Change likely if Wales show no improvement in Six Nations – Warren Gatland
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Warren Gatland accepts that change is likely if Wales do not show signs of improvement during this season’s Guinness Six Nations. The New Zealander is under huge pressure following a record 12-successive Test defeats and a post-Autumn Nations Series review that was completed by the Welsh Rugby Union just before Christmas.
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said Wales head coach Gatland’s position “was on the line” as that review commenced. Against that back-drop, Wales face a ferociously-tough opening Six Nations appointment with France in Paris on January 31, followed by an away clash against Italy eight days later.
Wales have not won a Test since beating Georgia during the 2023 World Cup, and Gatland said: “I am conscious and well aware that if things don’t improve, then there is likely to be a change from the Union. “I have been pretty straight up about it, but for me it is about rising to the challenge of making sure we go out there and perform well.
“Obviously, this tournament is about winning. We can’t hide away from that fact that we’ve got to go out there and play well and give a real performance. That is what we need to do as a group and as a coaching team as well. For me it is about rising to the challenge of making sure we go out there and perform well.
“It (review) was pretty encompassing, not just looking at the team, but looking at the whole of Welsh rugby. It looked at things to be put in place for the future. “There was some criticism of things, which you expect in any review. There were things for us to look at in terms of some changes they felt we could make going forward.
