After years of neglect and falling into disrepair, the road leading to Wales’ training base in the Vale of Glamorgan has finally been renovated.
The potholes have been replaced by a new, pristine surface. Warren Gatland hopes his team’s fall campaign will go as smoothly as his players’ commute to work.
For the past 18 months, Wales has operated in turbulent waters. Gatland’s men have lost their last nine Tests and their head coach admitted 2023-24 was an “incredibly challenging year”. But after naming his squad on Monday for three November tests featuring Fiji, Australia and South Africa, Gatland sought to change the narrative.
He accepted that Wales must return to winning ways. He urged his group to stand up to be counted and impress to try and earn a place on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia next summer. Gatland didn’t say it explicitly, but it was clear that his goal is to beat Fiji and Australia before facing the back-to-back world champions in Cardiff.
“Results are important,” Gatland admitted after picking Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas and Scarlets flanker Blair Murray as uncapped players in a 35-man group.
Warren Gatland has named his 35-man Wales squad for the upcoming November internationals
Hooker Dewi Lake (left) will captain Wales, while Freddie Thomas (right) earned his first cap.
Wales have lost their last nine international matches and are looking to win again
‘There is no hiding from expectations and scrutiny in international rugby. I feel comfortable with that.
“My experience, particularly with the Welsh teams, is that it’s all about drive and self-belief. You build on that. “These next six months are important, not just for the autumn and the Six Nations, but also for a number of players on the team who see themselves as candidates for the Lions tour.’
Last season, Wales’ only wins came in uncapped games against the Barbarians and the Queensland Reds. If they were to lose to Fiji on November 10, their winless Test streak would extend to 10 matches and equal the worst losing sequence in Wales’ history.
Gatland has a young team that has lost a mountain of experience both before and after last year’s World Cup. Wales’ autumn squad has just three players (Aaron Wainwright, Adam Beard and Tomos Williams) with 50 or more caps. Sixteen of the 35 are uncapped or in the single digits.
Hooker Dewi Lake will captain Wales this autumn, as he did in July’s test series loss to Australia. Gatland has insisted that he will continue to give opportunities to youth.
‘I’ve tried to be incredibly honest. I’m not here thinking about my own position or how I protect my own ass. “It is about making the right decisions for Wales,” he said.
“I am very excited about the talent within the team. I understand that the short term is important.”
Aaron Wainwright (left), the Dragons’ number 8, is named despite not having played since July due to a hamstring injury.
While the Lions’ experienced trio of Taulupe Faletau, Liam Williams and Josh Adams are injured, there is reason to be optimistic for Wales in the return of other key figures.
Williams, Beard, Gareth Anscombe, Jac Morgan, Will Rowlands and Ryan Elias all missed the Australia series but will likely play a central role next month.
“Hopefully the return of some of that talent and experience will give me more confidence and self-belief,” Gatland said. ‘They have been involved in teams that have won Six Nations titles.
“That makes a big difference.” Neither number 8 Faletau nor winger Adams have played club rugby for Cardiff this season.
It is understood they may enter the Wales squad to train and continue their recovery to full fitness, but will not play any competitive action.
“I think if the players selected for the first match do well, I don’t see myself making any changes this season,” Gatland said, hinting at continuity in the selection.
That consistency would certainly help Wales. The form of scrum-half Williams and center Max Llewellyn at Gloucester has also been promising, although Gatland said his Wales team would not play the type of attacking rugby that George Skivington’s Cherry and Whites have provided in the Gallagher Premiership so far. It’s about the season.
“They’ve scored a lot of tries, but they’ve also conceded a lot of tries,” Gatland said of Gloucester. “We have to find the balance between having the confidence to play and being expansive, but also being smart and strong defensively.” International rugby is very different from club rugby. It is more structured and you are in that arm wrestling. There are more kicks.
‘It’s about waiting for those opportunities that don’t come around often. You have players who are bigger, faster and more physical. There is less space in defense.”