Warren Gatland is a man under the spotlight (Image: Getty)
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has admitted to feeling the pressure after a run of 11 straight Test defeats leading up to the formidable clash against reigning champions South Africa this Saturday.
With his position under intense scrutiny and questions mounting over his future in light of the Six Nations – commencing on January 31 with a match against France in Paris – Gatland’s tenure is hanging by a thread.
Following painful losses at home to Fiji and a 55-20 thrashing from Australia, critics have been supplied substantial fodder. “I try and stay away from it,” said Gatland, aware of the speculation.
“You are not human if you don’t ask yourself some questions about why you are doing it and do you enjoy it? Those things are understandable.
“There obviously seems to be a bit of a divide, doesn’t there? You know, ‘go or stay’. I really do appreciate the people that have reached out and the support that they’ve given me. But you understand that there is another side of opinion as well.”
Following the loss against Australia, Gatland has been in talks with his family and WRU officials, grappling with the immense pressure as Wales prepare to take on South Africa in Cardiff.
Gatland expressed his deep-seated commitment to Welsh rugby, adding: “I do care passionately about Welsh rugby, and that is why I’ve said that if people feel that the best decision is for me to go, then that’s OK, I will move on and look for something else.
“I honestly believe that making that decision now is, ‘what are you going to achieve, and is someone else going to come in there and start again, and how long is that process going to take?’
“I know for a number of years that we felt like the success we had with the national team was papering over the cracks that were underneath.
“I mentioned in the past that when the dam burst, it was going to take a while to plug it up again. That is probably where we are at the moment.”
Stressing the need for forward-looking strategies, Gatland asserted: “We need to look at the future and the pathway and some of the structures to make some changes.
“I have encouraged the union on a number of occasions to be bold about some of the changes that we make in the best interests of Welsh rugby.”