LONDON – Warren Gatland insisted on Oct 21 he has no desire to “protect my own backside” while seeking to end Wales’ losing streak in international rugby.
Wales head into November’s Tests at home to Fiji, Australia and world champions South Africa on a run of nine straight defeats, with the team’s most recent Test victory coming against Georgia during the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
It is all a far cry from Gatland’s first spell in charge of Wales, from 2007 to 2019, that yielded four Six Nations titles – including three Grand Slams and two appearances in World Cup semi-finals. But the 61-year-old New Zealander has found wins harder to come by since replacing compatriot Wayne Pivac as Wales coach in December 2022.
Gatland, however, has insisted he is in the process of rebuilding the side ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Australia, with a 35-man squad announced on Oct 21 for the Autumn internationals including 16 players still in single-figure caps part of that process.
“Results are important, but I’ve tried to be incredibly honest. I am not here thinking about my own position or how I protect my own backside. It is about making the right decisions for Wales,” he said.
“We lost a huge amount of experience after the (2023) World Cup. We were going to go through some pain. I understand short-term is also important. There is no hiding from it, the expectations and scrutiny in international rugby, that comes with the territory.
“I am comfortable with that – I don’t have an issue with it. It’s about putting your hand on your heart and saying you honestly believe you are making the best decisions for Wales moving forward.”
Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake will captain a squad featuring the uncapped pair of New Zealand-born Blair Murray and former England Under-20 international Freddie Thomas but injuries meant experienced players such as Liam Williams, Josh Adams and Taulupe Faletau were not included.
Meanwhile, Australia’s big-money signing from rugby league Joseph Suaalii looks set to make his Wallabies debut on the end-of-season tour after being included in Joe Schmidt’s squad on Oct 22 for tests against England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
The 21-year-old, who Schmidt said was likely to play in the centres or outside backs, could have been sent on the Australia XV tour of Britain but was instead named in the 34-man Wallabies squad.
“He’s a kid who works hard on his game and… we want to give him the best runway possible to get try to get involved in the Wallabies. (We decided) being in an environment where we get to know him was probably most beneficial for us, and hopefully for Joseph and the team,” Schmidt told reporters in Sydney.
Suaalii is one of three uncapped players in the squad, along with fly-half Tane Edmed, who has revived his Test ambitions with a spell in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship, and versatile England-born back Harry Potter.
Will Skelton, who captained Australia for part of the ill-fated World Cup campaign, was also recalled to the squad for the first time in 2024. AFP, REUTERS
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