Gatland wants more time to turn around Wales’ faltering rugby team amid record run of losses
Wales coach Warren Gatland watches his team before the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Wales and Australia at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024.(AP Photo/Rui Vieira)
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Warren Gatland expressed his desire to stay on as Wales rugby coach after making what could prove to be his final team announcement in the role amid a record run of losses in the national side’s 143-year history.
Wales has lost 11 straight matches and heads into Saturday’s meeting against back-to-back world champion South Africa in Cardiff looking to avoid going an entire calendar year without winning a test for the first time since 1937.
With his job under huge pressure, Gatland has said he would support any decision taken by the Welsh Rugby Union and didn’t give any assurances when asked Wednesday if he thought he’d still be in the job for the Six Nations starting in February.
“It’s not something I’ve thought about. I’m focused on this week,” the New Zealander said at a news conference. “If you start thinking about other things and going outside and talking about other things, it’s a distraction you don’t need. You’ve just got to focus totally on preparing the team as best we can.”
Asked if he had a strong desire to continue as Wales coach, Gatland said “absolutely” but acknowledged he understood “the pressures of international rugby and performance and results.”
Gatland has overseen just six wins from 23 tests since returning for a second stint as head coach ahead of the Rugby World Cup last year.
Gatland said he has a “young group that need time.”
“Decisions could be made outside of my control,” he said. “I’ve asked for a little bit of time — whether we get that time, we’ll have to wait and see.”
Gatland has made four changes to the team that started the 52-20 loss to Australia on Sunday, with winger Rio Dyer, flyhalf Sam Costelow, lock Christ Tshiunza and No. 8 Taine Plumtree called up. One positional change saw wing Blair Murray move from the wing to fullback instead of Cameron Winnett.
Costelow replaced Gareth Anscombe, Tshiunza took over from injured Adam Beard and Plumtree came in for Aaron Wainwright.
Wales’ 23-man squad has a total of 334 caps, whereas the Springboks bench alone has 431. Dyer is Wales’ most -capped back with 22.
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Wales: Blair Murray, Tom Rogers, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Rio Dyer, Sam Costelow, Ellis Bevan; Taine Plumtree, Jac Morgan, James Botham, Christ Tshiunza, Will Rowlands, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas. Reserves: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Keiron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Eddie James, Josh Hathaway
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby