Warren Gatland has called on the Welsh Rugby Union to either back him or sack him after Wales were hammered 52-20 by Australia in their record 11th defeat in a row.
Gatland added that he would be “comfortable” with no longer being head coach if it was the “best decision” for Welsh rugby.
Wales have not won a Test since the pool stages of last year’s Rugby World Cup and supporters left a below-capacity Principality Stadium long before the final whistle as Australia eased away.
“Whatever the best decision is, and whether that’s to make a change to bring some positivity back into the game, I would support 100 per cent. If that means me, I’m comfortable with that,” Gatland said.
Asked whether he still had the fight to continue doing the job, Gatland responded: “Absolutely. I do it because I love being involved in the game. I have so many good memories of my time in Wales. I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in the past, particularly in terms of World Cups. It’s challenging at the moment. I’m only human so I ask myself if it’s the right thing to do. But I’m happy doing it.”
Gatland revealed that he had spoken with Nigel Walker, the WRU’s executive director of rugby, and chair Richard Collier-Keywood in the changing room after Sunday’s defeat, but did not know when a conversation would take place with chief executive Abi Tierney, adding: “I’m always available for conversations.”
Asked if he thought he would be in charge for next Saturday’s Test against world champions South Africa in Cardiff, Gatland replied: “I don’t know. I’m more than comfortable supporting the best decision the Welsh Rugby Union will make. It’s about talking to the right people and making the right decisions, whether that’s from the union perspective or my family.”
The struggles of the men’s national side come at a time when the game in Wales faces financial difficulties and has been embroiled in a recent scandal regarding contract negotiations with the women’s national side, as revealed by Telegraph Sport.
‘Who are you going to get to come in?’
Gatland suggested that there were a number of areas where the game in Wales could be significantly improved, telling TNT Sports that “if we’re going to do things and new strategies then sometimes we’re going to have to be bold and brave about making some decisions”.
Later pushed on what he would change, Gatland claimed that better access to Wales’ top players would help improve conditioning to match the levels from last year’s Rugby World Cup when Wales won their group.
“I’ve said for a long time there’s a number of things the game can improve,” Gatland explained. “Definitely from our perspective, it’s about having more influence and potentially a bit more control over the preparation and players. It’s about some of the structures. I’ve been very consistent on the numbers of non-Welsh qualified players and whether we can reduce them. I’m a great believer in them, but let’s get real world-class quality. They’re aware of that. They’re trying to put some of those things in place with PRB and the regions.”
Pushed on whether there was a quick fix to the issues facing the game in Wales, Gatland suggested there was no easy solution.
“If you’re going to change me, like I said, I’m all for the best decision for Welsh rugby. But who are you going to get to come in and how are they going to make a change? Maybe making a change will help mitigate some of the negativity because it will deflect things and the focus will be on something else. But will it improve the game? Are you going to find the right person to do something else? Or are we better off sticking our head down, ploughing on and hopefully putting some things in place that can hopefully make some improvements at regional level and in the pathway, which can hopefully benefit us.”
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