastrous era of Gareth Jenkins.

Three months after Fiji were unceremoniously kicked out of the Rugby World Cup in the group stage, Wales clinched the Six Nations title at the then Millennium Stadium, defeating France.

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Surely Gatland could do it again?

Well, it will never be that simple.

The foundations were much stronger in 2008, with the Cardiff Blues, as they were known at the time, and the Ospreys competing at the highest levels of European rugby, and a well funded regional game doing its job of preparing players for the game. .

The failings of 2007 were the set-up of managers and Gatland inherited a strong squad full of top test players whose only missing attribute was confidence and strength.

The game is in shambles this time around, with four regions facing funding cuts and no longer playing at a level that properly prepares players for Test Rugby. The recent European success of osprey is an exception to the rule.

When you factor in all the distractions off the field, including a contract suspension that was lifted just days ago and the threat of a goal in the build-up to England, it’s no surprise that Wales are on their way to the first wood. Spoon Nations in 20 years.

But the biggest challenge for Gatland is whether he can change as a manager to suit the players at his disposal.

Controversial former England international Andy Hood angered much of the Welsh rugby community last week when he questioned Gatland’s approach.

Speaking to The Rugby Pod he said: “What am I going to say about Wales, I feel really bad saying this – the way they play, the way the Gats train, the game has changed.

“You look at the Lions in 2021, how he built this Lions team to try to play in South Africa, how Wales plays, what he did with the Chiefs in Waikato. It obtains needs to develop”.

Hood is absolutely right when he says that what worked ten years ago, or even two or three years ago, will not work today.

In his first spell as chairman, Wales, at full strength, had a group of forwards who could do well physically against the best teams in the world.

Gatland’s game plan relied heavily on receiving tackles, a strong set piece, and dominating the kicking game.

While it’s reckless to suggest that Wales should avoid a physical challenge, they don’t have the manpower to play the kind of head-to-head, confrontational games that their teams did between 2008 and 2019.

Wales must invest in a skill, speed and pace based approach to the field and it has more than one dimension.

Scotland and even Italy have broadened their horizons tactically in recent years and are now starting to make progress.

It won’t happen overnight and it may never happen, but Wales must be brave, which could mean stepping back before moving forward again.

Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you come back, as Steve Hansen did with Wales in 2003.

Gatland will be desperate to avoid the wooden spoon and the knives will surely come out if Wales lose to the Azzurri in Rome.

While this Saturday’s victory is vital, there is a broader vision for the upcoming World Cup and 2027 as well.

It would be easy for Gatland to stick with the old guard, but I think he should be brave working with the likes of Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Tommy Raffel, Jack Morgan, Joe Hawkins, Mason Grady and Rio Dyer.

The New Zealander has been extremely heavy-handed, but he knew before taking the job that it wouldn’t be easy to turn this Welsh team around.

It should be seen as a long-term project, with the ultimate goal of winning the 2027 World Cup.

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