There is only one thing in Dewi Lake’s mind as he prepares to lead Wales into their two Test series against Japan – winning.
Talk about the stifling heat and humidity his team will face, the uncertainty back home in Welsh rugby politics or who will be the new permanent Welsh coach aren’t concerning him or his players.
The task over the next two weekends is a simple win – win a game to break the 17-match losing streak.
"Getting a win is what we've all been speaking about. It's pointless looking ahead and we know what we've got to do in the summer,” said Lake.
“It's going to be a tough test, and all the focus is on the here and now. We've got to do that in Japan.
“We know the job we've got to do and the task at hand. That's not to think about what's down the line.
“If we go out there and do a good job, we might not be here for the next round of coaches. There's no point in worrying or dwelling on that.
“It's not our decision to make, we've got no say in the matter. We have to just focus on the rugby and the task at hand, which is to win a Test match."
Matt Sherratt, who took over as interim coach when Warren Gatland left during the Six Nations, is once again leading a caretaker coaching group for the summer tour.
New WRU director of rugby and elite performance Dave Reddin is leading the recruitment drive to find a full-time coaching team that will hopefully be in place for the Autumn Series.
Both he and Lake hope Wales can break the record-breaking losing cycle by the time the new man takes over. Meanwhile, Japan head coach Eddie Jones is threatening to “run Wales off their feet” in the heat in Kitakyushu and Kobe.
“These games are massive, and we won’t be underestimating the edge they're going to bring. They're a dangerous side and they've caused a lot of upsets in very recent memory,” added Lake.
“They're 13th in the world rankings for a reason and we're 12th for a reason, so it's going to be a big battle. They're playing on home soil so I'm sure they'll take a lot of confidence in that.
“This group has a job to do on the back of a big losing run. We've got to go out there and set things right."
Eddie Jones’ Japanese team were beaten 53-20 by the Maori All Blacks in Tokyo in their final warm-up game for the series that will pit Wales at 12th in the world rankings against a home side one place below them in 13th.
“These games are massive and we won’t be underestimating the edge they're going to bring. They're a dangerous side and they've caused a lot of upsets in very recent memory,” added Lake.
“They're 13th in the world rankings for a reason and we're 12th for a reason, so it's going to be a big battle. They're playing on home soil so I'm sure they'll take a lot of confidence in that.
“This group has a job to do on the back of a big losing run. We've got to go out there and set things right."
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Lake captained Wales on tour in Australia last summer but then missed a large part of this year’s Six Nations through injury. But now he says he is fighting fit and looking to lead his country back to winning ways.
“I'm feeling good and my body's feeling good. This is kind of a new group but we've trained well and we've trained hard, with a lot of time being put in on just building relationships,” said Lake.
“We know how important relationships are on a rugby field, between your nine and 10, your 12 and 13, front-row, things like that. You've got to lean on each other at certain times in the game.
“So, having a certain understanding of each other and how you work has been important. That's been a big focus for us in the last two or three weeks.
“We're looking sharp and the new coaches have come in and there's been a lot of learning on that front. The boys have taken it in their stride and really put things to work.
“I played with Leigh Halfpenny and his leadership out in the World Cup was unbelievable, especially for me as a young captain doing it for the first time. Being able to have him by my side was class.
“Having him there again is amazing because we all know what kind of player he was. His expertise has always been kicking, so to have him in on that front is massive.
“The same goes for Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins in their respective fields. The scrum in the Six Nations went very well and ‘Bomb’ (Adam Jones) has brought that same energy to this campaign, while Gethin did well at Cardiff last season with his defensive policies.”
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