By Gareth James
Warren Gatland says he “absolutely” has the desire to continue in his role as Wales head coach.
Speculation continues to rage about Gatland’s future after a record run of 11 successive Test match defeats.
World champions South Africa are next up for Wales on Saturday, with the Springboks overwhelming favourites to emphatically extend that losing sequence.
Bookmakers DragonBet make the Boks 1/33 favourites with Wales a distant 16/1 in a two-horse race.
In the handicap market, Wales have been given a 25-point start.
A South Africa victory would mean Wales going the entire calendar year without winning a Test, which has not happened since 1937.
“If you start thinking about other things, it is a distraction you don’t need,” said Gatland, after naming a team showing five changes from the one beaten 52-20 by Australia.
“I think we have been pretty clear in terms of the plan we’ve had. We’ve got a group of young players that need a bit of time.
“I have been pretty honest in terms that I understand the pressures of international rugby with performances and results. We can only work as hard as we have done.
“I am aware of the pressure and that decisions could be made outside of my control. We’ve just asked for a little bit of time. Whether we get that time, we will have to wait and see.”
Wales head coach Warren Gatland says he has the desire to continue in his role despite a record 11th straight defeat last weekend pic.twitter.com/QA8nNyPj98
— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) November 20, 2024
Asked if he had a strong desire to continue, Gatland replied “absolutely”, while also confirming he would consider resigning if he thought it was in Welsh rugby’s best interests.
Gatland, meanwhile, ended speculation that he might have had a break clause in his contract with the Welsh Rugby Union after the Six Nations, confirming that was not the case.
The Kiwi has made four changes to the starting line-up for Saturday’s clash against South Africa as questions remain about his future in the job.
Gatland has overseen a record 11 successive Test match defeats, and another loss would mean Wales going an entire calendar year without winning a Test for the first time since 1937.
Gatland’s switches from the side crushed by Australia see starts for wing Rio Dyer, fly-half Sam Costelow, lock Christ Tshiunza and number eight Taine Plumtree.
One positional change, meanwhile, sees wing Blair Murray move to full-back instead of Cameron Winnett.
Wales fly-half Sam Costelow will start and Blair Murray switches to full-back as Warren Gatland makes four personnel changes to face world champions South Africa in Cardiff on Saturday #BBCRugby pic.twitter.com/lfkO0ldlgj
— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) November 20, 2024
Dyer wears the number 11 shirt worn by Murray in the last two games, with Costelow replacing Gareth Anscombe, Tshiunza taking over from an injured Adam Beard and Plumtree replacing Aaron Wainwright.
On the replacements’ bench, meanwhile, there is a role for uncapped Gloucester forward Freddie Thomas, and his club colleague Josh Hathaway is also included.
A gulf in experience between the two teams is highlighted by the Wales match-day 23 having a total of 334 caps, whereas the Spirngboks bench alone boasts 431.
Gatland said: “Last week’s result hurts, and we are just as disappointed by it as the fans.
“Our focus now is on training and preparing well for our final game of this Autumn Nations Series.
“There were good elements that we can definitely build on going into Saturday, but we have to improve our accuracy.
“We know what a quality side South Africa are and the physicality they bring. This week we need to show real courage and front-up against the world champions.”
Wales: B Murray (Scarlets); T Rogers (Scarlets), M Llewellyn (Gloucester), B Thomas (Cardiff), R Dyer (Dragons); S Costelow (Scarlets), E Bevan (Cardiff); G Thomas (Ospreys), D Lake (Ospreys, capt), A Griffin (Bath), W Rowlands (Racing 92), C Tshiunza (Exeter), J Botham (Cardiff), J Morgan (Ospreys), T Plumtree (Scarlets).
Replacements: R Elias (Scarlets), N Smith (Leicester), K Assiratti (Cardiff), F Thomas (Gloucester), T Reffell (Leicester), R Williams (Dragons), E James (Scarlets), J Hathaway (Gloucester).
