- Wales have lost 11 games in a row with Gatland’s position under serious scrutiny
- Side will take on double world champions South Africa on Saturday afternoon
- Howley insisted Gatland ‘won’t leave’ and that he is ‘the best coach in the world’
Warren Gatland has been given unequivocal backing to turn Welsh rugby’s ailing ship around by his closest confidant and assistant Rob Howley.
Gatland has presided over the worst losing run in Welsh history – one which currently stands at 11 Tests – so his position as head coach has come under serious scrutiny.
The New Zealander and Howley have been good friends since the latter played under Gatland at Wasps. To that end, Howley’s support is unsurprising.
However, with many expecting Saturday’s game with South Africa to potentially be Gatland’s last in charge of Wales, Howley was steadfast in his belief his boss is going nowhere. Asked if he was prepared to step-up as a potential interim head coach should the Welsh Rugby Union dispense with Gatland’s services, Howley said: ‘Gatland won’t leave.’
He added: ‘We’ve got the best coach in the world who has had a legacy of over 13 years.
‘He’s won Grand Slams and there is no better coach to have in your camp than Warren. He gives players the confidence and self-belief they need to go out and play.
Warren Gatland has been backed to turn around Wales’ record-breaking dismal run of form
Wales are on an 11-game losing run under head coach Gatland – the worst in their history
Gatland’s assistant Rob Howley branded him ‘the best coach in the world’ despite struggles
‘We’ve made mistakes and we have to learn from them.’
Gatland said this week he has ‘asked for time’ from the WRU board, but admitted he wasn’t entirely certain that is what he would be given.
With back-to-back world champions South Africa next up for Wales in Cardiff, all signs point to the winless sequence extending to 12 internationals.
A Springbok victory tomorrow (SAT) afternoon would mean Wales going the entire calendar year without winning a Test, something which has not happened since 1937.
‘Warren is a hugely respected coach and has coached over a number of years,’ said Howley, who has been a long-term assistant to Gatland with Wales and the Lions.
‘His legacy with different teams is a winning legacy. At the moment, we are in this spell where we are losing and losing and losing. At some point, we know we will win.
‘I hope it will be on Saturday in the next game. I just feel at the moment, we’ve got the best coach who has got years of experience. We’ve been in changing rooms where we’ve won and lost and Lions changing rooms going into series at 1-1 with everything on the line.
‘He understands rugby and I believe Wales have got the best coach in the world to get us out of this. Hopefully, you will see over the 80 minutes this weekend a group that is really proud to pull on the Welsh jersey and who will go out and play with heart and pride.’
Howley insisted Wales ‘at some point … know we will win’ despite fixtures looking difficult
It is double world champions South Africa, who beat England last week, up next on Saturday
Despite Howley’s support, the WRU look set to make a decision on Gatland’s future in the coming weeks after the South Africa match completes the team’s autumn campaign.
Whether to stick with or dump the experienced New Zealander is sure to be the biggest topic of conversation at the WRU’s annual general meeting on Sunday.
The meeting will take place less than 12 hours after the Springboks game finishes.
