Warren Gatland would back change after Australia condemn Wales to record defeat

CARDIFF – Warren Gatland insisted he still had the fight to continue as Wales coach, but would back any change after his team crashed to a record 11th consecutive Test defeat in a 52-20 rout by Australia in Cardiff on Nov 17. “Absolutely,” Gatland said, when asked whether he still wanted to be involved, having seen Wales lose 17 of the 23 Tests he has been in charge of in his second stint as coach. “This is challenging at the moment.

I’m only human, so I ask myself if it’s the right thing to do. But I’m happy doing it.” Turning to his future, with a six-day turnaround before Wales face a daunting fixture against back-to-back world champions South Africa, Gatland, 61, said: “I don’t know.



.. “Whatever the best decision for us to make a change, to get some positivity in the game, you know, I’d support that 100 per cent, so if that means me, then I’m comfortable.

“That performance hurts. We weren’t good enough,” Gatland said of the match, highlighting the conceding of three converted tries when Australia were down to 14 men after Samu Kerevi was red carded for a high tackle. “To concede 21 points when they were down a man wasn’t good enough.

” Matt Faessler and Tom Wright each bagged a hat-trick of tries for the Wallabies, with Nick Frost and Len Ikitau getting one apiece. Wales crossed the line via Aaron Wainwright and Ben Thomas. Wales captain Dewi Lake said the team were “disappointed with the run that we’re on, with the result today”.

Lake, speaking to Welsh broadcaster S4C, added: “I don’t think anything needs to change, we just need to click. In key moments in that game, half-time we were six points down, we went into the half with the momentum and came out thinking we’re in this game. “One try and we would’ve been ahead, but the game got away.

We don’t need to reinvent the wheel here, we just need to take our points.” Former Wales player Dan Biggar questioned whether change at the top was needed, or would actually serve any purpose. “You do wonder when is enough enough? But would changing the head coach going to make this team better and suddenly go and win games?“ Biggar asked on TNT Sports.

Meanwhile, Australia coach Joe Schmidt was not getting carried away with thoughts of a first Grand Slam tour in 40 years. The New Zealander was loathe to take anything for granted ahead of next weekend’s trip to Murrayfield to play Scotland, however, let alone the final match of the tour against Ireland in Dublin. “Too far away to contemplate, probably,” Schmidt said of the chance of emulating the 1984 Wallabies by beating all four home nations.

“I’ve got massive respect for Scotland. I think they will be very tough..

. And we certainly haven’t looked as far as Dublin.” AFP, REUTERS.