Wales coach Warren Gatland admits he is under pressure after his side lost 11 games in a row ahead of their game against reigning champions South Africa this Saturday.
Gatland’s tenure has been put in jeopardy by his position, which is under scrutiny and questions about his future in light of the Six Nations, starting against France in Paris on January 31.
After a painful loss at home to Fiji and a 55-20 defeat in Australia, critics were given plenty of fodder. “I try to stay away from that,” said Gatland, aware of the speculation.
“If you don’t ask yourself why you’re doing this and if you’re enjoying it, you’re not human, right? That’s understandable.
“There’s definitely a bit of a difference, right? It’s a ‘go or stay’ kind of thing. I’m so thankful for the people who have reached out and the support they’ve given me, but you understand that. There’s another side,” he said.
After the defeat to Australia, Gatland spoke to his family and WRU officials and faced enormous pressure as Wales prepare to face South Africa in Cardiff.
Gatland expressed his deep commitment to Welsh rugby, adding: “I care passionately about Welsh rugby, which is why people have said that if they think it’s the best decision for me to leave, that’s fine – move on and look for something else.
“I honestly believe that making that decision now is, ‘What are you going to accomplish? Are you going to have someone else come in and start over, and how long is that going to take?’
“I know that over the last few years it has felt like the success we have had with the national team has been bridging the cracks underneath.
“We’ve mentioned in the past that if a dam burst, it would take a while to get it reconnected. That’s probably where we are right now.”
Gatland emphasized the need for a forward-looking strategy, arguing: “We need to look at the future and the pathways and some structures to make changes.
“I have encouraged the union on many occasions to act boldly on some of the changes we are making in the best interests of Welsh rugby.”
