Wales Coach Sends ‘No Excuses’ Message to Young Players Ahead of Key Autumn Campaign.
Wales’ rugby squad has been given a stern warning that there will be no excuses for failure this autumn, with only a victory over Fiji deemed acceptable.
Head coach Warren Gatland’s team has endured a difficult run, losing their last nine Test matches, and a defeat to Fiji next month would equal their longest losing streak. Defence coach Mike Forshaw revealed that both the management and senior players have emphasized the critical need for a win this autumn.
“That’s something Warren addressed with the team yesterday,” Forshaw said. “Some of the senior players also spoke about it.”
“There’s been talk of Wales needing to endure some growing pains with younger players, but that’s now behind us. The new players need to step up.”
“It’s not just me as a coach saying this—the players are fully aware that we need to win. There’s pressure on us to succeed, and the players must feel that too.”
“There are no excuses; we have to start winning matches. Our goal is to win, and that begins on November 10th, Sunday afternoon, in Cardiff.”
Over the years, Wales has had some intense encounters with Fiji, and Forshaw stressed that Wales must take the initiative in the upcoming match. “At home, we must be the aggressors. That’s non-negotiable,” he explained.
“We know what to expect from Fiji, but the key will be stopping them. They face Scotland this week, and then they’ll bring in a number of players from French clubs, who are dangerous athletes.”
“It will be a massive defensive challenge for us. It’s about executing well when we have the ball and staying alert to Fiji’s offloading game and their athleticism.”
“They’re a formidable threat. As a defence coach, they pose a huge challenge—not just because of their athletes at the breakdown, but also because of their powerful forwards who can break through. If we take our eye off the ball, we could be under pressure all day.”
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