Warren Gatland will 'let the dust settle' on Wales's dismal autumn campaign before contemplating his future as the national team's head coach. His team endured their 12th consecutive defeat, losing 45-12 to South Africa. Gatland stated that he intends to discuss the matter with his family and his superiors at the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) before making any decisions. Meanwhile, the WRU has pledged to bring in two independent experts to assist with a season-end review, which will determine whether Gatland remains in his position if he does not resign beforehand.
Gatland did not dismiss rumors that he might transition to a different role within the WRU, which would involve stepping back from the daily management of the team but granting him greater influence over the overall strategic direction of Welsh rugby. He acknowledged, with a knowing smile, that he had been discussing this possibility with his wife on the morning of the match. 'There are several aspects that need to be addressed,' he said. 'Regarding strategy and the agreement with the regions. For a long time, there have been underlying issues in the game, and our past successes have masked those problems.'
The WRU is set to hold its annual general meeting this Sunday, where updates on the status of a new deal with the four regional teams are expected. The proposal involves the WRU increasing its funding and taking on the regions' debts in exchange for more control over their operations. 'Negotiations are ongoing and have not yet concluded, but some of the measures the union is trying to implement will certainly bring about change,' Gatland noted. 'And change is necessary; I've attended board meetings and advocated for us to be bold in order to improve the game.'
Gatland is adamant that a quick fix is not feasible. 'It will take time. But after today, I believe that if this group of players can maintain that level of effort and learn from their errors, there is hope for the future. The question is whether people are willing to give us the time we need.' His family, among others, is feeling the strain. He admitted that the past few weeks have been particularly tough on them. 'It's challenging due to the negativity,' Gatland said. 'But I am motivated to stay, and we have a strong group of players who will only improve in the coming months as we prepare for the Six Nations.'
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
