Warren Gatland: What next for Wales head coach after record defeat
It remains to be seen whether Gatland will be in charge of the first Six Nations match against France in Paris on January 31, or even the Springboks next weekend.
Even he admitted that he was not sure. In the interview after the Australian team’s defeat, Gatland’s expression was full of resignation, mixed with the occasional defiance.
The New Zealander said he would accept his departure if it was for the benefit of Welsh rugby and revealed he had spoken to Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief Richard Collier-Keewood and Rugby in the Principality Stadium dressing room Executive Director Nigel Walker talks. This latest humiliation.
Gatland’s statistics in his second spell as Wales manager are astounding. He has a record of 6-17 in 23 Tests since replacing Wayne Pivac in December 2022.
Four of those wins came at last year’s World Cup, when Gatland guided Wales to the quarter-finals before losing to Argentina.
His team has not won a Test match since then. They finished bottom of the Six Nations for the first time in 21 years, losing at home to Italy and Fiji and slipping to 11th in the World Rugby Rankings.
Gatland was always in danger of damaging his legacy when he returned to work, having been universally respected after his first spell in charge and winning a Grand Slam and a World Cup semi-final.
Now Gatland is considering whether he should stay or leave, raising the question of who could replace him as he highlights the flaws in Welsh rugby.
There is no evidence that public opinion is entirely against Gatland, the opposite view is what else he can do with the young players at his disposal after many of Wales’ experienced “golden generation” have retired.
The team is led by an impressive captain at Dulwich Lake and is full of young men who are proud to play for their country – but they are all lightweight novices on the international stage at the moment.
So what would be achieved by replacing Gatland? Will new faces improve things?
Gatland’s critics will immediately put forward a long list of candidates, including Michael Cheika, Shaun Edwards, Brad Moore, Tony Brown, Franco Smith and Pat Lam. As an alternative, there will be others.
Whether any of these men will improve Welsh rugby’s flagging fortunes is open to question.
