As if the challenge of turning around Wales' fortunes wasn't hard enough, Warren Gatland will have to do it without at least five of his senior players who have decided to call time on their international careers a mere three months out from the Rugby World Cup.
Alun Wyn Jones, Josh Navidi, Ross Moriarty, Justin Tipuric, and now Rhys Webb, would have likely been an integral part of Gatland's plans this summer.
To put it into perspective, that's 393 caps worth of international experience.
Many would argue Gatland's predecessor Wayne Pivac should have dispensed with the services of some of the squad's veterans at least two years ago, but you cannot deny their sudden unavailability this close to a World Cup is far from ideal.
The absence of Webb is arguably as big a loss as any given how vitally important it has always been to have enough experience at half-back during a World Cup.
Webb had been consigned to the international wilderness for many years, first by the controversial 60 cap law, and secondly by Pivac, before getting recalled by Gatland for the recent Six Nations.
Wales have plenty of options at scrum-half but none have succeeded in nailing down the number nine jersey which meant Pivac was forced to chop and change before leaving the post.
READ MORE: Rhys Webb quits Wales team in new shock statement
Gatland gave Webb the opportunity to wear the number nine shirt from the start in Rome last March and he didn't disappoint, with the Ospreys man putting in an accomplished player of the match performance which played a crucial part in Wales avoiding the Wooden Spoon with victory over Italy.
Webb brought an authority and calmness to the scrum-half role that none of his competitors for the jersey possess.
The former Ospreys star is still a threat with ball in hand but more importantly he knows when to snipe, when to box-kick, and when to pass, while his leadership skills were vastly underrated.
Of course, Wales still have a lot of talent in this area with Tomos Williams among the most naturally gifted players around, but he is not in the same class as Webb when it comes to game management which is what Gatland will miss the most.
With Webb out of the equation, Wales' World Cup scrum-half places are essentially filled with Williams along with Scarlets pair Gareth Davies and Kieran Hardy very likely to make the final squad.
The experienced Davies will surely be a key member of Gatland's squad. By his own admission, his form at the start of the season wasn't where it needed to be and the man from Newcastle Emlyn paid the price by getting left out of two Wales squads.
But he was outstanding during the second-half of the season for the Scarlets, and the experience the 67-cap international brings could be vital.
Gatland will hope Davies, and the mercurial Williams can complement each other, while Hardy, who has the quickest service of the lot, cannot be underestimated.
But in the long-run what will be of far more concern to both Gatland and the Welsh Rugby Union is how playing for Wales has potentially lost its power.
Historically, representing Wales at a Rugby World Cup stands side by side with playing a Test match for the British & Irish Lions as the pinnacle for any Welsh rugby player, but times are changing.
While wearing the red jersey will always be a powerful thing, it evidently does not have the pull it once had.
Apart from Navidi, who retired as a result of a nerve injury which wouldn't heal, the rest have made themselves unavailable with a World Cup just 100 days away.
For the last few years, Webb has been desperate to force his way back into the Wales squad, and the fact he has now turned his back on a first ever World Cup appearance says a lot about the current state of Welsh rugby.
A lot of players are likely tired of the constant infighting and would have been dismayed at the way they have been treated this season.
With wages getting aggressively driven down in Wales, nobody can blame the players for putting their long-term futures above representing their country.
Many clubs in France, understandably, want a return on their investment when paying big money on overseas players, and don't want them gallivanting off on international duty for large chunks of the season.
In short, making yourself unavailable for Wales makes you more attractive to clubs in England or overseas. Last month, WalesOnline revealed Webb was being targeted by a number of clubs in France, while there was also significant interest from two clubs in Major League Rugby in the US, along with sides in Super Rugby.
Obviously, players still get paid a fair amount for representing Wales but it becomes a no brainer when it is weighed up against long-term financial security.
Throw in the fact these are men who have already enjoyed distinguished careers, whose bodies have been battered year after year and who have young families at home, then you can see why a summer of brutal training camps and two months away from home later this year may be something they are prepared to pass up in the current climate, no matter the undoubted honour they feel representing their country.
Over the past decade Wales were always in with a shout of competing for silverware in the Six Nations, and at the very least making the latter stages of the World Cup.
While going far in the World Cup isn't totally out of the question given Wales are on the more favourable side of the draw, the odds are stacked against Gatland's side considering the results of the past 18 months, and the instability back home.
This will surely have also played a part in their decisions.
Of course, the other side of the coin is Gatland will have an opportunity to blood the next generation of Wales stars, and one could argue the age profile of the squad was far too old to be competitive anyway.
But what is of paramount importance is the WRU and the Professional Rugby Board get the game in this country back on the right track or the days of reaching World Cup semi-finals won't be seen for at least the next decade.
READ NEXT:
Welsh rugby's most pressing issues to fix right now as WRU prepare for major overhaul
Young Wales international axed by Scarlets to resurrect career in England
Dragons in talks with Leigh Halfpenny over new job as they target Wales team-mate
Ex-Cardiff coach warns Welsh rugby is 'as bad as it's been' but makes surprise tip for next season
