Warren Gatland appears to be a dead man walking after Wales slumped to a record 11th straight loss in the 52-20 humbling at the hands of the Wallabies on Monday (AEDT).
The New Zealand coach now owns the greatest winning streak in the 143 year rugby history of Wales and the worst.
Gatland told reporters afterwards that he was willing to fight for his job but his post-match interview on Stan Sport didn’t sound convincing.
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The 61-year-old said he needed to speak with his wife before making decisions about his future and world champions South Africa lie in wait next weekend.
“That was a tough interview to watch,” Wallabies great Michael Hooper said on Stan Sport.
It has been a remarkable slide for Gatland’s Wales since they reached last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals and dismantled the Wallabies 40-6 in Lyon.
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“It wasn’t a fighting press conference, you know,” Morgan Turinui said on Stan Sport.
“We’ve seen coaches that we both know (he and Hooper) and have worked with that come out maybe and have a crack there, just to go ‘you know what, I know what I’ve got to do, I’ve got to fix it.’
“That was almost a concession speech to a certain degree, saying I leave it to the powers that be.
“But I can see them losing next week and then him being able to be given the opportunity to resign. You start talking about talking to your wife and sacrifices you’ve made…. this guy’s still an outstanding coach but Wales have issues.”
Gatland has been coaching Wales for all but two years since 2008 and has developed a thick skin to criticism, but even he hinted at limits.
“It’s the most challenging (time), there’s no doubt about that, and what will be will be,” he said.
“I will chat to a few people as to what happens from here.
“I am passionate about Welsh rugby but there’s a lot of negativity around the game right now. I want the best decision to be made about Welsh rugby. I will respect the decision. If that means me (going), I’m comfortable with that.”
The losing streak stretches back to October last year.
Wales then received its first Six Nations wooden spoon in 21 years, was swept in Australia in July, and lost to Fiji at home for the first time last weekend.
Gatland offered to resign after the Six Nations but was turned down.
The New Zealander is in his second stint with Wales.
The first stint achieved Six Nations Grand Slams, World Cup semi-finals, the No.1 ranking and a 14 win streak in 2018-19.
But many of the players who helped him win acclaim have retired since he returned at the start of 2023, including Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Biggar, Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric, Alex Cuthbert and Gareth Davies.
Gatland has been struggling to fill the void.
The matchday 23 against Australia included 10 players with single figure caps, six in the starting backline.
Gatland has consistently said he’s rebuilding the team for the 2027 World Cup, and asked for time and patience, but the defeats keep piling on misery.
Biggar, a TV commentator for TNT Sports, said: “If there are people out there who think that getting rid of Warren is the answer to Wales’ problems, then who do you bring in? Who can Wales afford to bring in? It’s not as simple as saying get rid of Warren and that’s the end of it.”
Another former captain under Gatland, Sam Warburton, added: “The first thing the WRU have got to do is ask Warren: ‘Do you want to stay?’ If his appetite is to stay, then let’s review, let’s look into this thoroughly. There can’t be a knee-jerk reaction.”