By Paul Jones
Warren Gatland insists he still has the hunger to coach Wales despite overseeing nine straight defeats in a row.
The New Zealander says he remains excited by what the future holds for his young team, even though the pressure is building after what will soon extend to a whole year without winning a game.
Wales are winless since the pool stages of last year’s World Cup after the retirement of a host of big name players and with others out injured.
Despite crashing 36-28 to Australia on Saturday night, on the back of a 25-16 loss a week earlier, Gatland said he was optimistic they would soon turn the corner.
“I’m confident this is going to be a good team,” he said.
“I can see signs out there that we’re in games, we’re pressurising teams and quality opposition players. I hope you can see that as well.
Wales Have Reached The End Game, But Will It Be The Final Game For Warren Gatland?
“We’re just hurting ourselves at the moment. Sometimes not by the pressure the opposition are putting us under, but some of our turnovers and mistakes are allowing easy ins to the opposition team.
“You fix those things up and you keep working hard to be accurate.”
The Welsh Rugby Union have so far publicly backed Gatland with chief executive Abi Tierney even claiming last month that Gatland was “hitting all his targets, except for results.”
But with three years still to go – and three Six Nations tournaments still to be faced – before the next World Cup, Gatland’s repeated insistance that it is all about the 2027 global tournament, may prove harder to support.
Gatland pointed to some positives in defeat in Melbourne, such as an excellent maul, which helped skipper Dewi Lake bag two tries.
But he said they were “a bit naive” in other areas and not accurate enough.
Wales have slumped to 11th in the world rankings under Gatland, below Fiji and Italy, but he insisted his motivation remained high with one more tour match to go, against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on Friday.
“Yeah, absolutely. I’m really excited by this group,” he said when asked if he still had the hunger.
It’s been a tough year for rugby in Melbourne, but many thanks to Warren Gatland, Joe Schmidt, Terry Cobner and the Melb Men’s Welsh Choir for lifting spirits and for a brilliant night at the MCG, ahead of Saturday’s 2nd Test. pic.twitter.com/Tvbnt1K3CL
— Geoff Parkes (@GeoffParkes9) July 11, 2024
“We did say all along and have been clear that we probably need to go through a little bit of pain. We’re in that process of players getting some more experience.
“Our whole planning was to pick a group of youngsters after the experience we lost from the World Cup to develop through to the World Cup in 2027 in Australia.”
Like Wales, Australia are re-building under new coach Joe Schmidt after failing to make the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time, when Eddie Jones was in charge.
But unlike Gatland, Schmidt has overseen two-wins-from-two, and the former Ireland coach said the Wallabies still had work to do after letting a 17-0 lead slide in Melbourne and a 13-0 advantage slip in Sydney.
They meet Georgia, who stunned Jones’ Japan 25-23 in Sendai on Saturday, in Sydney next weekend.
Schmidt forecast several changes as he continues to balance consistency with giving players a chance.
It was a 15th loss in 21 Tests since Warren Gatland returned for a second stint as head coachhttps://t.co/7Lz43Q6Z5o
— Hits Radio South Wales (@HitsSouthWales) July 14, 2024
“We made five changes this week (to the 23) and there could be that many again,” he said.
“You’re trying to build cohesion and it’s a little bit of a more difficult equilibrium that you’re trying to find between the continuation of confidence and then offering opportunity.
“We’re trying to build a real squad mentality and have confidence in the players across the board.”
If the Wales stats make grim reading, the performance will have given Gatland plenty to work on. Lake was superb, Jim Botham and Taine Plumtree shone in the back row with their carrying in the absence of Aaron Wainwright, and Archie Griffin had another great night.
The fact Wales were able to score four tries was an improvement on the first Test, but the Aussies benefitted from the luck of the bounce on two occasions and made the most of their chances.
Heavy rain struck Melbourne and conditions at AAMI Park weren’t easy for either side. The Wallabies had won the first Test in Sydney 25-16 and they got off to a flying start when flying wing Filipo Daugunu followed up his try last weekend with another after only seven minutes.
An immense effort from Dewi Lake today. Sometimes, just keep the best player on the pitch, especially when Wales has lost the last 7 internationals, and it’s his last game of the season. https://t.co/5qyfIIDdlH
— Mark D (@Atticus_75) July 13, 2024
Wales had started well and were chasing a deep kick and putting pressure on the Wallabies five metres out from their line as they passed the ball from left to right. Andrew Kellaway then opted for a chip over the top out of his 22 and beat Cam Winnett to a wickedly bouncing ball.
He tipped the ball down to flanker Fraser McReight who sped 50 metres up field with nobody ahead of him. Rio Dyer did well to run down the Aussie back row man, but he passed out of the tackle to Daugunu, who raced to the posts for a try that Noah Lolesio converted.
Lolesio increased the home lead with a penalty and then a spilled ball in the air presented scrum half Jake Gordon with a 20 metre run in for a second Wallaby try. Lolesio added the extras and the Aussies led 17-0 after 25 minutes.
Wales needed to find a reply and they went to their tried and trusted driving line-out to get themselves back into the contest. Twice inspirational skipper Lake drove over from impeccable line-out drills and on both occasions Ben Thomas, who had earlier missed a penalty, added the conversion points.
The Wallabies have notched up consecutive wins for the first time since 2021 as the Joe Schmidt era begins with a clean sweep of Wales.
But can they match South Africa and the All Blacks later this year?
Watch #Offsiders in full on ABC iview: https://t.co/hvf2Qd3KZe pic.twitter.com/jYTKIoCPD6
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) July 14, 2024
The second try came while Aussie lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was in the sin-bin for a high shot on Archie Griffin, who had to leave the field for an HIA.
The only downside to those two tries was that from both re-starts Wales conceded penalties and Lolesio kicked two more goals to make it 23-14 at the break.
Just as they had done in Sydney, Wales struck first in the second half with one of their best tries of the year. It came from Liam Williams after 14 phases and provided the Wales wing with his 21st try for his country and his first against the Wallabies.
Thomas knocked over the conversion and the gap was down to two points at 23-21. Once again it was anyone’s game and the next score was going to be crucial.
A penalty against Wales at a breakdown near half-way allowed Lolesio to kick his team deep into the Wales 22 and from the drives from the line out, replacement tight head Allan Alaalatoa powered over to notch his first international try in his 69th appearance.
Lolesio hit the upright with his conversion attempt leaving it as a one-score game. Another unlucky bounce then undid Wales again as Daugunu picked up his second try.
Warren Gatland Moves Close To New Low Point As Pressure Mounts Ahead Of Potential Ninth Wales Defeat
Williams did well to leap high and hit a Lolesio penalty kick to touch back into play, but the ball bounced away from Winnett and Daugunu came steaming in to steal the ball and race to the try line.
That gave Wales 13 minuts to try to bridge a 12-point gap and they hit back almost immediately. Christ Tshiunza charged down a clearance kick from Nic White and Rio Dyer picked up the ball and beat three defenders over 15 metres and powered his way to the line for an amazing try.
Sam Costelow slotted the touchline conversion to make it a one-score game again, but a late penalty from Ben Donaldson three minutes from the end made the game safe for Joe Schmidt’s side.