A DEFIANT WARREN Gatland says he โabsolutelyโ has the desire to continue in his role as Wales head coach.
Speculation continues to rage about Gatlandโs future after a record run of 11 successive Test match defeats.
World champions South Africa are next up for Wales on Saturday, with the Springboks overwhelming favourites to emphatically extend that losing sequence.
A South Africa victory would mean Wales going the entire calendar year without winning a Test, which has not happened since 1937.
โIf you start thinking about other things, it is a distraction you donโt need,โ said Gatland, after naming a team showing four changes from the one beaten 52-20 by Australia.
โI think we have been pretty clear in terms of the plan weโve had. Weโve got a group of young players that need a bit of time.
โI have been pretty honest in terms that I understand the pressures of international rugby with performances and results. We can only work as hard as we have done.
โI am aware of the pressure and that decisions could be made outside of my control. Weโve just asked for a little bit of time. Whether we get that time, we will have to wait and see.โ
Asked if he had a strong desire to continue, Gatland replied โabsolutelyโ, while also confirming he would consider resigning if he thought it was in Welsh rugbyโs best interests.
Gatland, meanwhile, ended speculation that he might have had a break clause in his contract with the Welsh Rugby Union after the Six Nations, confirming that was not the case.
During his first stint as boss between 2008 and 2019, Wales were twice World Cup semi-finalists, in addition to winning Six Nations titles and Grand Slams.
But this time around Wales have plummeted outside the worldโs top 10-ranked countries and have won just six of 23 Tests under Gatlandโs direction since he returned in late 2022.
Wales host the Springboks on the back of a comprehensive defeat against Australia and home loss to Fiji. They have not won a Test since the 2023 World Cup.
Gatland revealed on Sunday that he had spoken with WRU executive director of rugby Nigel Walker and WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood immediately after the Wallabies game.
Brothers in arms in Cardiff on Saturday ๐#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold
โ Springboks (@Springboks) November 19, 2024
After the Springboks encounter, Walesโ next game is a tough Six Nations opener against France in Paris on 31 January.
Gatlandโs switches from the side crushed by Australia see starts for wing Rio Dyer, fly-half Sam Costelow, lock Christ Tshiunza and number eight Taine Plumtree.
One positional change, meanwhile, has wing Blair Murray moving to full-back instead of Cameron Winnett.
Dyer wears the number 11 shirt worn by Murray in the last two games, with Costelow replacing Gareth Anscombe, Tshiunza taking over from an injured Adam Beard and Plumtree replacing Aaron Wainwright.
On the replacementsโ bench, meanwhile, there is a role for uncapped Gloucester forward Freddie Thomas, and his club colleague Josh Hathaway is also included.
๐จ ๐งรฎ๐บ ๐๐๐บ๐ฟ๐ ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ
โ Welsh Rugby Union ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ (@WelshRugbyUnion) November 20, 2024
Here is your Wales 2๏ธโฃ3๏ธโฃ to take on @springboks in our final @autumnnations fixture this Saturday at @principalitysta, 17:40 KO! ๐ฅ๐#AutumnNationsSeries | #WALvRSA
A gulf in experience between the two teams is highlighted by the Wales matchday 23 having a total of 334 caps, whereas the Springboks bench alone boasts 431.
Gatland added: โLast weekโs result hurts, and we are just as disappointed by it as the fans.
โThere were good elements that we can definitely build on going into Saturday, but we have to improve our accuracy.
โWe know what a quality side South Africa are and the physicality they bring. This week we need to show real courage and front up against the world champions.โ
Wales
15. Blair Murray (Scarlets)
14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets)
13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester)
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons)
10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets)
9. Ellis Bevan (Cardiff)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys, captain)
3. Archie Griffin (Bath)
4, Will Rowlands (Racing 92)
5. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter)
6. James Botham (Cardiff)
7. Jac Morgan (Ospreys)
8. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets)
Replacements:
16. Ryan Elias (Scarlets)
17. Nicky Smith (Leicester)
18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff)
19. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester)
20. Tommy Reffell (Leicester)
21. Rhodri Williams (Dragons)
22. Eddie James (Scarlets)
23. Josh Hathaway (Gloucester)
South Africa
15. Aphelele Fassi
14. Cheslin Kolbe
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Damian de Allende
11. Kurt-Lee Arendse
10. Jordan Hendrikse
9. Jaden Hendrikse
1. Wilco Louwe
2. Johan Grobbelaar
3. Thomas du Toit
4. Jean Kleyn
5. Franco Mostert
6. Siya Kolisi (captain)
7. Elrigh Louw
8. Jasper Wiese
Replacements:
16. Malcolm Marx
17. Gerhard Steenekamp
18. Vincent Koch
19. Eben Etzebeth
20. RG Snyman
21. Cameron Hanekom
22. Cobus Reinach
23. Handre Pollard
Would be crazy if he gets it. Zero head coach experience and part of the failed management group in recent years, even though it was Rowntree who paid the price. Seems to be more of the jobs for the boys culture weโve always seen with Munster.
