Assistant Coach Rob Howley Hails Warren Gatland as “Best Coach in the World”

Rob Howley and Warren Gatland have collaborated professionally across various teams, including Wasps, Wales, and the British and Irish Lions. The upcoming Autumn Nations Series match between Wales and South Africa is scheduled for Saturday, 23 November, at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with a kick-off time of 17:40 GMT. Coverage will be available live on S4C, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, and Radio 5 Sports Extra, alongside live text and commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. Assistant coach Rob Howley has declared Warren Gatland “the best coach in the world” and expressed confidence that Gatland will remain in his position with Wales. Head coach Gatland’s tenure has recently included a record streak of 11 consecutive Test match losses, with the world champion South Africa team set to play Wales this Saturday. Should the Springboks secure a victory, Wales would conclude the calendar year without a Test win, a situation not seen since 1937. Gatland has affirmed his commitment to continuing in his role, a stance supported by Howley. Howley stated, “We’ve got the best coach in the world who has had a legacy of more than 13 years.” He added, “He’s won Grand Slams and there is no better coach to have in your camp than Warren.” Howley further commented, “He gives players the confidence and self-belief they need to go out and play.” During Gatland’s initial 12-year tenure as head coach, Wales reached the World Cup semi-finals twice, secured three Grand Slams, and achieved a 14-match unbeaten streak, which briefly elevated them to the top position in the world rankings. Since his return in December 2022, Wales has recorded six wins and 17 losses across 23 matches, leading to a decline to their lowest ranking of 11th. Wales will host the Springboks following a significant defeat to Australia and their first-ever home loss against Fiji. Gatland’s team has not secured a Test victory since the 2023 World Cup, prompting considerable speculation regarding his future. When questioned about potentially assuming an interim head coach role should Gatland leave, Howley responded assertively, stating, “Warren Gatland won’t leave.” Howley maintains that Gatland’s extensive experience is crucial for improving Wales’ performance. Howley remarked, “Warren is a hugely respected coach and has coached over a number of years.” He continued, “His legacy with different teams is a winning legacy. At the moment we are in this spell where we are losing.” Howley expressed hope, saying, “We at some point know we will win and I hope it will be the next game on Saturday.” He added, “I think at the moment we’ve got the best coach who has got years of experience.” Howley further elaborated, “We’ve been in changing rooms where we’ve won and lost, Lions changing rooms going into series at 1-1 with everything on the line.” He concluded, “He understands rugby and I believe Wales have got the best coach in the world to get us out of this.” Wales captain Dewi Lake also shares the conviction that Gatland possesses the ability to invigorate the squad. The hooker stated, “His presence alone is huge.” Lake continued, “We are a young group and were probably massive fans growing up watching his first stint with the Grand Slams and undefeated runs.” He added, “His knowledge and passion for the game as well kind of resonates with you as a player.” Lake further explained, “Maybe you are feeling a little bit sorry for yourself or have had a tough day, and his ability to pick you back up and get you back ready to go again is second to none.” Lake affirmed that he maintains a positive working relationship with the embattled Wales head coach. Lake commented, “It has been an easy working relationship between us in terms of small chats or things we feel are going well or we need to change.” He concluded, “He knows what’s going on, he has been around for long enough, he has coached plenty of top-level teams and knows how to make us tick.”