Gatland reflects on 'media narrative' over future

Warren Gatland is in his second stint as Wales head coach after replacing Wayne Pivac in December 2022

Head coach Warren Gatland says he is happy to field the pressure of questions on his future after guiding Wales to a 10th successive international defeat.

Fiji's first win in Cardiff means Wales have now not won a Test in 400 days, with Gatland's side equalling the international losing streak of Steve Hansen's side in 2002 and 2003.

Following the 24-19 loss at the Principality Stadium, Gatland was asked whether he thought his position was under threat.

"You can write about that," said Gatland.

"The pressure comes externally, basically from the media as it’s a narrative that you create. That’s ok from where I sit."

Gatland added: "We’ve said for the last 12 months since the World Cup, with the number of players and experience that we’ve lost, we were going to invest in a group of youngsters that we felt we could build with and take us on.

"We’ve seen development from those youngsters. We’ve said we need some patience and time.

"But I understand Test match rugby is about performing and winning.

"You [the media] control the narrative and write what you want. I’ll see what happens there."

Where will a win come from?

Wales will look to avoid a record 11th Test loss when a rejuvenated Australia arrive at the Principality Stadium next Sunday after a thrilling 42-37 win against England for Joe Schmidt's side.

Then world champions South Africa face Wales six days later in Cardiff so Gatland is left wondering where that elusive win is going to come from.

"Hopefully the win will come next week because it was supposed to be today," said Gatland.

"I am trying to take a little bit of pressure off this group of players so they don't feel that pressure themselves, so they have the confidence to go out there and be accurate and play.

"I think there are lots of good positive things we did against Fiji to work on for next week, without feeling the world or the heavens are caving in on you.

"This can stop you from going out there to play and express yourselves."

Time for a change?

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

They have suffered a World Cup quarter-final elimination against Argentina, five defeats in the Six Nations where Wales picked up a Wooden Spoon for the first time in 21 years.

Following defeat against Italy in March, Gatland says he offered Welsh Rugby Union [WRU] chief executive Abi Tierney his resignation, which was turned down.

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

Gatland's record in his second stint as head coach is six wins in 22 matches which is a 27% success rate.

Wales fly-half Sam Davies, currently playing for Grenoble in France, wrote on social media it was "time for a change", while former Wales centre Jamie Roberts, now WRU independent non-executive director, was critical.

"He [Gatland] says they're growing as a group but I have to disagree to be honest," Roberts told S4C.

"It's the worst Wales have ever been in the professional era, losing 10 on the bounce.

"I get the spin Warren wants to put on it. I'm sorry, I don't think Wales have moved forward. Watching Australia yesterday I've seen a team that's grown.

"But watching that performance today [Wales against Fiji], I haven't seen a team that's grown from the summer."

Replacement mistakes

Replacement fly-half Sam Costelow played in two different positions against Fiji

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

Fly-half Sam Costelow was forced to come on out of position on the wing in the 17th minute for the injured Mason Grady.

It was Cardiff scrum-half Ellis Bevan who was meant to have been introduced and not Costelow who ended up playing 47 minutes on the wing.

Costelow switched to his favoured fly-half role in the second half when Anscombe was replaced.

Bevan was also asked to play out of position in the final 16 minutes as he helped himself to a late try.

"Probably the wrong player has gone on as a replacement," said Gatland.

"We talked about Ellis Bevan going on there and he was supposed to and then Sam's ran on the field. I think he might have assumed he was the person going on.

"We had already had those discussions with Ellis that if we do lose a winger, you're going to need to cover us there.

"I need to get to the bottom of that and that was something we had to deal with."

Gatland admitted it was probably the last time he would use that quota of only two backs as his replacement strategy.

"We were going to get a bit of bad luck and it happened today," said Gatland.

"It's difficult. We had a long debate and discussion about the six-two split.

"The first time you do that and you get caught in the one position, you're a bit vulnerable."