@Aidan Farrell: i dont want him to get the job because heโs really good in his current role. Dont know what youโre talking about with this as an example of โjobs for the boysโ. He was recruited after demonstrating effectiveness for racing and Munsterโs attack was transformed in a season from where it was under Larkham.
@Aidan Farrell: Failed? Lol. Didnโt he win a trophy more recently than Leinster? Itโs very disappointing that I had to explain that to u :(
@Aidan Farrell: Few bad games Aidan, thereโs a trophy in there tooโฆ be patient, Iโm sure we can turn that frown upside-down
@Aidan Farrell: BS, how much head coach experience did cullen have before leinster? Heck how much did rowntree have before munster, little to none and he got us a trophy.
@Cian Halley: I think heโs a bit traumatized by the job for the boy Cullen and the 0/3 since the Saffies joined the URC
@Michael Corkery: I have a funny feeling you might be right
@Cian Halley: for all Leoโs faults โ and by God there are many โ the man is still a European Cup winning coach and domestic league champion.
@Aidan Farrell: so let me get this straight, prendergast canโt coach munster because heโs from munster?, but itโs OK for cullen to coach leinster with even less experience at coaching in general than prendergast? Just because heโs from leinster? Make this make sense please.
@Aidan Farrell: Heโs only a figurehead!
@Cian Halley: not what Iโm saying at all, Ciano pal.
@Aidan Farrell: won URC and next year top of the league and lost in semi final to eventual winners? Much better than any other Irish province do you not agree?
@Aidan Farrell: the same failed management that won a trophy more recently than our vaunted wealthy neighbours??!!!
@Aidan Farrell: Hey RayโฆHow much head coach experience did Andy Farrell have before he took over Irelandโฆ.noneโฆhow much head coach experience did Joe Schmidt have before Leinsterโฆnone. How much head coach experience did ROG have before LARโฆnoneโฆ.again fact make a fool out of you lol
@Aidan Farrell: my god, you talk some rope.
@anthony davoren: thanks for that you saved me from saying it . Joe was always the assistant prior to the Leinster job .. but sure hey guys who think like Aidan are really the Neil Francisโ of the rugby world
@Aidan Farrell: The current head coaches at some stage were not head coaches before they were appointed to the first head coach position. To get an existing head coach to manage any rugby team, let alone Munster, is going to cost a lot of dough. Itโs cheaper to appoint one without that tag.
Hope he gets it, be a busy field given the approach tho!
@Thesaltyurchin: agrรฉe. He has had enough of an impact as attack coach to deserve a go as head coach looking after all areas of the team. Iโd like to see a DOR though so that he could concentrate 100% on the coaching though
@Michael Corkery: Interested to see who will go for it, wonder will they reel any whales in! Sticking to the process, ultimately gives them time and keeps everyone on the path.
@Michael Corkery: Ian Costello is the DOR in all but name
@5sZl1dX2: yes, he is currently in a caretaker capacity but it might be a roll that suits both long term. We could do a lot worse.
See if it holds, no better application than a decent rest of season.
@Thesaltyurchin: He seems like the sort of guy who has it in him. It has often worked out to go with a head coach without experience so thereโs no reason why it wonโt work out. But if he is the man for the job, just give it to him already. The same uncertainty surrounded Rowntreeโs appointment and it almost felt like โah sure I suppose give it to Grahamโ in the end. If they are holding out for Felix or Lancaster then put him out of his misery. Why string him along? I would be p**sed if it was me.
@Paul Ennis: Dunno I think theyโre right to take their time as itโs mid season and a messy one, but both points are true I think. Heโs definitely a leader (Iโm a little bias, same school).
@Thesaltyurchin: Have heard it might be an alternative to Prendergast.
Has a bang of Rowntree of this. Rowntree nearly pulled his name out of the hat it took that long to back him. If they feel heโs good enough then donโt search and just back him, or else it looks like Eileen Gleeson or keeping Ten Hag.
@James Murphy: My thoughts entirely. Donโt mess with the guy and give him some respect. Either give him the job or tell him heโs not in the running.
At tu Brute?
Rowntree was right all along , a coup
IRFU should go all out to get ROG. Pay him well and give him a good budget for players . He will rally the whole province
No shit Sherlock