Warren Gatland Q&A: We might go back to World Rugby for more clarity and we must be more streetwise

Warren Gatland has named his team to face Australia in Melbourne as Wales look to end an eight-game losing run.

After defeat in Sydney, Gatland has made just two injury-enforced changes for the second Test - with Aaron Wainwright and Josh Hathaway ruled out.

Here's everything the Wales coach had to say after facing the media...

Talk us through the two changes?

"Aaron Wainwright pulled his hamstring. Disappointing for him considering I think he was outstanding last week. One of the things I've been challenging on over recent months is I felt there's another level in him. As a player, you'd see really good touches from him, but he might drift in and out of games.

"I think you've seen in the last couple of games that there's been a real step-up in terms of his performances. So that's disappointing for him and disappointing for us. Josh Hathaway took a knock on the elbow and done a tendon. So he's been ruled out as well."

You've brought in James Botham at six and moved Plumtree to No. 8 - does that disrupt things?

"No, it won't change the lineout formation in terms of Taine's role. He'll just be at 8 for scrums."

And you've moved Liam Williams to the wing, with Cameron Winnett coming in at full-back?

"Cam's been outstanding with the way he's trained this week. Really good on Tuesday, good again today. We know he's a good footballer. He missed out on selection last week, but he's come back in and we've been pleased with the way he's trained and prepared.

"He's run some good lines, he's got great footwork and is good under the high ball. We're looking forward to seeing how he goes. Obviously he's there with the experience of Liam in that back-three too."

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What's the fitness latest on Dillon Lewis and Ben Carter?

"Dillon, when he came into us, he had a jab on his back. He's had some referral pain down his leg. But he's up and running now. We'd spoken to the players and said that the aim was we'd like everyone to have some involvement, at least in some capacity across the three games. So we'll see what happens after Saturday."

What are your reflections on Saturday now?

"Yeah, lots of good things. We sent some clips in to Joel Jutge in terms of the video stuff, to get some clarity on a few things. We felt there were a few calls that could have gone our way. He'd agree with a lot of the assessments.

"We just wanted to get something on that. There were lots of positives, when I look at the age profile and the inexperience. 18-16, we're in the game and there was probably a two-minute period where we had three opportunities to put some pressure on them.

"One was the knock-on from Australia, where Owen Watkin kicks the ball out on the full. I'd question whether that should have come back, as there was no advantage for us, and they agreed with us. Then we've had a box-kick where we haven't quite set it up well enough. We've kicked short and allowed Australia to regain the ball. The last one was Tom Wright's try, in terms of a bit of a wayward kick.

"There were three chances for us to relieve pressure and hopefully put some pressure back on Australia. We've spoken about the processes and making sure that we're strong in our game management. Going back in a number of games, we've been in similar situations. It's important for us to learn and keep making sure we stay in the arm wrestle right to the end."

Have you had the clarity you wanted on that disallowed try?

"They've come back and said there was some separation between James Botham and the second-row. But that wasn't what the referee had said to Dewi. He's said number seven was in front. But I don't think, looking back at the video, it looks like that.

"We might go back at them again. When I sent the video to get some clarity, I sent the South African try at Twickenham from a maul. It's absolutely identical in terms of the same set-up. So I just wanted to know why that was considered to be a try - it was a penalty try at Twickenham - and our one was ruled out. We might need to change just how, visually, we set that up. It was a big moment in the game."

What are you expecting from Joe Schmidt this week?

"Pretty much the same. They've made some changes in terms of their selection. They'll definitely improve from that performance in the first Test. Hopefully we'll have a step up as well. What pleased me is that a number of things we prepared for, I thought we defended really well.

"Particularly around the fringes, we put some shots on and didn't allow that open space that they were trying to epxloit. There were some real positives in terms of our defensive sets. There were some things for us to improve and work on. We're expecting pretty much the same from them."

Does that disallowed try put some doubt in your mind around the maul and the pictures you paint?

"Basically what they're saying is there wasn't a connection between James Botham going on to Dafydd Jenkins. But Daf has been hit from behind so has been spun out, so James has come on a bit of an angle. But it's exactly what happened in the South Africa game when we took out their second-row.

So it's a massive moment in the game. The assistant referee Ben O'Keeffe says you need to have a look at the set-up there, they go to the TMO and have a look at it. What's come back to us is a slightly different interpretation of what the referee told Dewi.

"It's a big moment. The challenging thing for us as a group is we have to win over the referees and make sure we are clear on everything. We have probably given away a few penalties early in that game but in the last 60 minutes we have been excellent and given away only five penalties in the last 60 minutes after seven in the first 20 minutes and some of those were scrum penalties.

"They have some back and said they probably should have been awarded to us in terms of the angles and the Australian player driving up. If you are not going to get any of those 50/50 calls it is making sure when the referees come in beforehand they don't come in with any preconceived ideas about how the games are potentially going to. We have to do our jobs in terms of winning them over."

This is the most inexperienced forwards pack you've picked since returning to Wales. With what you're talking about in terms of painting pictures to the referee, is there a need for them to develop a more streetwise side?

"Absolutely. Even though you try and do those things like putting players under pressure in training until you are out in the middle, you can't coach experience. That often takes a bit of time with players building through a number of caps. We have decided as a coaching group after the World Cup what we needed to do in terms of building this team through to the World Cup in 2027.

"We knew there was going to be a bit of pain along the way as we look to develop those players to give them that match experience and increasing their age profile would significantly help as well. It is a challenge but I have been really pleased with the way the boys have responded in training. They have been an excellent group to work with on this tour, there has been a real buzz and the players have been really positive and motivated to want to go out there and wear the jersey with pride."

The lineout operated at 76 per cent success rate last Saturday. How do you fix that, given the maul is crucial to your attack?

"I spoke to Jonathan Humphreys about that and he said when has looked at previous games the lineout has tended to struggle a little bit at beginning of campaigns and it has definitely improved. We have done a lot of work on it this week. We had a couple on underthrows and they have had one pretty good steal as well.

"You want those numbers in the high 80s and early 90s in terms of success. We had 16 lineouts on the weekend. It is definitely an important starter point to get a good platform to work off. Our lineout functioning is pretty important for us."

Does Liam Williams on the wing offer you more in terms of kick chase?

"Probably the kick chase, aerial game and experience. He (Liam) is fully aware he has not had a lot of rugby over the last few years and getting him back into it. Keeping him fit and being able to train every day is important for us.

"Josh would have learned a lot from his experiences. He had some nice touches and a couple of things that he is aware he can get better at. He is a player that needs more game time. He has genuine pave, excellent in his attacking ability. It's a shame he has picked up an injury and was unavailable for selection.

"Having someone with Liam's experience and making sure that communication with Cam and Rio becomes important. If I look at last weekend's game the highest amount of turnovers came from the back three so they are aware of making sure they need to be more accurate as a trio."