Wales v Australia: Warren Gatland happy with questions on his future

Gatland was asked on Sunday whether he thought his position was under threat and responded by citing a negative media narrative.

He has since seen former players criticise his side following the Fiji defeat such as Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips and Dan Biggar, while Wales fly-half Sam Davies has stated “it is time for a change”.

“I never have been critical of anyone having an opinion,” said Gatland.

“I encourage people to have an opinion. That’s always healthy for the sport.”

Roberts claims Wales are the worst they have ever been in the professional era and that they are not moving forward. He also did not agree with Gatland’s positive “spin” after the Fiji defeat.

The former Wales centre is a WRU board member after being appointed as a non-executive director in November 2023.

Gatland does not believe there is a conflict of interest.

“I don’t have any issues with it, he is paid to do a job from a punditry point of view,” said Gatland.

“I know there are a couple of people who have contacted him and sent him messages and said he was a bit out of line, but that’s their opinion as well.”

Phillips, who made 99 international appearances for Wales and the British and Irish Lions, wrote on social media he thought Gatland should go and criticised the way the coach had treated him and other former players at the end of their careers.

“I hadn’t seen the comments, my son rung me about them and was probably more upset about them than I was,” said Gatland.

“Phillsy [Mike Phillips] was a great player for Wales, probably one of the best to pull on the Welsh jersey.

“Probably some of the things that have happened to him have been a little bit sad. I take some of those comments with a little bit of a grain of salt.”