As they took a stroll past Cardiff Castle on Thursday lunchtime, iconic South Africa captain Siya Kolisi and his hulking Springbok team-mates Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman stood out like sore thumbs amid the city centre revellers dressed to the nines.
Wales’ capital was already packed by midday for Beaujolais Day – an event celebrated across France to mark the arrival of the first bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau – but one also now mimicked in Cardiff and Swansea. The wine was flowing by late morning. Any excuse.
Warren Gatland and his Wales players may well need a stiff drink themselves after taking on the back-to-back world champions on Saturday. Gatland’s future has dominated the build-up. Saturday will be his 149th game as Wales head coach across two spells and a potentially heavy defeat could mean it’s his last. 149 and out for Gatland? It’s looking that way.
With the prospect of a 12th successive Welsh Test defeat close to inevitable, Gatland’s position as head coach is hanging by a thread.
If Wales had hoped Kolisi and Co might have let their eye off the ball ahead of their last game of the season and been tempted by a glass of red, they were left disappointed.
‘Good to see you again,’ said Kolisi on Friday, welcoming Mail Sport with his usual vice-like handshake and trademark smile. ‘I’ve told you before, I think.
Warren Gatland is under huge pressure after seeing his side lose 11 straight matches
Wales captain Dewi Lake (pictured) knows another loss this weekend could spell the end for Gatland (right)
‘I don’t drink alcohol. I quit in 2018! Was it not normal on Thursday? I just thought it was a normal day for Cardiff! We were missing the braai, so we went to Nando’s and played putt putt (crazy golf). Golf is not my sport – I had eight shots on one hole!’
In the midst of the worst run of form in Welsh history, what Gatland’s team don’t need is a fully focused and firing Springboks side arriving at Principality Stadium.
Frankly, this game has the potential to turn ugly.
Whether or not the Welsh Rugby Union will decide to change Gatland remains unclear at this stage. A post-autumn review will take place. There are financial and contractual considerations which will form a central part of the decision-making process.
Gatland this week defiantly said he’d had no indication he’d be moving on. However, that may well change in the coming weeks. The reality is that any coach who has lost 11 straight matches (which is likely to become 12) is going to be under serious pressure.
‘I’m not too stressed for them,’ said Kolisi of Wales. ‘I definitely feel for them. I know they’ll get out of it. If anyone can get them out of it, it’s coach Gatland.
‘I’ve not seen a Welsh team with so many young players. It takes time. They are playing a lot of games that will give them experience.’
The humble Kolisi was never going to stick the knife into what are already gaping Welsh wounds. But the reality is Wales and South Africa couldn’t be further apart right now.
The Springboks have won the last two World Cups, are comfortably the game’s No 1 ranked side, and have enviable strength in depth with a rugby system designed for success.
Siya Kolisi has insisted South Africa will not be overlooking Wales which could be bad news for Gatland’s team
Wales, by contrast, are in disarray on and off the field. Their rugby environment is struggling badly at all levels. Gatland’s men haven’t won since September 2023. Their ranking is 11.
A Springbok victory on Saturday would mean Wales going the entire calendar year without winning a Test, something which has not happened since 1937.
How quickly things can change. Only two years ago, under Wayne Pivac’s guidance, Wales beat South Africa in their own backyard. They should have won that Test series 2-0.
Five or six years ago, Welsh victories over the Springboks were not only hoped for by the country’s supporters, but expected. Now, things couldn’t be more different.
Many consider Gatland’s position to already be untenable. But if his young Wales side, which is understandably struggling badly for form and confidence, are routed on Saturday – as is entirely possible – then the WRU will surely have no other choice than to replace him.
Wales have talented players who are working hard.
But they’ve been let down by the system around them. Welsh rugby’s mismanagement has set the national team up to fail. It’s not all Gatland’s fault.
‘It matters a huge amount to us to play for Wales,’ said lock Will Rowlands. ‘When you lose any game, particularly when you feel you haven’t given the best account of yourselves, you feel you have let down yourselves, the public, and the whole group. It is a horrible feeling.
‘Gats is a very good man and he has done a great job for Wales.
Wales lock Will Rowlands is desperate to end his side’s losing run after admitting losing 11 matches on the trot has given the team ‘a horrible feeling’
‘It is a brutal situation for everyone to be in. Sport is always a rollercoaster and sometimes there are more ups than downs. We are in one of the down periods. At the beginning of the autumn, we talked about the three games and targeting at least two wins.
‘We haven’t delivered on that, but the last game can be really important, result aside. It’s about giving the best performance we possibly can.
‘I have full belief that if we play well, we can beat South Africa. But having a good performance will give us something to build on moving forward. I hope that in tough times, it’s when strong characters are made. I’ve got confidence in the group that will be the case.’
You can’t fault Wales’ endeavour. But Saturday promises to be a more-than-tough day at the office. A crowd of circa 60,000 is expected. They could see the end of an era.
