By David Williams
Warren Gatland has insisted he has no desire to “protect my own backside” while seeking to end Wales’s losing streak in international rugby.
Wales head into next month’s Tests at home to Fiji, Australia and world champions South Africa on a run of nine straight defeats, with the team’s most recent Test victory coming against Georgia during last year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
It is all a far cry from Gatland’s first spell in charge of Wales, from 2007 to 2019, that yielded four Six Nations titles — including three Grand Slams and two appearances in World Cup semi-finals.
But the 61-year-old New Zealander has found wins harder to come by since replacing compatriot Wayne Pivac as Wales coach in December 2022.
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Gatland, however, has insisted he is in the process of rebuilding the side ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Australia, with a 35-man squad announced on Monday for the Autumn internationals including 16 players still in single-figure caps part of that process.
“Results are important, but I’ve tried to be incredibly honest,” Gatland said.
“I am not here thinking about my own position or how I protect my own backside. It is about making the right decisions for Wales. We lost a huge amount of experience after the (2023) World Cup. We knew we were going to go through some pain.”
“I understand short-term is also important. There is no hiding from it, the expectations and scrutiny in international rugby.
“That comes with the territory. I am comfortable with that — I don’t have an issue with it. It’s about putting your hand on your heart and saying you honestly believe you are making the best decisions for Wales moving forward.”
“I am excited by the way the squad is looking. We are trying to develop some depth and competition within the squad, and I think we are starting to see that now.
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Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake will captain a squad featuring the uncapped pair of New Zealand-born Blair Murray and former England Under-20 international Freddie Thomas but injuries meant experienced players such as Liam Williams, Josh Adams and Taulupe Faletau were not included.
New Zealand-born Murray – who qualifies for Wales via his mother – and former England Under-20 forward Thomas, whose grandparents are Welsh, have both made the squad.
Dragons scrum-half Rhodri Williams, who has not played for Wales since 2014, is recalled along with the likes of Leicester prop Nicky Smith, Gloucester’s Anscombe and Max Llewellyn, plus Scarlets back Tom Rogers.
Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake, meanwhile, retains the captaincy after leading Wales on tour to Australia this summer.
There are five Gloucester players in the squad, but injury absentees include the likes of Josh Adams, Liam Williams, Dafydd Jenkins, Elliot Dee and Taulupe Faletau.
Four of the Gloucester contingent are backs, and their selection comes with the club having collected more try-scoring bonus points than any other team in the Gallagher Premiership this season.
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Gatland added: “We probably need to look at the balance of our attacking game with being smart on how we play.
“Listening to George Skivington (Gloucester rugby director) on the weekend having watched that game (Gloucester lost 29-26 to Leicester), he is conscious of that.
“They have scored a lot of points, but conceded a lot as well. He is conscious of making sure they get their game-management right in terms of getting that balance.
“We’ve got to find that balance between having the confidence to play and be expansive, but also be smart and strong defensively.
“International rugby is a lot different to club rugby. It is more structured and you are in that arm-wrestle. There is more kicking, waiting for those opportunities that don’t come around much.
“But it is also making sure the messaging is clear that when there are opportunities to shift the ball and move it, we have the confidence to do that.”
Warren Gatland announcing his Wales squad for the forthcoming autumn international series matches earlier today, pics by Andrew Orchard pic.twitter.com/wnrkFwTEYI
— Andrew Orchard (@sportsphotoAOSP) October 21, 2024
Regarding the captaincy, Gatland added: “I thought Dewi did a really good job with the captaincy over the summer, so we’ve decided for him to continue in the role this autumn.”
First up Fiji make a trip to the Welsh capital on 10 November (KO 13:40). This will be the 15th Test match and 18th fixture overall between the two nations, having first met just over 60 years ago (26 September 1964) when a Wales XV won 28 – 22 at Cardiff Arms Park.
The Wallabies are the next team in town the following weekend (17 November, KO 14:10), with Wales hosting Australia in Cardiff after two Test matches down under this summer.
To close a huge Autumn Nations Series 2024, Wales take on world champions South Africa on 23 November (KO 17:40). This fixture will help mark the stadium’s 25th anniversary, having opened in the summer of 1999 with a match against South Africa as Wales celebrated their first victory against the Springboks.
Wales squad 2024 Autumn Nations Series
Forwards (19)
Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys – 56 caps)
James Botham (Cardiff Rugby – 13 caps)
Ben Carter (Dragons – 12 caps)
Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 41 caps)
Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 3 caps)
Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 15 caps) Captain
Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby – 5 caps)
Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 4 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 15 caps)
Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 5 caps)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 20 caps)
Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 33 caps)
Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 46 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 33 caps)
Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – uncapped)
Henry Thomas (Scarlets – 4 caps)
Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 12 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 50 caps)
Backs (16)
Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby – 37 caps)
Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby – 3 caps)
Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 15 caps)
Rio Dyer (Dragons – 22 caps)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 14 caps)
Josh Hathaway (Gloucester Rugby – 1 cap)
Eddie James (Scarlets – 1 cap)
Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 1 cap)
Blair Murray (Scarlets – uncapped)
Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 4 caps)
Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 38 caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 41 caps)
Rhodri Williams (Dragons – 3 caps)
Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 58 caps)
Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
2024 AUTUMN NATIONS SERIES FIXTURES
Principality Stadium
10 November: Wales v Fiji
KO 13:40 GMT
17 November: Wales v Australia
KO 16.10 GMT
23 November: Wales v South Africa
KO 17:40 GMT
