Former Wales head coach Chris Horsman says Cunningham faces major scrutiny.
But he believes the coach has enough credit – just – to survive a whitewash in South Africa, given successive third-place finishes in the Six Nations in his first two campaigns.
“As a coach the currency you trade in is results. Ioan is going to be under a lot of pressure, probably mostly from himself, and he’ll realise that,” said Horsman.
“Under normal circumstances, potentially the [WRU] would look to change but I think Ioan did a lot of good in the first year and a half.
“I would give him to the World Cup. After that, let’s have a look at it. Fresh ideas and maybe then would be the opportunity to have a change.”
Cunningham has overseen a period of wholesale change within the women’s national squad.
Improved access to training facilities, an expanded coaching staff, a new regional set-up and 37 new full-time contracts for players that, the WRU claims, makes them “among the best paid” international women’s teams in the world.
But Cunningham knows that “privilege” comes with greater scrutiny, pressure and criticism.
Despite having a large contingent of players from English champions Gloucester-Hartpury, Wales are simply not clicking.
And while they may be among the best paid, they have slumped dramatically to tenth in the world rankings., external
They avoided a first ever Six Nations wipeout with a last-minute try against Italy, but were criticised for the jubilant celebrations having still collected the Wooden Spoon.
There have been record losses to New Zealand and Scotland before a first win over Australia – made up of part-timers and amateurs – was swiftly followed by their heaviest defeat by the Wallaroos, when it mattered most a week later in WXV2.
All of this while casting an envious eye across at Ireland who stunned world rugby with their victory over New Zealand in WXV1.
