Warren Gatland insists Wales will adopt a siege mentality as they enter the Six Nations as wooden spoon favourites
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Over the years, Warren Gatland has been used to attending the annual launch of the Six Nations knowing his Wales team will be among the Championship’s contenders. But as he posed for pictures alongside his fellow coaches in Rome’s iconic Colosseum on Tuesday, Gatland found himself in the unusual position of underdog.
![[France and Wales will kick off the 2025 Six Nations Championship on Friday January 25]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/18/94360367-14310013-image-a-28_1737485212613.jpg)
His Wales team are favourites to finish bottom of the pile in 2025, a year after going winless to pick up the dreaded wooden spoon. Gatland’s Wales have lost their last 12 Tests. But after leaving the venue symbolic with Italian history and gladiatorial contests, Gatland came out fighting.
![[Gatland is used to his Wales team being contenders - but now they head in as underdogs]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/18/94360369-14310013-image-a-29_1737485350881.jpg)
He said he would welcome Louis Rees-Zammit back to rugby in a heartbeat and insisted Wales’ backs-to-the-wall status can suit them well. ‘We’re in a nice position. There is no expectation. People are writing us off,’ Gatland said. ‘I said before the World Cup write us off at your peril and I’ll say the same again now.’.
![[Gatland admitted that he would welcome Louis Rees-Zammit back to rugby in a heartbeat after the former Wales international switched sports to follow his dream of playing in the NFL]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/18/94360495-14310013-image-a-32_1737485441116.jpg)
Warren Gatland (right) and Wales will be keen to put last year's poor Six Nations behind them. France and Wales will kick off the 2025 Six Nations Championship on Friday January 25. Gatland is used to his Wales team being contenders - but now they head in as underdogs.
![[In a boost for Gatland, Taulupe Faletau is set to be available for Wales' opener against France]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/18/94360611-14310013-image-a-33_1737485746916.jpg)
Gatland has never been a man afraid of making a bullish comment. In 2019, he predicted that if Wales won their first game in Paris, they would go on to win a Grand Slam. His team did exactly that. Six years on, Gatland’s Wales again have France away to start, although things couldn’t be more different. After a horror 2024, Gatland just about hung on to his job following a review into his position – one which was completed by the Welsh Rugby Union before Christmas.
![[Ireland, who won the 2024 Six Nations, face England in their first test of this year's tournament]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/18/94360719-14310013-image-a-34_1737485892605.jpg)
