By Paul Jones
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.
“I don’t come back to play for Wales from France in order to be part of a losing team – it’s ‘go time’,” said Rowlands, the only current Wales player based in France with Racing 92.
“There is a hard edge underneath in this squad – the guys are aware of the challenge that lies ahead of us and it’s time to deliver.”
Second row Rowlands, 33, has arguably been Wales’ most consistent performer through the past winless 12 months.
His mix of set-piece reliability, ball-carrying power, and defensive workrate have made a near automatic selection for under-pressure coach Warren Gatland.
Gwyn Jones: I believe Warren Gatland has already checked out | @S4Cchwaraeon https://t.co/kAhTM2J9UM
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When Rowlands first came into the Wales squad, the former public schoolboy was nicknamed “Posh Boy” for his plummy English accent, but he is now the most respected senior figure in the team.
That follows the loss through retirement of the old Gatland brigade of Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies and Ken Owens.
“As time goes on you become a bit more senior in the squad. I was ancient by comparison to a lot of the Welsh players who have come into the squad of late because I was 28 when I first got called up.
“In the last 12 months I have felt a slightly different expectation to have a bit more influence on the group. It has felt pretty natural and more enjoyable.
“But I’ve got more things I’d like to do before I can say I’ve made it or achieved everything I want to achieve.”
Hansen’s team of 21 years ago managed to break their losing streak with a home win against Scotland.
His fellow New Zealander Gatland has needed a hard hat of late to protect from the flak being thrown in his direction – some of it from former players Biggar, Jamie Roberts and Tom Shanklin, who have all suggested his time could be up.
Gatland won Grand Slams in between successful Lions tours in his first spell in Wales, but he forgot to pack his Midas touch for his second.
A defeat to the Wallabies – who thrillingly beat England 42-37 last week whilst Wales were slumping 24-19 against Fiji – would give Gatland a unique status.
As coach he would be owner of the best Wales record – a 14-match winning streak in 2018-19, when Wales briefly reached No.1 in the world rankings – and now the worst.
“It is what it is,” said Gatland.
“We have not thrown in the towel in any way. The players need to go and play with some freedom, back their skills and ability, and not feel the pressure about the performance and the result.
“I am comfortable with the pressure being on me.”
To underline the size of Wales’ task, Australia have won on nine of their last 11 Cardiff visits and are fresh from that scintillating victory over England last time out.
Neil Jenkins has been in the Wales camp for almost all of the past 33 years, winning 87 caps between 1991 and 2002 and then returning as an assistant coach and kicking specialist two years later.
He has been there every step of the way with Gatland, including the New Zealander’s first reign that featured World Cup semi-final appearances, Six Nations titles and Grand Slams.
“You want to win. And when you don’t, you feel upset,” Jenkins said. “You are desperate to be successful.
“It hurts. If I didn’t care about it, I wouldn’t be here, I can assure you of that.
“The boys are working incredibly hard. We’ve got a lot of talent in the squad, and we need to be on it on Sunday.
“You have to get back on the horse with a tough game coming. We are more than capable of winning, and we’ve got to show that on Sunday.”
Wales’ demoralising run includes home defeats against Italy and Fiji, a Test series loss in Australia and narrow reversals at the hands of Scotland and England.
Fiji’s first away victory over Wales has ramped up the pressure on Gatland, who has found himself in a position of facing questions about his future from the media.
Life is not about to get any easier for Wales either, with world champions South Africa looming on November 23 before a Six Nations opener against France in Paris.
“He (Gatland) understands it. It is common sense we are under pressure. I’ve been in here long enough as a player and coach,” Jenkins added.
“At the end of the day, we are doing our utmost to win. Gats has been his usual self. He works hard and keeps going – he understands the game inside out.”