Wales 19-24 Fiji: Gatland happy for pressure after record loss

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Gareth Griffiths

BBC Sport Wales

Head coach Warren Gatland says he’s happy to field the stress of questions about his future after guiding Wales to a tenth successive international defeat.

Fiji’s first procure in Cardiff system Wales have confidence now now not won a Take a look at in 400 days, with Gatland’s facet equalling the international losing dart of Steve Hansen’s facet in 2002 and 2003.

Following the 24-19 loss at the Principality Stadium, Gatland used to be requested whether he concept his put used to be beneath risk.

“You would possibly perchance perchance perchance possibly possibly write about that,” said Gatland.

“The stress comes externally, most continuously from the media because it’s a legend that you fabricate. That’s enough from the put I take a seat.”

Gatland added: “We’ve said for the final one year since the World Cup, with the different of avid gamers and journey that we’ve misplaced, we were going to make investments in a community of teenagers that we felt we would possibly perchance perchance perchance possibly fabricate with and rob us on.

“We’ve seen construction from those kids. We’ve said we would like some endurance and time.

“But I trace Take a look at match rugby is set performing and profitable.

“You [the media] adjust the legend and write what you wish. I’ll be taught what occurs there.”

Wales will be taught to set faraway from a epic 11th Take a look at loss when a rejuvenated Australia arrive at the Principality Stadium subsequent Sunday after an exhilarating 42-37 procure against England for Joe Schmidt’s facet.

Then world champions South Africa face Wales six days later in Cardiff so Gatland is left questioning the put that elusive procure going to arrive from.

“Hopefully the procure will arrive subsequent week because of it used to be supposed to be in an instant time,” said Gatland.

“I am attempting to rob a minute bit of stress off this community of avid gamers so that they originate now not if fact be told feel that stress themselves, so that they have confidence got the boldness to exit there and be ravishing and play.

“I deem there are many of ravishing sure things we did against Fiji to work on for subsequent week, with out feeling the arena or the heavens are caving in on you.

“This can raze you from going on the market to play and drawl yourselves.”

Wales have confidence now not won since defeating Georgia within the World Cup pool match in October 2023 in Nantes.

They have confidence suffered a World Cup quarter-final elimination against Argentina, five defeats within the Six Worldwide locations the put Wales picked up a Wood Spoon within the first time in 21 years.

Following defeat against Italy in March, Gatland says he provided Welsh Rugby Union [WRU] chief govt Abi Tierney his resignation, which used to be turned down.

Since then there have confidence been further losses against South Africa, Australia and now Fiji.

Gatland’s epic in his 2d stint as head coach is six wins in 22 fits which is a 27% success price.

Wales gallop-half Sam Davies, currently playing for Grenoble in France, wrote on social media it used to be “time for a alternate”, whereas aged Wales centre Jamie Roberts used to be severe.

“He [Gatland] says they’re rising as a community nonetheless I even must disagree to be unbiased,” Roberts instructed S4C.

“It’s miles the worst Wales have confidence ever been within the skilled period, losing 10 on the bounce.

“I rating the hasten Warren needs to positioned on it. I’m sorry, I originate now not deem Wales have confidence moved forward. Watching Australia the day prior to this I’ve seen a crew that is grown.

“But looking out at that efficiency in an instant time [Wales against Fiji], I have not seen a crew that is grown from the summer season.”

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Gatland also admitted there had been a serious error in his replacements strategy after he had opted to set up six forwards and two backs on his bench.

Soar-half Sam Costelow used to be compelled to arrive on misplaced on the fly within the 17th minute for the injured Mason Grady.

It used to be Cardiff scrum-half Ellis Bevan who used to be supposed to have confidence been offered and never Costelow who ended up playing 47 minutes on the fly.

Costelow switched to his favoured gallop-half characteristic within the 2d half when Anscombe used to get replaced.

Bevan used to be also requested to play misplaced within the final 16 minutes as he helped himself to a gradual are attempting.

“Doubtlessly the shocking player has long gone on as a change,” said Gatland.

“We talked about Ellis Bevan going on there and he used to be supposed to after which Sam’s ran on the sphere. I deem he would possibly perchance perchance perchance possibly have confidence assumed he used to be the person going on.

“We had already had those discussions with Ellis that if we enact lose a winger, you’re going to want to duvet us there.

“I want to resolve that and that used to be something we needed to accommodate.”

Gatland admitted it used to be potentially the final time he would expend that quota of fully two backs as his change strategy.

“We were going to rating pretty of tainted unbiased appropriate fortune and it came about in an instant time,” said Gatland.

“It’s advanced. We had a lengthy debate and discussion about the six-two split.

“The main time you enact that and you rating caught within the one put, you are pretty susceptible.”

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