Gatland's legacy on line as unwanted record looms

Wales have not gone winless in a full calendar year since 1937 - when they played just three games

Warren Gatland always knew his reputation was on the line when he returned to Wales.

He had enjoyed that rare luxury in professional sport of departing a job on his own terms with the eternal gratitude of a nation.

But he gambled that legacy when he accepted the invitation - and the lucrative contract from the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) - for a second stint in charge.

He certainly did not fully appreciate what he was walking into and has admitted he did not realise just how painful it would be this time around.

But not since losing the Ireland job to Eddie O'Sullivan's backroom manoeuvring 23 years ago has he faced as difficult a week as this.

"It's different. Am I happy with where we are? No. Is there pressure? Yes. It's a different kind of pressure that potentially I don't like, but I'm not uncomfortable with because I understand where we're at," Gatland said before Sunday's match against Australia (16:10 GMT kick-off).

Welsh rugby's issues run far deeper than the national coach but Gatland is baring the brunt as his credit in the bank of public opinion whittles away.

But it is not just with fans as Gatland faces an unprecedented backlash from his own ex-players.

For the first time in his combined 15 years as Wales coach, Gatland is receiving stinging criticism from former favourites who previously gave their all for him.

Mike Phillips has demanded Gatland be sacked, Tom Shanklin says he must go if they lose the next two games, Alex Cuthbert says the coach’s job is under question, Dan Biggar admitted Welsh rugby is at a crossroads and, perhaps most damagingly, Jamie Roberts - also an independent non-executive director on the WRU board - claims Wales are as bad now as ever.

Gatland may have lost favour with former stars but is doing what he believes is the best to safeguard the current squad by taking the brunt.

He is the bulwark to a young team that contains only two players with more than 50 caps and more than half were not even part of the World Cup last year.

"Now it's about how do I take the pressure and be comfortable with it on me and take it away from the players so they can go and play with some freedom, back their skills and not feel the pressure about the performance and result," he explained.

"I haven't really been in this situation before in terms of doing that. I've got to keep delivering the messages and being consistent to make sure there is clarity in terms of how we prepare and train."

And he is, at least, holding on to his sense of humour when asked if 11 defeats would mark this team as the worst Wales side ever.

He replied: "I was talking to [team manager] Martyn Williams who said in 2003 [the last time Wales lost 10 Tests in a row] we were rubbish! But 18 months later we won a Grand Slam."

How quickly things can change.

From 10 defeats in 2002-03 to a Slam in 2005, Gatland and Rob Howley oversaw eight defeats in 2012-13 but responded immediately with a Six Nations title.

Conversely, it was just 13 months ago that Wales were running riot against Australia, scoring 40 points on a magical World Cup night in Lyon.

It has been steadily downhill since for Wales and a record-equalling 10th straight loss, a first-ever defeat to the Fijians at home and not a single Test win in the whole of 2024 has prompted yet more soul-searching.

But would another coach do better? It could not have been worse.

There still appears little appetite within the WRU to wield the axe. Gatland could yet ride out a poor autumn, but he surely would not survive another bad Six Nations.

"It is what it is. We have not thrown in the towel," he said.

"I believe 100% in what we're doing. The conviction is there and that probably takes away some of the noise that's coming towards us.

"I haven't really thought about making that decision [to step down], we will see what happens. Maybe if we win the next two I will think about it."