- Warren Gatland insisted he is taking responsibility for his side’s recent struggles
- Nine consecutive Test defeats marks Wales’ worst run for more than two decades
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has insisted he is relishing the position of being under pressure for his job but will continue to put his faith in youth.
Gatland’s side has lost their last nine Test matches. Their only wins in the 2023-24 season came in uncapped matches against the Barbarians and Queensland Reds.
New Zealander Gatland will name his autumn squad for November matches with Fiji, Australia and South Africa on Monday.
‘It has been an incredibly challenging year and I’m the first to put my hand up and recognise that, but I’m excited about the challenges ahead,’ said Gatland.
‘I promise you we’re going to work incredibly hard as a group and hopefully we can show some development as a squad in the autumn campaign. That’s important.
Warren Gatland insisted he will continue to put his faith in young players despite Wales’ recent struggles
The Dragons have lost their last nine Test matches, their worst run in more than two decades
Their last win came all the back in October of 2023 against Georgia at the World Cup
‘We’ve identified a number of young players who are outstanding prospects for Wales in the future and who are incredibly talented.
‘We’ve gone down that road and we want to spend more time developing these players.
‘I’m taking decisions I think are the best for the future of Welsh rugby. It’s not about making decisions that try to protect my own position. It’s not about thinking “I’m under some pressure, should I pick an older or more experienced player who can potentially do a job for a short period over a younger player that we see has got a huge amount of potential”.
‘Those are tough decisions to make, but it’s about having the confidence and self-belief you’re making the best decisions for Welsh rugby. It’s probably an unusual position for me to be in where you’re under that pressure, but I’m excited about the challenge.’
Gatland’s second spell in charge of Wales has seen the team struggle for results on the field while off the field Welsh rugby has been dogged by financial troubles and scandal.
‘I’m well aware international rugby is about performance and about results and that’s just a fact we have to deal with,’ Gatland said.
‘With that comes expectation and external pressure, but that’s what drives me and gives me the motivation to work these players hard to hopefully get some results in the autumn.’
Should they lose to Fiji in their autumn opener in Cardiff on November 10, Wales’ run of Test defeats would extend to 10 and equal their worst run from between 2002 and 2003.
Gatland’s 2024 autumn squad is set to be captained by either Dewi Lake or Jac Morgan with Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins missing the campaign due to injury.
Captain Dafydd Jenkins is set to miss the upcoming autumn internationals through injury
In his absence, Dewi Lake will likely lead the team when they take on Fiji next month
Lake is the most likely leader after he skippered Wales in their 2-0 Australia series defeat in July with Morgan out. Flanker Morgan is one of a number of players set to return to Gatland’s squad after missing the trip to the southern hemisphere.
The likes of Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe will bring some much-needed international know-how to what is a young Wales squad.
Gloucester half-backs Williams and Anscombe should make a big difference to Wales.
Another Gloucester player in lock Freddie Thomas is in the frame to be a new face in the Wales squad. Gatland has urged his next generation of players to devote everything they have to try and turn Wales’ fortunes around. Experienced back Liam Williams is set to be absent this November due to injury.
‘We’re looking for good men who want to be part of a team and who are prepared to go to the well and dig deep,’ Gatland said.
‘A lot of players, particularly the younger ones, don’t always know the limits of what they can do and how hard and far they can push themselves at the highest level.
‘The life of a professional player is so much more detailed these days. The top professionals in the world all do the extras and that’s why they’re often the best-performing players. Footballers like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi aren’t simply the best because of their ability on the field, but because of the extra work they do off it.
‘It’s important for us to get that message across to the younger players about how important it is to do the extra work to take them to the next level.
‘That’s how you have a long and successful career in rugby.’
