Gatland reveals plan for Wales to end 55-year drought

SPOTLIGHT: Wales head coach Warren Gatland demands better discipline from his side to break a 55-year drought in Australia when the two sides clash in Melbourne this weekend.

Currently on an eight-match losing streak after their 25-16 defeat in the first Test last week in Sydney – the pressure is on Gatland to break the drought without his experienced half centurion No.8 Aaron Wainwright and wing Josh Hathaway being ruled out of the upcoming clash.

“This week, we’ve been going through our processes, building on what worked well and sharpening the areas that need improvement,” said Gatland.

“We expect Australia to go up another level this weekend and we know we need to as well.”

The breakdown was an issue for Wales – conceding 11 penalties in the first Test in their own half – with Gatland aiming for improvements in that area.

“We want to start well and make sure we are disciplined and accurate from the off. Then it’s about keeping in the arm-wrestle for the duration,” he said.

Wales haven’t won a Test match since their win in the 2023 World Cup over Georgia during the pool stages – and another loss would edge them closer to the unwanted record of former New Zealand coach Steve Hansen who had 10 consecutive losses between 2002 and 2003.