Warren Gatland: What next for Wales head coach after record defeat

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Gareth Griffiths

BBC Sport Wales

Has Welsh rugby at final hit all-time low?

Head coach Warren Gatland has presided over statistically the worst Wales’ aspect in their 143-yr world rugby historic past – slumping to a anecdote 11th successive Take a look at match loss with the 52-20 hammering in opposition to Australia.

Over the final yr you shall be forgiven for pondering issues would possibly well presumably perchance perchance now not sink any decrease. Then Australia recorded basically the most functions the Wallabies occupy ever scored in Cardiff.

And the realm is in hazard of unravelling even further next Saturday, when double world champions South Africa approach at the Principality Stadium.

Over the bridge, critics of English rugby occupy tried to mumble a disaster there, after Steve Borthwick’s aspect lost 5 consecutive games.

However three of these defeats occupy come in opposition to the All Blacks – with two games in Unusual Zealand – and there used to be a final-gasp loss to Australia forward of England came up instant in opposition to the Springboks.

The message, on account of this reality, to English naysayers from the Welsh rugby devoted must be particular. When speaking a pair of doable disaster, salvage in line. You produce now not know what a disaster is.

So, what now for this Wales crew, Welsh rugby and Gatland himself?

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Whether or now not Gatland will doubtless be accountable for the opening Six Nations match in opposition to France in Paris on 31 January, and even for the Springboks next weekend, stays to be viewed.

Even he admitted he used to be uncertain and there used to be an air of resignation, blended with occasional bouts of defiance, about Gatland in his interviews after the Australia defeat.

The Unusual Zealander acknowledged he would glean his departure if it used to be for the income of Welsh rugby and he published he had spoken with Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chair Richard Collier-Keywood and govt director of rugby Nigel Walker in the Principality Stadium altering rooms following this most up-to-date humiliation.

Gatland’s statistics for his 2d stint as Wales head coach are monstrous. He has overseen six wins and 17 losses from 23 Exams since changing Wayne Pivac in December 2022.

Four of these victories came in final yr’s World Cup when Gatland led Wales to the quarter-finals forward of defeat in opposition to Argentina.

His aspect occupy now not received a Take a look at match since. They carried out bottom of the Six Nations for the first time in 21 years, lost at dwelling to Italy and Fiji and slipped to a World Rugby rating low of 11th.

Gatland used to be continuously in hazard of harmful his legacy when returning to a job for which he used to be in total revered after his first stint accountable, one which yielded Immense Slams and World Cup semi-finals.

Now pondering whether he must give up or lope, Gatland posed the quiz who would possibly well presumably perchance perchance shall be found in and change him, as he highlighted Welsh rugby’s flaws.

There is now not this kind of thing as a proof public belief is completely in opposition to Gatland, with the counter-argument asking what more would possibly well presumably perchance perchance he produce with the youthful players at his disposal following the retirement of so loads of Wales’ experienced “golden skills”.

This squad, led by captain in Dewi Lake, is stuffed with younger males proud to play for their nation – but they are currently lightweight and learners on the realm stage.

So what would changing Gatland cease and would a fresh face strengthen issues?

Gatland’s critics will straight advocate a prolonged checklist of candidates, naming Michael Cheika, Shaun Edwards, Brad Mooar, Tony Brown, Franco Smith and Pat Lam as different choices and there’ll doubtless be others.

Whether or now not any of these americans would strengthen the flagging fortunes of Welsh rugby is up for debate.

Gatland used to be effectively appointed by feeble WRU chief govt Steve Phillips, who resigned a month after attracting the Wales coach support for a 2d spell.

After beginning with a complex Six Nations in 2023, which featured simplest one bag and the menace of strike action in opposition to England over contract disorders, Gatland steadied the ship for the World Cup. With masses of time to work with the squad, he oversaw an encouraging marketing campaign including a 40-6 demolition of Australia in Lyon.

Both Gatland and the WRU will occupy slit their losses at the stay of the realm tournament, permitted he had completed momentary steadiness and started the next four-yr cycle with a fresh man at the helm.

As a replacement, Walker stated Gatland used to be basically the most attention-grabbing coach on this planet and the Unusual Zealander carried on.

Precise small print of Gatland’s contract – and whether there is a fracture clause – occupy by no intention been formally published but the customary assumption is the WRU would fight to occupy the funds for to salvage rid of the coach.

So transferring Gatland on would possibly well presumably perchance perchance come with financial ramifications for a governing body who occupy recently paid out £1.8m to feeble workers, including £480,000 to Phillips.

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Gatland finds himself carrying the can but he’s now not alone. Wales are moreover currently with out a women’s head coach after Ioan Cunningham departed following unhappy outcomes and one other most up-to-date off-the-field controversy involving players’ contracts.

Welsh rugby’s failings flee deeper than this. The WRU are culpable and questions encompass whether there would possibly well be any credible succession planning.

There has been small proof of this in most up-to-date years, with issues the WRU hierarchy are sleepwalking into a continued downward spiral.

There used to be fresh leadership build in verbalize designed to reform and rejuvenate Welsh rugby but they seem like repeating the mistakes of earlier regimes.

There is aloof no concept for Welsh rugby in verbalize. Actually. Chief govt Abi Tierney has been in put up formally since January and promised a fresh approach in the first half of the yr.

That used to be delayed with a bullet-point presentation in June outlining targets alternatively it used to be in actuality a wish checklist with small substance equipped.

There is now not this kind of thing as a proof of an coming near near newsletter of that approach because the WRU continue to negotiate with the four Welsh skilled facets.

In addition to now not but having the ability to raise what she promised, since Tierney has shall be found in and Collier-Keywood used to be build in the outcomes of the males’s and girls’s national facets occupy deteriorated, the domestic areas continue to fight in the grave financial native climate and there would possibly well be now not this kind of thing as a proof the WRU tradition has improved.

Walker used to be expose at Gatland’s put up-match conference where he heard the coach field relentless questions about his future.

Walker, Tierney and Collier-Keywood must prepare themselves for that level of scrutiny when the trio will doubtless be quizzed next Sunday at the WRU annual customary meeting (AGM) by membership representatives.

The quiz is produce they’ve the skills to clear up the Welsh rugby conundrum?

If WRU bosses are in any doubt action is wanted, they simply must survey at the closing moments of Wales’ defeat in opposition to Australia.

As the final whistle used to be blown, there occupy been some small sporadic boos around the stadium but that used to be a token gesture.

Extra referring to occupy been the empty seats, with other americans streaming out of the ground in the final 10 minutes as they realised the inevitable consequence.

It used to be more apathy than anger from the supporters who Gatland permitted had been let down by Wales efficiency.

The Principality Stadium attendance used to be 56,188 when put next to 67,491 in opposition to the identical opposition two years previously, which grew to become out to be Pivac’s final game accountable.

So being concerned instances as other americans vote with their feet. The discrepancy in the crowds will doubtless be build down to the unhelpful slack afternoon kick-off time on a Sunday alternatively it is miles a vicious circle – Wales occupy been on condition that slot by broadcasters thanks to their most up-to-date low situation on this planet game.

Missing out on tag gross sales and prize money by ending low down in the Six Nations will expose costly.

So when the quiz is posed can the WRU occupy the funds for to provide adjustments – the answer would possibly well presumably perchance perchance be can they occupy the funds for now to now not?

Welsh rugby’s uncertain and being concerned future would possibly well presumably perchance perchance simply rely on what occurs next.

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