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Downbeat Warren Gatland To Meet With WRU After Admitting: "I Will Do What Is Best For Wales"
Warren Gatland expects to meet with Welsh Union officials to discuss his future over the next few days after suffering another crushing defeat. The Wales coach appears to be nearing the end of his time in charge, allough he also insisted he still has the stomach for the fight despite presiding over a record 11-match losing run - the worst in Welsh rugby history. An emphatic eight-tries-to-two, 52-20 defeat to Australia at the Principality Stadium may prove to be the final straw for Gatland - not a knockout blow in itself, but the latest in a series of repeated punches that have left him questioning whether it might be best if he is removed from the firing line.
Could this be 11 and all out for Warren Gatland as he tackles his toughest test after losing ten consecutive matches? Gatland's first reign saw him win 85 from 151 games with a 56% general win record, 60% record in World Cup matches and 71% in the Six Nations. So, the head coach had credit in the bank when he returned for his second stint after guiding Wales to four Six Nations titles and two World Cup semi finals.
Karl Marks Wales Highly As They Stay Strong In Turkish Test Of Nerve
Karl Darlow dodged lighters thrown towards him and “white noise” at the ear-splitting Kadir Has Stadium to help Wales secure a battling Nations League draw in Turkey. Wales spent large periods of the clash under the cosh, but Darlow’s steady handling and shot-saving ability ensured the tie finished 0-0. Turkey did have the chance to seal matters – and promotion to League A into the bargain – from the penalty spot in the 89th-minute, but Kerem Akturkoglu’s effort struck the outside of the post and went wide.
Wales Players Circle The Wagons To Avoid Gatland's Last Stand
Will Rowlands insists the Wales players are determined not to allow themselves to become the worst losing team in the country’s history. That fate awaits wilting Wales on Sunday if they suffer defeat at home to Australia. It would be their 11th in succession, beating the low water mark of 10 inflicted on former coach Steve Hansen’s no-hopers in 2002-03.
Joe Allen May Follow Craig Bellamy Into Coaching . . . But For Now It’s Time For Turkey
Joe Allen and Craig Bellamy go back a long way - way before the former was calling the current Wales manager, “Boss”. But going from providing the shots to calling them, is something Allen himself may well do when he hangs up his boots.
More Law Tinkering For Rugby . . . Midway Through This Season
Four law trials aimed at speeding up the game, reducing time-wasting and "enhancing the fan experience" will be introduced on a global trial across all competitions that start from Jan. 1 2025, World Rugby said on Thursday after its Council approved the changes. The adaptations will apply to competitions such as next year's Six Nations, British and Irish Lions and other summer tours, but not to those such as the English Premiership and French Top 14 that would have already started in 2024.
Ben And Joe Ready To Be Centres Of Attention As Wales Bid To End Losing Run Against Australia
Ben Thomas insists Wales “have a plan” to deal with Joseph Suaalii - but it had better be a good one. Thomas, 25, has been a centre of attention for Wales this autumn, a player of rich natural talent and creativity who, after a handful of games in a red shirt, looks likely to be a big part of the national team’s future.
Up Schmidt Creek Without a Paddle . . . Warren Gatland May Finally Tip Over
Warren Gatland has joked he might soon be laying on a beach and if that’s the case he will have got there by going up Schmidt Creek without a paddle. Joe Schmidt - an old sparring partner of Gatland’s - lies in wait on Sunday, when he brings his resurgent Australia team to the Principality Stadium to play a Wales side all at sea.
The Cardiff Cross Challenge Is Getting Wales Up On Its Feet
In London, it used to be said that you were never more than six feet away from a rat. In some parts of Cardiff last Saturday, there’s a fair chance you were never more than six feet away from a runner.
Warren Gatland Insists Critics Don’t Bother Him . . . And He’s Not Thought Of Quitting
Warren Gatland says he “takes with a grain of salt” recent criticisms from former players following Wales' record-tying 10th consecutive Test match loss. Gatland also disclosed that stepping down from his role hasn’t crossed his mind, despite the rocky start to his second tenure as Wales' head coach, which began ahead of the 2023 Six Nations.
Ellis Bevan
‘Jockey’ Finally Feels Comfortable In The Saddle At Cardiff
For Matt Sherratt, there’s the sense of a new beginning as he embarks on his second season as Cardiff’s head coach. It’s been a summer of major change at the Arms Park both on and off the field and he is hoping that will now extend to his team’s results... Read More
Two Kiwis And One Tight Head-To-Head Record As Wales Take On Australia
Warren Gatland has revealed he used to try to rattle new Australian coach Joe Schmidt when he was in charge of Ireland. The two Kiwis will resume their coaching rivalry in Sydney on Saturday with Gatland trying to end a run of seven straight defeats with Wales and Schmidt hoping... Read More
Made At Met . . . Ellis Bevan Follows Fine Line Of Wales Scrum-Halves
Ellis Bevan has become the latest Welsh scrum-half to have been produced by Cardiff Met, following in the footsteps of some of the very best No 9s in the business. Where Clive Rowlands, Gareth Edwards, Clive Shell, Brynmor Williams and Gareth Cooper went before him, three of them going on... Read More
Aaron Wainwright Vows Wales Will Come Out Fighting Against South Africa
Aaron Wainwright believes that Wales’ Twickenham appointment with South Africa is an important staging post on the road to the 2027 World Cup. Wales’ resources have been severely tested for Saturday’s encounter with several players either unavailable because the game falls outside World Rugby’s summer Test window so England-based players... Read More
It Will Either Be Pain Or Gain For Taine, When Wales Muscle Up To South Africa
Taine Plumtree will be bidding for a family London double this weekend – but it will require a massive upset by Wales for him to achieve it. Last month, Plumtree’s father, John, coached the Sharks to a memorable 36-22 triumph against Gloucester in the Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur... Read More
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