- Wales’ dismal recent run continued with defeat against Fiji last weekend
- Dewi Lake insisted team are feeling the pressure ahead of taking on Australia
Earlier this week, Warren Gatland said he welcomed the pressure on him and was happy to take the heat of the criticism for Wales’ 10-Test losing run firmly on his shoulders.
But ahead of a crucial clash against Australia in Cardiff tomorrow, his captain Dewi Lake admitted Gatland’s young players need to accept their share of responsibility for the state of the country’s game. Lake said his team need to right some wrongs. The 25-year-old is an impressive young leader.
But he and his colleagues have a lot on their plate right now. Lose against Australia at Principality Stadium and Wales’ run of defeats will extend to 11.
That would statistically make them the worst team in Welsh history, taking them past the team of 2002-03 that also lost 10 matches in a row under then coach Steve Hansen.
As Hansen did more than two decades ago, Gatland has faced plenty of heat — much of which has come from his former players. But Lake said: ‘Gats isn’t on the field, is he?
‘The coaches give us the best platform to perform. The pressure is on all of us as a group when we’re on a losing run. We’re all feeling it.’
Wales’ autumn opener — which ended in a 24-19 defeat by Fiji — felt like a must-win game. But now the pressure has been transferred on to the Australia clash.
The Wallabies yesterday caused a shock by naming breakout star Joseph Sua’ali’i, who was player of the match on his Test debut in the win over England last Saturday, among their substitutes. Sua’ali’i had been expected to start at centre.
But head coach Joe Schmidt has recalled the powerhouse midfielder Samu Kerevi in place of Sua’ali’i. Hulking lock Will Skelton and former Exeter scrum-half Nic White also come into the XV.
‘I certainly thought he was going to start,’ Wales skills coach Neil Jenkins said of Sua’ali’i. ‘Kerevi is an outstanding player. He has different strengths to Sua’ali’i. White is also a very good player. ‘We know they’re going to be a good side and full of confidence after winning at Twickenham for the first time in a long time. ‘We’re excited for the challenge. Whether we’ve lost eight or 10 on the bounce, Test football is about winning. We’re more than capable of doing that.’
Wales were beaten twice by Australia in July. But on the evidence of their 42-37 victory over England, the Wallabies look to have improved significantly since then.
‘It was a whirlwind for Joseph for the last two weeks, so for him just to be able to take a breath and watch a bit of a game before entering is a great opportunity for us,’ said Schmidt.
‘There was a temptation to keep him there. We want to try and keep some balance there.’
Wales are without their best player in scrum-half Tomos Williams for Australia. It was announced yesterday that he will also be unavailable for next Saturday’s clash with South Africa after he was released from Gatland’s squad. The in-form Gloucester back suffered a shoulder injury — plus a head knock — in the defeat by Fiji.
Mail Sport understands Williams should be fit to return for Gloucester once the November Test window is done.
Wales have a side capable of beating Australia. But the Wallabies are firm favourites.
Jenkins has seen it all over the years in Welsh rugby. He has experienced the ups and the downs. ‘It hurts. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t be here,’ he said.
‘It’s probably been the same in most of the 10-game run. A couple of errors cost us against Fiji. You get disappointed. You want to win and when you don’t, you do feel upset.
‘There are no excuses at the end of the day. We could probably hide behind that. But Test rugby is an uncompromising place. We’ve done 80 per cent of things right, but it’s the other 20 per cent we need to work on.
‘Of course there’s pressure. We’re doing our utmost to win. Gats has been his usual self. He works hard and keeps going.’
Lake added: ‘We don’t go out to lose. But at some point, we need to flip that. Teams have gone on losing runs before. In 2002-03 Wales went on the same run and then 18 months later, won a Grand Slam. We are one score away from being on the right side of the result. We’re a good enough side to get the result on the weekend.’
