By Graham Thomas
Warren Gatland is facing the sack as Wales coach – unless he can convince his former star player Jamie Roberts he should be allowed to continue.
Gatland lost for the 12th time in a row on Sunday and the 45-12 defeat to South Africa means he is the first Wales coach for 87 years to go through an entire calendar year without winning.
The buffeted Welsh Rugby Union will start their review process of the Autumn Series next week, with Roberts set to be a key figure.
It was the former Wales and Lions star – now a member of the WRU board – who gave a prickly Gatland a grilling in a meeting that followed the winless summer tour to Australia.
Now, Roberts – who recently branded Wales under Gatland as the worst national team in the professional era – will again take the lead when the New Zealander gets called in by his bosses.
Roberts was first capped by Gatland as a 21-year-old in 2008 and went on to win 97 caps for Wales and the Lions, but now he could be the one carrying the axe.
❌ “This can’t continue, it’s awful.”
Former international Gwyn Jones breaks down what is going wrong for Gatland and Wales…
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Gatland has been in charge of Wales for 149 matches across two spells, but the WRU must now decide whether to let him stay in charge for what would be the 150th against France in Paris in the Six Nations opener on January 31.
The Kiwi’s first spell was all bread of heaven – three Grand Slams, two World Cup semi-finals, and a record 14-match winning streak that guided Wales to the No.1 ranking spot in the world in 2019.
But his second spell has been just crumbs – a paltry six victories in 23 Tests, with embarrassing home defeats to Italy and Fiji in 2024.
More worrying for Gatland has been the lack of any vocal support for him from WRU officials since the summer.
Once viewed as an asset who could deflect attention away from the failings throughout the rest of Welsh rugby, many inside the WRU now see Gatland as a liability, who may bring them down with him, rather than prop them up.
Gatland’s £600,000-a-year contract runs through to 2027 and the 61-year-old insisted in the build-up to the Springboks Test that his deal has no “break clause” when either side can review.
But that does not mean the WRU would have to pay him off in full with Gatland having repeatedly suggested he would be open to negotiation if the WRU wanted to make a change.
Match report from Cardiff and forensic examination of the whole backdrop. Wales are holding a review but they should rush it. The regions must grow up and accept WRU offer. And Warren Gatland must stay to plot the revival. No question.
— Stephen Jones (@stephenjones9) November 23, 2024
When it was put to Gatland this week that no Premier League football manager would be likely to survive a dozen straight defeats, he insisted: “It’s a different sport, isn’t it?
“They probably get paid four or five million pounds and then re-join the line.
“If someone paid me four or five million pounds, then I’d probably be comfortable moving on as well.
“But one of the things about rugby is that it’s probably getting a little bit more like football with the level of expectation. In rugby, you always tended to be given a little more time.”
Time for Gatland, though, may just be about to run out.
South Africa were not at their best, but the sad truth for Wales is that they did not have to be.
The Springboks ran in seven tries – Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Elrigh Louw, Jordan Hendrikse and Gerhard Steenekamp touched down – while Hendrikse kicked five conversions.
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Wales claimed consolation scores from wing Rio Dyer and flanker James Botham, with Ben Thomas adding one conversion, but the game was done inside the opening quarter after South Africa posted three tries.
Whether Gatland, who has now lost 18 of 24 Tests since returning for a second stint as head coach, remains in charge for a daunting Six Nations opener against France in Paris on January 31 must be a subject of huge debate.
Whatever happens, though, Wales are at the lowest point in their 143-year international rugby history, and there appears no respite any time soon.
Wales showed two late changes, with wing Tom Rogers ruled out by a calf muscle injury and prop Gareth Thomas missing out through illness. Gloucester back Josh Hathaway replaced Rogers, with Nicky Smith taking over from Thomas.
It took South Africa just six minutes to open their account after a move forged by skipper Siya Kolisi’s strong run ended with Mostert sprinting over unopposed and Hendrikse converting.
Mostert’s second-row partner Etzebeth then rounded off fine work by Arendse and Wales were already facing damage-limitation as fly-half Sam Costelow went off for a head injury assessment.
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Centre Ben Thomas moved to the number 10 role with Scarlets centre Eddie James going on but South Africa added a third try inside the opening quarter after Arendse touched down wide out and Hendrikse converted.
Costelow rejoined the action and Wales managed to secure some scraps of possession before Etzebeth went off injured 11 minutes before half-time and was replaced by RG Snyman.
South Africa twice saw players held up over the Wales line, then Kolisi had a try disallowed following a knock-on in approach play by scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse.
But the Springboks did not have long to wait for try number four, with Wales unable to handle their power-runners, and Louw crossed between the posts.
Jordan Hendrikse’s conversion made it 26-0, yet Wales managed the final scoring act of a hopelessly one-sided opening half when Dyer finished strongly on his first appearance of the autumn campaign.
It was his eighth international try, and at least ensured Wales opened their account, albeit against a Springboks side that had rarely moved out of third gear.
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Costelow did not reappear for the second period – James came back on – and there was also a Test debut off the bench for Gloucester forward Freddie Thomas, who replaced Taine Plumtree and went into the back-row.
It took South Africa until 14 minutes into the second period to increase their advantage, and it was Arendse’s jinking running that created space for Fassi, who crossed on the overlap.
Replacement prop Steenekamp claimed South Africa’s sixth try, converted by Jordan Hendrikse, and Wales still had 17 minutes left before their misery would be over.
Jordan Hendrikse then added a final try that he also converted, and Wales could escape to the sanctuary of their changing room after Botham’s late effort.
